Health and Safety Failings – Timber firm fined after apprentice loses finger

Timber firm fined after apprentice loses finger

Key Facts:

• A timber firm have been prosecuted after a worker’s hand caught in machinery
• The HSE identified key safety failings, included a lack of guarding and safe systems of work.
• The timber firm was fined £18,000 plus costs of £844.50.

The Case:

An HSE investigation was launched into the health and safety practices of a timber firm in Rochdale after a young apprentice was injured whilst working on machinery.

The 16 year old apprentice was working alongside a colleague on a moulding machine when a piece of timber jammed and would not feed through the machine properly. The machine was opened in order to fix the machine. Whilst attempting to help, the teenage apprentice’s gloved right hand caught on the machine’s rotating cutters and he severely injured his hand. He lost his entire middle finger and part of his thumb.

The subsequent HSE investigation discovered that the timber firm had failed to not ensure the machine’s guards were installed safely and that there was a safe system of work in place.

The case was heard at Trafford Magistrates’ Court in May 2015 where the timber firm pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £18,000 and ordered to pay costs of £844.50.

What the HSE inspector had to say:

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Emily Osborne said:

‘This incident could have been easily prevented if the company had suitable measures in place to ensure workers did not come into contact with the rotating cutters. This would include not allowing apprentices to operate machinery and ensuring the guards on the machine were fitted correctly.

There was no safe system of work in place for the task as well as a lack of instructions and training to ensure workers knew how to carry out the task safely.

Instead, the firm’s failures led to a young worker suffering a severe injury, losing a finger and part of his thumb.’

What the law states:

Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 states:

‘It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.’

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