Company fined after worker's saw injury

Date:

24 September 2010

Release No:

COI-E-32

A manufacturing company has been fined after a worker suffered a serious injury when using a circular saw.

The employee was using the saw to cut a block of plastic at the company's site in Essex when his finger was caught by the blade.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the guard had been removed for a previous job and not replaced.

Basildon Magistrates' Court heard today that the employee suffered permanent nerve damage and could have lost his middle finger had the saw been running faster when the incident happened on 24 March this year.

WCM Europe Limited, of West Mayne Industrial Park, Basildon, admitted breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Magistrates fined the company £6,000 and ordered it to pay £2,741 in costs.

HSE inspectors also found that the company did not supervise or train staff properly for work with dangerous machinery.

HSE Inspector, Toni Drury, said:

"This was a serious and incident which has left this employee with permanent nerve damage in his hand.

"WCM Europe Limited failed to make sure that only properly trained employees had access and authorisation to use the saw. The company also failed to adequately supervise the job and ensure that the saw was used safely and with the guards in place.

"Incidents like this are entirely preventable. Employers must provide appropriate training, supervision and equipment. HSE will not hesitate to take action against employers failing to comply with the law."

Latest statistics for the East of England show that two people were killed and 342 suffered a major injury while working in the manufacturing industry in 2008/09.

For more information on health and safety in manufacturing go to www.hse.gov.uk/manufacturing

Notes to editors

1. Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at work etc Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees."
2. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement.
3. For specific advice on supervision of working with circular saws and similar equipment see http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg440.htm

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Issued on behalf of HSE by COI News & PR (East)