Mechanical equipment injuries in small manufacturing businesses

Factors contributing to mechanical equipment injuries in small manufacturin g businesses were investigated. Thirty-five small businesses participated i n the study. Interviews were carried out with all 35 managers, and 145 empl oyees returned completed questionnaires. Fifty-eight per cent of respondent s reported having experienced an injury. Grinding machines and printing pre sses were found to have a high ratio of accidents per number of hours used. Factors contributing to the causes of accidents were investigated. Failure to follow known safe work procedures, non-existent and inadequate guarding and poor machine design and poor machine condition were common contributin g factors. The implications of these findings for improving safety in small businesses are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.