Bypassing safety guards on a machine

[Altoridgster]

Can someone please lend an ear as I have a little problem. I have been asked to fit a key switch which will over ride the machines safety system. I would like to know the correct method to use and where i stand if someone has an accident through this modification. It was the owner of thye company who asked.

 

[Guest123]

Hi there.

Plain and simple one this........DONT DO IT!!

Should the worst occur and someone got hurt, the company owner would stand from under straight away and lay the blame firmly at your door. The poor chap who got hurt would receive no compensation as the machine in question had been tampered with so would end up sueing you.

Walk away my friend, walk away.

 

[Altoridgster]

Even if you get an ultimatum , if you dont like it theres the gate.

 

[Guest123]

Hi.

Who issued this ultimatum to you?? when you say company owner do you mean a factory owner or your employer??

I have to ask why on earth would someone want to bypass a machines safety system??

HSE would prosecute you to the max if anything serious happened.

I would rather be on the dole than do something that may endanger the life of another employee.



P.S I used to go out with a girl from Skem.

 

[Altoridgster]

It is the company owner, the machine is a packaging machine and so they can make running adjustments the need to open the guards to get at the machine whilst it is running. All the e/stops and other saftey devices will still work just the guards will be inoperative

 

[Guest123]

I'm sorry but I just dont like the idea of that one little bit.

If these chaps making the adjustments are trained maintenance personnel then maybe it's not quite as bad as Joe Bloggs doing it say, however HSE would deffo have lots to say if an accident happened. Should they really be fiddling about with a machine when its in use....those safety guards are there for a reason.

Sorry but I would not do it. I would like to think others would agree.

 

[Altoridgster]

ok Thanks Lenny..........
p.s. what was the girls name. Was it recently.


Just another quickie. Do you know of any type of RCD that can cope with Danfoss/Siemans inverters

 

[Guest123]

No worries mate.

As for the girl it was about 8 years ago and she was at Edge Hill uni in Ormskirk. I was working up there and............, nuff said.

 

[Richard Andrews]

Why does a customer want to over-ride a machines safety system? My own experience would indicate it would be best to avoid possible future litigation against yourself, but to appease the customer (who will still moan) I'd contact the Health & Safety Executive for guidence - they're a helpful bunch,so don't be shy.

 

[Altoridgster]

Its the owner who wants the guards by passed so the engineers can make running adjustments.

 

[Guest123]

If you refuse to do it and he does dismiss you then surely there would be a case for unfair dismissal. He cant show you the door for refusing to do something that would put other people at risk.

 

[byrneboy]

Dont do it. Cos when it goes **** up, and it will. Your the one going to jail mate !!!

 

[Altoridgster]

Well I am in a bit of a pridicament as I have already done it last night. I wont be able to sleep with worry now. Thanks very much for your help it is sometimes half the battle won when there is someone you can ask for help.

Thanks lads.

 

[benji]

why don,t you contact the HSE and ask them for their advice (we pay their wages)

yours benji

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

read this it happened near mine
its not worth the risk
Cement bosses jailed over worker’s death - 06/07/2007 - Contract Journal