UK HSE: employee scalped when hair trapped in a pillar drill
What happened
The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has fined a company after an employee received scalping injuries when her hair became entangled in a pillar drill. Press release here.
An employee got her hair caught in a rotating pillar drill and as a result suffered life changing injuries when her scalp and part of her ear were torn off.
What went wrong?
Investigation revealed that:
- The rotating parts of the drill were not guarded in accordance with standard industry practice;
- The company’s own risk assessment for using the drill had identified a guard should be fitted, but evidence obtained indicated the drill had been operated without one for a number of years.
IMCA members have reported a number of incidents where employees have suffered injuries from pillar drills or from other rotating machinery. This is an area where a fresh focus may be productive in improving safety.
Please see the following:
- Arm injury whilst using pillar drill (2017)
- Finger injury during work with rotating machinery (2017)
- Hand injury whilst using pillar drill (2017)
- UK HSE: Worker suffers life-changing crush injuries – rotating machine (2018)
- Serious Injury from Rotating Winch (2018)
- LTI: finger injury during work with rotating machinery (2019)
- Three hand injuries (2019)
- Hand injury when caught in machinery (2020)
Safety Event
Published: 22 September 2021
Download: 
IMCA SF 26/21
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