Burmese worker’s hand minced in meat grinder in Chon Buri

[webfact]

 

A 20 year old Burmese woman accidentally activated a meat grinder while cleaning it, resulting in a gruesome hand injury. The incident occurred at 10.30am today, July 9, at a dumpling shop in Bang Sai Market, Ban Bueng, Chon Buri province.

 

Rescue workers from the Sinlatham Ban Bueng Foundation received a distress call about a foreign worker’s hand being trapped in a meat grinder. Upon arrival, they found Thipaporn Sinapa, a Myanmar national, with her hand stuck in the grinder.

 

She was visibly fatigued and in severe pain due to blood loss. Her right hand was crushed up to the elbow. The rescue team used a wrench to free her hand from the machine and administered first aid before rushing her to Ban Bueng Hospital.

A co-worker who witnessed the event explained that the grinder was used to mix dumpling fillings. After completing their task, they turned off the machine to clean it. It is believed that Thipaporn may have accidentally hit the switch, causing the grinder to activate and trap her hand.

Wan, a colleague, recounted that she and the injured worker were on opposite sides of the grinder. While Thipaporn was cleaning the machine, her other hand might have inadvertently hit the switch, causing the grinder to start.

 

Wan didn’t realise what had happened until she heard Thipaporn’s loud cries for help. Wan immediately ran to unplug the machine, but it was too late—the grinder had already pulled Thipaporn’s hand inside, reported KhaoSod.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-07-10

 

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[Geoffggi]

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

[Gottfrid]

I can see that somebody has been smart after the accident, as the cable is now on the floor.

[MikeandDow]

22 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

Because there IS NO SAFETY PROTOCOLS in Thailand

[retarius]

Poor dear. I cannot agree enough with Mike and Dow above. Jesus, she must be poor to even be working there, paid less than minimum wage (I'm speculating) and sending home money to her family struggling with a civil war. Now, no functioning right hand

[ChrisY1]

3 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

Nobody here is adequately educated in OHS...these incidents are everyday occurrences.....

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A co-worker who witnessed the event explained that the grinder was used to mix dumpling fillings. After completing their task, they turned off the machine to clean it. It is believed that Thipaporn may have accidentally hit the switch, causing the grinder to activate and trap her hand.

Pull the bloody plug out....

Had to treat a lad once working in a kitchen at an airport... stuck his hand in a large blender to clean it.... accidentally pressed the start button, he won't do that again.

 

[Confuscious]

All the machines we designed at work were equipped with the "Power Switch" in a case that could not be "accidentally" activated.
It was called a "Monkey Proof" switch.
But Thailand has not passed to the Monkey stadium yet.

[Grusa]

It's not just Thailand. FILs' girlfriends' son, 17, first job, in a UK sawmill, cut off a finger in a bandsaw on his first day. He w far from "Brain of Britain", but still.....

[richard_smith237]

This happened in my home town in the early 90's... Poor woman lost her arm up to the elbow the same way.

 

Why wasn't there an HSE process ??...    there never is or it isn't followed. 

 

What a horrific injury - the poor lady will regret not unplugging the machine for the rest of her life.

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

 

Employers can drill safety protocols into employees until they are blue in the face - but corners will always be cut and complacency will always slip in - this is then the employers job to ensure these cuts and complacency do not slip in.

 

In my current work place there is an extremely strong HSE culture, people can get fired for taking short-cuts. 

There is a massive degree of HSE training and processes... everyone has learned the importance of HSE and it becomes an ingrained part of the work culture... 

... Yet, daily, I see the same workers get in their cars and not use a seatbelt, I see the same workers get on a motorcycle and not use a helmet.

 

As tragic as the consequences can be, taking a short-cut is a human trait, more so in some countries and cultures than others. 

 

[Luuk Chaai]

6 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

 

...  cause if they had an equiv to OSHA ..    100% of all business' in Thailand would be shut down

 

my favorite ..  on a bamboo ladder with flip flops

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

7 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

 

This is Thailand, they are only interested in money. 

 

Hope that clarifies.

[MikeandDow]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

This happened in my home town in the early 90's... Poor woman lost her arm up to the elbow the same way.

 

Why wasn't there an HSE process ??...    there never is or it isn't followed. 

 

What a horrific injury - the poor lady will regret not unplugging the machine for the rest of her life.

 

 

 

 

 

Employers can drill safety protocols into employees until they are blue in the face - but corners will always be cut and complacency will always slip in - this is then the employers job to ensure these cuts and complacency do not slip in.

 

In my current work place there is an extremely strong HSE culture, people can get fired for taking short-cuts. 

There is a massive degree of HSE training and processes... everyone has learned the importance of HSE and it becomes an ingrained part of the work culture... 

... Yet, daily, I see the same workers get in their cars and not use a seatbelt, I see the same workers get on a motorcycle and not use a helmet.

 

As tragic as the consequences can be, taking a short-cut is a human trait, more so in some countries and cultures than others. 

 

Think your self lucky you have an employer who has a strict culture of HSE and looking after there employees, but HSE Procedures do not cover Idiots or it would be a perfect world, Hse starts with yourself ( I am i safe doing this work what can happen )  A safe work method statement (SWMS) should be carried out before any work starts, do you think employers in Thailand do this ??? NO it costs time and money and also the Thai mental attitude to safety, There is NO work safety in Thailand  

In most western country's there would be a Safety inspection of this accident by a government body and if found that procedures where not followed the company could be found liable

In Thailand there is no such safety counsel or governing body  

Dont believe Thailand has a National tag and lock out system I would like to assume that EGAT has this on power stations or is it too much paper work

[Mr Meeseeks]

3 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Nobody here is adequately educated in OHS...these incidents are everyday occurrences.....

 

From experience, that includes the government OHS training providers themselves. 

 

At a Thai offshore service company I worked for, not one person had a proper industry recognised safety qualification e.g. NEBOSH, IOSH etc. One guy had a degree in OSH from a local university, but had absolutely no experience and couldn't even do a simple risk assessment. 

 

The state of the place tells you everything you need to know about their attitude towards health and safety and as there is almost zero enforcement of the insufficient regulations, nothing will change.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, richard_smith237 said:

Why wasn't there an HSE process ??...    there never is or it isn't followed. 

 

In the UK under HASAWA, employers are required by law to protect the health and safety of your employees. This means employers must risk assess all activities and if you employ more than 5 people you must document your findings. 

 

Abuse of HSE laws in the UK results in harsh punishments and even custodial sentences.

 

Thai OSH Act has similar principles, but they need better regulations, a lot more enforcement and much harsher punishments for offenders. At the moment, I would suggest it is an impossible task. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

48 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

..  cause if they had an equiv to OSHA ..    100% of all business' in Thailand would be shut down

 

They have the OSH Act, the Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Act B.E. 2554 (2011). The act clarifies responsibilities and duties of employer and employee as well as those of governments. Employer shall provide a safe working environment for employees.

 

It's a bit of a joke really, as with most things here. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, Grusa said:

It's not just Thailand. FILs' girlfriends' son, 17, first job, in a UK sawmill, cut off a finger in a bandsaw on his first day. He w far from "Brain of Britain", but still.....

 

It's not, but there are proper requirements for HSE in the UK, places of employment are regularly checked, there is proper enforcement of the laws and appropriate punishments for offenders.

 

Accident still happen, but I would wager that the UK is a much safer place to work across all industries than in Thailand. 

 

If Thailand actually could produce reliable statistics, we could prove that as absolute fact.

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

In the UK under HASAWA, employers are required by law to protect the health and safety of your employees. This means employers must risk assess all activities and if you employ more than 5 people you must document your findings. 

 

Abuse of HSE laws in the UK results in harsh punishments and even custodial sentences.

 

Thai OSH Act has similar principles, but they need better regulations, a lot more enforcement and much harsher punishments for offenders. At the moment, I would suggest it is an impossible task. 

 

Agree - with the exception of a handful of ridiculous and even objectionable laws, the vast majority of laws in Thailand are solid....

... the issue of course is a cultural one within the whole of society - Thailand is a wholly reactionary nation, rather than being proactive...   I've heard the saying before... "in Thailand there is no law until there is law".. .i.e. everyone ingnores the law because its never enforced until something happens, when it may (or may not) then be enforced. 

[In the jungle]

But did they sell the resulting mince?

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, Geoffggi said:

Why oh why do employers not drill into workers safety protocols must be followed including the use of isolation switches for electrical equipment.

It's sad yes, but safety considerations are abysmal here. It goes further than employers, but to individuals themselves, don't seem to grasp their very actions put themselves and others at risk. We see it on the road... no consideration while whizzing along playing with the phone, but will cry buckets after the incident. 

[Gsxrnz]

Why does everybody think health and safety legislation prevents occupational accidents?

 

No amount of legislation will prevent the inept and stupid from injuring or killing themselves.

 

 Idiots making stupid decisions and killing themselves is a design feature of the system, not a bug. 

[watchcat]

On 7/10/2024 at 1:47 AM, webfact said:

A 20 year old Burmese woman accidentally activated a meat grinder while cleaning it, resulting in a gruesome hand injury. The incident occurred at 10.30am today, July 9, at a dumpling shop

 

Note to self, no more dumplings for a couple of months.

[jacko45k]

22 hours ago, watchcat said:

 

Note to self, no more dumplings for a couple of months.

Wanton disregard for safety. 

[Joebuzzz]

On 7/10/2024 at 3:22 PM, richard_smith237 said:

This happened in my home town in the early 90's... Poor woman lost her arm up to the elbow the same way.

 

Why wasn't there an HSE process ??...    there never is or it isn't followed. 

 

What a horrific injury - the poor lady will regret not unplugging the machine for the rest of her life.

 

 

 

 

 

Employers can drill safety protocols into employees until they are blue in the face - but corners will always be cut and complacency will always slip in - this is then the employers job to ensure these cuts and complacency do not slip in.

 

In my current work place there is an extremely strong HSE culture, people can get fired for taking short-cuts. 

There is a massive degree of HSE training and processes... everyone has learned the importance of HSE and it becomes an ingrained part of the work culture... 

... Yet, daily, I see the same workers get in their cars and not use a seatbelt, I see the same workers get on a motorcycle and not use a helmet.

 

As tragic as the consequences can be, taking a short-cut is a human trait, more so in some countries and cultures than others. 

 

I once worked in a scissor factory. All the training in the world and you'd still catch those new hires running.

[gargamon]

So what's the going rate for ground Burmese?

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 7/16/2024 at 6:53 AM, jacko45k said:

Wanton disregard for safety. 

 

Very good. 🤣