HSE rolls out new safety advice for hand-fed platen cutters

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning people who use hand-fed platen die cutting machines to be aware of new operating and safety guidance.

HSE has produced a new information sheet to alert users to the risks, following the death of two operators of these machines in the UK in recent years, and more in other countries.

Whilst the guarding requirements currently in place have prevented users from suffering crush injuries to their hands, the increasing size of the machines has brought new risks.

In climbing onto the lower platen of the larger machines, operators are putting their lives at risk. Now, HSE has written to all the users it is aware of, in a bid to educate them on managing the machines.

The information sheet the body has provided is based on consultations with industry bodies, suppliers and users. It offers advice on improving the guarding on the machines, alongside covering training, daily checks, isolation procedures and inspections.

These new safety measures will bring platens up to the standard of other high-risk machines including guillotines.

Specialist manufacturing safety inspector at HSE, Tim Small, said, "Hand-fed platens are high-risk machines. Our investigations show that workers can and do climb between the platens on many machines.

"The risk is particularly high when the platen is being used in dwell (semi-automatic) mode. In this situation, operators are not protected by the current guarding arrangements," he said.

Mr Small added that HSE would be carrying out visits to users to check that firms are taking action to comply with the Information Sheet.