Timber firm fined after worker injured

Date:

17 August 2011

Release No:

HSE/EM/224/11

A Lincolnshire timber company has been fined after a worker suffered a severe and permanent hand injury while using a circular saw.

A 20-year-old production operative had part of his left thumb severed at Kestrel Timber Frame Ltd, Northfield Road, Market Deeping while cutting insulation foam.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), prosecuting, told Spalding Magistrates that the employee was using a table mounted circular saw when his hand was caught in the blade.

HSE told the court it had become standard practice by employees to remove the guard as the height adjustment mechanism on the saw was broken. In addition, the table saw was not big enough to adequately support the foam being cut, therefore it was necessary for him to support the foam with his hands rather than using a push-stick.

The employee was off work for seven weeks after the 11 May 2010 incident but has since returned to his job.

After today's hearing, HSE inspector Emma Madeley said:

"The company neglected its legal duty to take reasonably practicable steps to ensure the safety of their employees.

"The injured man's employers failed to provide equipment which would allow the job to be done safely and, as a result, a young employee suffered serious injury in a completely preventable incident."

Kestrel Timber Frame Ltd, of Bourne, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Section (2)1 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £6,700 and ordered to pay full costs of £4,117.

Notes to editors

1. 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. www.hse.gov.uk
2. 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.

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