Once again safety measures are inadequately followed in the workplace resulting in a large fine for one sawmill. Employers  must ensure that machinery with dangerous moving parts must have adequate guards and adequate training is delivered, these accidents are easily prevented.:

Safety and Health Practioner (SHP) has again reported on an easily avoided workplace accident. They write:

“A sawmill has been fined after a worker injured his finger when his hand came into contact with the moving parts of a machine.

Plymouth Magistrates’ court heard how, on 20 March 2018, an employee of Truro Sawmills was examining the moving parts at the rear of a saw to check why it had been cutting inaccurately. The saw remained in operation while he did so, and his glove became caught in the moving parts causing him to sever his index finger on his left hand.

An investigation by the HSE found the company failed to ensure that access to a cross-cut saw’s dangerous moving parts was prevented by the use of a guard, and failed to deliver adequate training to their employees.

Truro Sawmills of Pendale, Penhallow, Truro, Cornwall pleaded guilty of breaching Regulation 11 (1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) and Section 2 (1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974. The company was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,594.”

If you believe you have grounds for a work accident claim, please talk to our Personal Injury Team.