Tuesday 19 February 2019

Lack of brake on circular saw costs man all fingers on one hand

B B & B Leisure Parks Limited, the operator of Twinlakes Family Theme Park at Melton Mowbray was fined £57,474 (inc.costs) after one of its employees was badly injured whilst using a circular saw.
The circumstances were:
  • The accident occurred on a circular saw.
  • The company had failed to fit the saw with a brake to stop the blade safely after being switched off. 
  • The company had not provided the employee with appropriate training in the use of this machine.
  • The injured person was part of the maintenance team for the park. 
  • On, 9 October 2017, after cutting a piece of wood on the saw, he pressed the stop button and went round the saw to collect the cut pieces of wood. 
  • In reaching for the wood, his hand caught the rotating saw blade, severing his thumb and all four fingers on his right hand.

The HSE inspector said:
“The company had identified that the saw needed a brake, but had not yet fitted one. It also should not have allowed an untrained worker to use a woodwork machine such as this saw. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures which may include both hardware measures and training to effectively control risks.”

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