Saw Mill Fined after Worker Seriously Injures Hand
Brigstock Saw Mill in Kettering has been fined after an employee’s hand was injured when it was drawn into the rotating blade of an ineffectually guarded large band saw.
The employee, an agency worker, had been working together at the saw mill with another worker – levering material to be fed to the saw with a crowbar before he slipped and his left hand was pulled into the blade. He sustained serious injuries to his hand, in particular his ring finger, for which he later required plastic surgery to fix.
An investigation carried out by the Health & Safety Executive, revealed that the company had failed to ensure that the dangerous section of the saw could not be easily accessed.
Brigstock Saw Mill has since increased safety measures preventing the individual(s) operating the machine from standing at a dangerous distance from the saw, by putting a protective wooden box in place.
Midlands Renewable Fuels LLP (Brigstock Saw Mill) pleaded guilty to breaches of Regulation 11 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1999. The company was fined a total of £5,000 by the HSE and ordered to pay £876.50 in costs as well as a £175 victim surcharge.
HSE inspector Jenna McDade said after the hearing:
“Had the company taken suitable measures to ensure workers did not come into contact with the rotating blade, this incident would have been easily prevented. Had the saw been properly guarded, the agency worker would not have been injured.”
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Source: Health & Safety Executive
