Worker's fingers severed by wood cutting machine

Date:

30 September 2011

Release No:

WM509/11

The thumb and fingers on a worker's right hand were cut off while he was using a firewood processing machine at a Shropshire farm, a court heard.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted farmer Richard Griffiths, of Town Cottage Farm, Hughley, after the 16 December 2010 incident that left 26-year-old agency worker Stuart Tomlins with life-changing injuries.

Shrewsbury Magistrates' Court heard that Mr Tomlins, from Craven Arms, was trying to straighten a log that had become twisted in the machine's splitting chute.

As he put his right hand inside the chute, the hydraulic splitting ram, which pushes logs onto a blade activated, pushing his hand through the blade along with the log, severing his thumb and all four fingers.

He was airlifted to hospital, where surgeons reattached his thumb but could not reattach his fingers. The court heard he is still undergoing medical treatment and it is not known what use he will have of his injured hand.

HSE's investigation into the incident found that the splitting control lever on the machine had previously been forced, enabling the machine to run with the splitting chute guard open. This meant that the operator could reach the machine's dangerous moving parts.

Mr Tomlins, who had no previous experience of working on firewood processing machines, was not properly trained or supervised. He had only been working at the farm for a couple of weeks before the incident and had been instructed to use the machine with the guard in the open position.

Mr Griffiths pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. He was fined £14,000 in total and ordered to pay £8,500 costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Andrew Bowker said:

"A young man has been left with life-changing injuries, which are likely to cause permanent disability.

"Firewood processing machines are dangerous if they are not maintained properly and used safely.

"The defect on this machine was obvious and had been there for many months. If Mr Griffiths had carried out even a basic safety check, he should have identified the problem.

"Employers and individuals must make sure that firewood processors are suitably guarded and operators are fully trained and supervised so that they work to an agreed safe system of work."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce 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 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety."
3. Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair."
4. Visit http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/press.htm for further HSE press notices.

Press enquiries

Regional reporters should call the appropriate Regional News Network press office.

Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR West Midlands