Manufacturers are being warned to ensure their machines are properly guarded and used safely.
The warning comes from the Department of Labour as many manufacturers prepare for a busy week to finish orders before shutting down over Christmas and planning for their restart next year.
Dr Geraint Emrys, the department's chief adviser health and safety, said too many people were dying or being seriously injured at work because machines were not properly guarded.
``Each year hundreds of workers are seriously hurt because machinery with inadequate guarding is being used,'' he said.
``On top of that there have been five deaths in the past five years where workers have paid the ultimate price for the failure of employers to properly guard machinery.''
Dr Emrys said the department was so concerned at the prevalence of fatal and serious harm injuries that it had a national project under way to raise awareness of proper machine guarding.
``Effective procedures that cover operating, cleaning and maintaining equipment must be in place and staff must be trained to use the machines safely.
``While staff need to stop and think before they work on a machine, no worker should be put in the position where a bad decision can kill them, or crush or amputate limbs,'' he said.
Employers warned to properly guard machinery
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