Hydraulic Baiters Date of Issue

Date of Issue: March 31, 2001

Hazard Summary

Recently two fishers sustained serious injuries in separate, but similar, incidents involving hydraulic baiter machines. The hydraulic baiter is a machine used to cut frozen bait into square blocks.

An investigation into the incidents by the Occupational Health and Safety Division of the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education determined:

In the first incident:

• the worker put his hand under the blade to clean off the table while the other hand was on the control lever
• the boat rolled which caused the worker to put pressure on the lever and engage the hydraulics
• once engaged, the blade came down and severed the fingers and thumb of the right hand.

In the second incident:

• the worker was pushing the frozen bait through the machine by hand when his hand slipped and came under the path of the blade
• the workers index and middle finger were partially severed and the other two fingers sustained cuts.

Preventive Measures:

The investigations identified the following preventive measures:

• ensure baiters are equipped with safeguards that will prevent a worker from coming into contact with any moving parts, especially the blades, that could hurt an operator
• ensure all safeguards are in place and in good order before operating the machinery
• train operators in the use and potential hazards of the baiter machine
• follow manufacturer’s instructions for the maintenance and operation of the baiter machine.

Note:

Employers must consider Section 87 of the Occupational Safety General Regulations. This deals with safeguards on machinery. It requires the employer to ensure that an adequate safeguard is installed on a machine where a person may come into contact with a moving part. Sub-section 87(4) notes that where it is not reasonably practicable to use a safeguard on a cutting or shaping machine and there is a possibility of an injury an employer shall:

• ensure that a push block, push stick or other adequate protective device is used; and
• adopt a written procedure to ensure the safety of an operator of the machine.

Part 8 of the Occupational Safety General Regulations - Mechanical Safety - has several sections which should be noted:

• Section 84 - General Provisions, requires the employer to ensure a machine that may be a hazard to the health or safety of a person at the workplace is installed, assembled, operated, maintained, inspected, serviced, etc. in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, or where there are none, specifications certified by an engineer.
• Section 85 - requires the employer to ensure an operator of a machine or tool is a competent person
• Section 86 - deals with the possibility of a worker coming into contact with a machine.

Supplier Duty

Under Section 4 of the Occupational Safety General Regulations - "Duties of Parties" - the duties imposed on the employer by these regulations are also imposed on a supplier to extent of the supplier’s authority and ability to discharge the duty in the circumstances. Furthermore Section 16(a) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires suppliers take every precaution that is reasonable to ensure any device, equipment, machine, material or thing supplied by the supplier is in safe condition, and in compliance with this Act and the regulations when it is supplied.

Training requirements are called up through clause 13(1)(c) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act - employer to take every reasonable precaution to provide information, instruction, training, supervision and facilities as necessary.