Module 6 • Labour relations


Activity 3


No Short Cuts To Safe Working A press operator at a components manufacturing company lost three fingers while operating an unsafe metal press.


Freddie Maseko (43) had been working at the factory for five years as a general cleaner and tea maker. When a post became vacant his boss decided to “rationalise” and move Freddie to the shop floor.


On his first day of factory work he was given brief instructions about the metal press and what was required of him. He was also given a trial batch of components to bend in the press.


His boss was pleased with his work because after a few days he was not only getting the hang of the job, he was producing considerably more parts than his older, and more experienced, colleagues.


His boss then decided to shorten his probation period from two months to one because of his excellent progress.


The month went by without incident and Freddie was promoted to operator.


That same day at 14:15 the accident occurred. Freddie took his eyes off his work for just a second – the guillotine cut off three fingers of his right hand, two at the second joint and one at the first.


He was rushed to hospital where the bleeding was stopped and the wounds cleaned and stitched.


An investigation showed that the reason for Freddie’s better work output had nothing to do with his being a younger or better worker.


He had short-circuited the machine’s safety guards so he could work twice as fast and not have to wait, like his friends, for the guard to close.


After three months Freddie was back at his old job, making tea and cleaning the offices.


Questions: 1. Why did this accident take place? 2. How could it have been prevented? 3. What is the duty of the fellow workers when a worker ignores safety regulations? 4. Which law makes provision for accidents in the workplace? 5. Explain and motivate according to the case study.


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