Flooring firm fined after worker injury

Date:

19 January 2012

Release No:

HSE/297/11

A hardwood floor company has been fined after a worker's arm was punctured by a large piece of wood.

Paul Murdoch, 40, of New Ollerton, Nottinghamshire, was cutting walnut boards on a circular ripsaw at Weldon Contracts Ltd's workshop in Caunton Road, Norwell, on 11 September 2009 when a 90 centimetre section broke off and punctured his arm.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had no guards at the time of the incident, nor did it have a riving knife - a safety device at the back of the saw which pushes the two pieces of wood apart and prevents such incidents, known as kickbacks.

Nottingham magistrates were today told the machine had been used a day before the incident for a different process known as deep cutting which had seen the guard and riving knife removed. Neither had been replaced.

Weldon Contracts Ltd, of The Grange, Norton Disney, Lincolnshire, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £6,000 with £4,773 costs.

Following the hearing, inspector Lorna Sherlock said:

"This type of machine is wholly unsuitable for deep cutting as it cannot be carried out without first removing the guards and riving knife.

"Not only did the company fail in its duty to only use the machine for its intended purpose, it also failed in its duty to make sure it was fit for its correct purpose by re-attaching the guard and riving knife.

"Mr Murdoch was extremely fortunate not to have been more seriously injured. Thanks to the actions of the site first aider who insisted on leaving the wood in place until Mr Murdoch got to hospital, he has made a full recovery. It could have so easily been a different story."

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. Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states: "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is used only for operations for which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable."

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