Contractor Fined for Health and Safety Breach
A contractor is being fined due to a carpenter’s finger loss. The worker sustained severe injury because of an unguarded power tool. The HSE decided to prosecute after examining the workstation risk assessments in place. It was found that the carpenter was working on refurbishing several flats when the incident happened in 2009. The worker was 22 at the time and working at a Cleveland Street property. He and his brother were working on insulating and levelling floors on the second storey. The workers were provided with hand tools, but the unguarded bench saw was from the construction company.
The court heard that the young man was putting timber through the saw, but the wood slipped causing his hand to be caught in the saw blade. Half of his little finger and half of his ring finger were damaged enough to cause a loss. The damage has required several surgeries to repair nerve and tendon issues. It has also meant a career change for him.
With proper health and safety, the incident could have been avoided. If the guard had been fitted on the saw, the young man would not have suffered a loss of fingers or undergone multiple surgeries. A new saw with a guard was put on the site after the incident, but it was too late for this individual. The saw guard should have been onsite in the beginning to ensure that no problem would have arisen for any of the workers.
