Timberline DIY Limited has been fined £40,000 after an employee injured three of his fingers while cleaning a band re-saw
On June 30th 2016, South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard how the worker was cleaning the saw at the premises on Riley Street, Jarrow, when he cut his fingers on a moving blade.
As a result of the injury, the worker was rushed to hospital where he had to have three of his fingers partially amputated.
A thorough investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the machine was not effectively braked which meant that the cutting blade took an excessive time to stop.
In addition, the investigation found failings in the guarding of the machine and that not enough training was given to the worker before they were allowed to operate the machine.
Timberline DIY Limited, of Riley Street, Jarrow, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £40,000 with £8,000 costs.
The company is a privately owned, timber merchant that offers timber and wood services to the North East of England.
After the hearing, Health and Safety Executive inspector Fiona McGarry said: “Woodworking machines run at very high speeds and workers are at risk during machine rundown.
“Fitting effective braking devices reduces the rundown time, making them safer for workers and this could have prevented this incident occurring.
“New machines should come with braking where necessary but older machines may require it to be retrofitted.’’
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety and works to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health through regulatory actions.
The HSE puts initiatives in place to influence and change behaviours across the whole industry to improve safety for employees within the sector.
These activities are supported by globally recognised scientific expertise.
