When you think of knitting, images of a therapeutic hobby and the wonderful simple notion that a thread is creatively woven to produce a garment.

Flat knitting machines

Flat knitting machines should have:

• a metal cage fitted to the machine when the reciprocated cam carriage projects beyond the body of the machine during action
• backs of machines fitted with a suitable metal mesh
• a plastic guard fitted to the narrowing points with fully fashioned knitting machines
• loose sleeves fitted to exposed hand shafts
• spoked handwheels blanked off
• draw mechanisms totally enclosed
• Raschel machines with traversing weft insertion - trip guards or other safety devises fitted to prevent access to danger zones
• where employees have to climb onto machines or up to creels - fixed steps and platforms fitted to reduce the likelihood of falling
• a documented system for removing, replacing and disposing of blades and needles
• safe system of work in place to prevent operators wearing loose clothing, jewellery, long hair and unsuitable footwear

Circular knitting machines

Circular knitting machines should have:

• pattern drums and pattern wheels totally guarded
• isolation equipment fitted
• positive feed drive belts fitted with a suitable guard
• electrically interlocking guards fitted to rotating cylinder machines
• inching buttons fitted to all machines and readily distinguishable by touch
• guards fitted on hose machines where a full cabinet base is not provided
• drip trays provided for each machine
• gantry systems of yarn support guarded
• emergency stop buttons immediately accessible and identifiable
• creeling operations - musculoskeletal strains and RSI aspects of long term hand or arm movements reduced as much as possible
• safe systems of work for access for threading of yarn
• machines stopped when adjustments necessary
• safe system of work for removal of rolls or layers of fabric
• half hose and sock machines – safe system of work for removing work from the bin
• press offs - wire hook only inserted when machine is stationary
• drip trays cleaned regularly
• machine handle always left at rest before machine is started
• safe system of work in place to prevent operators wearing loose clothing, jewellery, long hair and unsuitable footwear

Camber Circular Knitting Machine

A circular knitting machine has a machine cylinder (where the needles are bedded) witch rotates around feeding the yarn to the needles and thus produces tubular knitted fabric. The diameter of the cylinder varies according to the needs. This machine is owned by one of the few remaining knitting factories in Finland in Kangasala, Neuletuote Koivunen Oy. The factory is privately owned and there is only one employee.

dB 80,9

Stibbe Circular Knitting Machine

A circular knitting machine has a machine cylinder (where the needles are bedded) witch rotates around feeding the yarn to the needles and thus produces tubular knitted fabric. The diameter of the cylinder varies according to the needs. This machine is owned by one of the few remaining knitting factories in Finland in Kangasala, Neuletuote Koivunen Oy. The factory is privately owned and there is only one employee.

Max. dB 79,5.

Irwin Mitchell has successfully secured a four figure compensation claim for a client diagnosed with noise induced hearing loss (NIHL).
Mr Lowry aged 63 from Loughborough worked as a Bentley Cotton Knitting machine operator at Coats Viyella Ltd (formerly Mansfield Knitwear Ltd and Nottingham Manufacturing Ltd) between 1977 and 1999. Mr Lowry used to load the yarn onto the knitting machines by hand, and once loaded would operate the knitting machines, which would automatically knit the yarn in the course of the production of clothing. However, the knitting machines produced high levels of noise and Mr Lowry was not provided with any hearing protection or training and was completely unaware about the possibility of his hearing being damaged by the loud noise.   Mr Lowry first noticed that he was having problems with his hearing in 2010 when he could not hear what his family and friends were saying during conversations, leading to him not being able to join in and feeling isolated. Having discussed his hearing problems with friends, he was advised that his hearing problems may have been caused by his exposure to loud industrial noise at work. In September 2010 Mr Lowry underwent a full hearing test and it was confirmed by the audiologist that he was suffering from a noise induced work related hearing loss. Mr Lowry’s award was secured by Industrial Disease specialist Reiss Matthews of the Workplace Illness team at the Birmingham office of national law firm Irwin Mitchell. Commenting on the award Reiss Matthews said "Mr Lowry was a hard working employee who devoted a large part of his life working for Coats Viyella Ltd and their predecessors. Regrettably, he was not warned of the dangers of being exposed to excessive noise for an extended period of time, nor was he provided with any protection. Accepted knowledge of the risks to health associated with exposure to noise dates back to 1963. Despite this knowledge many employees continued to be negligently exposed to noise by their employer without hearing protection.” Reiss continued that “This case highlights the importance of health and safety policies. Employers have a duty of care to their staff, and particularly when their work is carried out in a noisy environment the onus is on the employers to monitor the levels of noise so that all employees who may be exposed are given adequate protection and are subject to frequent health assessments. With proper precautions Mr Lowry’s condition could have been avoided."

https://www.hse.gov.uk/textiles/machinery/knitting.htm

https://www.irwinmitchell.com/client-stories/2012/july/four-figure-compe...