Modified tool at friend's work

Superfuse

So, this band saw has been modified with a secondary, aftermarket pillar drill guard at a friend's workspace in the name of health and safety. I question whether my friend would be covered should the tool fail in some way...

theoretica

If your friend has reason to believe that the added guard makes the tool more dangerous than not having it present he should discuss his concerns with his manager.

coffeehound

How do you mean 'covered'?  The only issue I can see is it might be more difficult to push the last bit past onto the blade, but shouldn't be using fingers for that anyway

oh_really

What was the issue with the manufacturer supplied guard?  I'm gussing that guard doesn't fit securely.

If your question is around employers liability insurance then any failure due to a modification is not your friends concern, that would be between insurer and their client.

Have a read through PUWER regulations, look at regs 6&7 (inspection & risks). Has a risk assesement been conducted (it requires to be suitable and sufficient).

Superfuse

theoretica said:

If your friend has reason to believe that the added guard makes the tool more dangerous than not having it present he should discuss his concerns with his manager.

Absolutely. I have advised that he raise his concerns with his management. I'm just really surprised that an employer would modify a large powerful tool.

Superfuse

coffeehound said:

How do you mean 'covered'?  The only issue I can see is it might be more difficult to push the last bit past onto the blade, but shouldn't be using fingers for that anyway

I was basically suggesting insurance. I agree with your point. My concern is that the tool was modified by someone whom has no particular qualification/training when it comes to modifying large mains powered tools. We might think it would be ok but it's not been tested as the original tool would've been. There are two bolts which protrude into the housing towards that large wheel. I don't think they would ever touch the wheel but who's accepting that risk? What if electricity arcs to them? I'm sure nothing would ever happen but I just think it's strange that someone would ever do this in a place of work.

Superfuse

oh_really said:

What was the issue with the manufacturer supplied guard?  I'm gussing that guard doesn't fit securely.

If your question is around employers liability insurance then any failure due to a modification is not your friends concern, that would be between insurer and their client.

Have a read through PUWER regulations, look at regs 6&7 (inspection & risks). Has a risk assesement been conducted (it requires to be suitable and sufficient).

Thank you. I passed your comments to my friend. He's going to see if a risk assessment has been produced. By failure, i was suggesting that the modifications could cause injury. This aspect is obviously a concern for my friend.

coffeehound

.oh_really said:

What was the issue with the manufacturer supplied guard? 

There isn't one.  Bandsaws are usually just 'open', and you adjust it up or down so the gap with the exposed blade is slightly larger than the thing you are sawing.  Presumably the employer has c/o a risk assessment of sorts and arrived at the conclusion the tool wasn't safe like that, and so has taken the decision to modify it.

Savvy_Sue

If he's in a union, there will be a union H&S rep, if not in the workplace then available elsewhere. There will also be a named person with responsibility for H&S within the workplace. 

Lomast

Perfectly acceptable. Many machine guards provide the bare minimum required it is very common for companies to add extra guarding.
The bolts look like they go into the door frame so nowhere near the drive wheel and we'll away from any electrical parts so no risk of arcing. 

CookieMonster

A Risk Assessment should be done on the modified equipment.
If the company is habitually modify equipment in an unsafe manner, contact the HSE.
Despite there being the bare minimum of protection, the HSE would fine the company heavily if there was an accident.
Forget about insurance/compensation: living the majority of your life with a couple of fingers missing can't be compensated for properly.