An engineering firm has been fined after a worker injured his arm during a drilling operation.

KV Welding Limited of Perry Street, Bradley, Bilston admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. It was fined £10,000 with over £2,168 in costs.

Wolverhampton Magistrates' Court heard how Deimantas Beinoras, a 23-year-old Lithuanian national, was operating a pedestal drilling machine to drill holes into some box section tubing for KV Welding.

As he started to adjust the work piece while the drill was still running, his gloved hand became entangled with the unguarded drill bit.

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Mr Beinoras' arm was pulled around the drill and broke two bones in his right forearm. His injuries also resulted in a skin graft being required for his arm.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) told the court that Mr Beinoras' injuries could have been prevented if the drill was guarded with a telescopic guard covering the rotating drill bit and the injured person had not been wearing gloves.

In addition, HSE said a suitable and sufficient risk assessment should have been completed to identify required control measures and the employee should have received proper training.

HSE inspector Richard Littlefair said: "It is vital that companies understand the importance of using suitable guarding when employees are operating drilling machines as there are significant risks involved which may lead to serious personal injury.

"Other simple measures such as not wearing gloves can be taken to eliminate the risk of entanglement involved with operating drilling machines or any other machinery with moving/rotating parts."

(LM/CD)