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A kitchen-fitting firm has been fined after an employee’s fingers were severed whilst using an unguarded circular saw.

Liverpool Magistrates’ Court heard how, on the 27^th June 2016, an apprentice of Kitchencraft (Wirral) Limited was working unsupervised on an unguarded table saw when his left hand came into contact with the blade. The apprentice suffered injuries including a laceration to this thumb while two of his fingers were completely severed. Despite his fingers later being reattached, the apprentice has been left with a lasting injury to his hand resulting in him having to reassess his future career.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found training had not been provided to the apprentice on the safe use of the saw and he had not been appropriately supervised. The company failed to ensure a suitable guard was provided and used, or that the employee was supplied with an adequate push stick or holder to use in conjunction with the saw.

The HSE investigation also found that Kitchencraft (Wirral) Limited did not have Employers Liability Compulsory insurance in place at the time of the incident.

Kitchencraft (Wirral) Limited of Edith Road, Wallasey, Wirral, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Section 1(1) of the Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969.

The company was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs, the company was also ordered to pay a £17,000 compensation order.

HSE inspector Catherine Lyon said after the hearing: “Had the company in this case simply provided the appropriate guarding on the saw, this incident could have been prevented.

“Good management of health and safety applies to all duty-holders, including small companies, and every employer must ensure they have Employers Liability (Compulsory) Insurance in place. Where employers are found to be in breach of this requirement, they will be held to account by HSE.”

Notes to editors 

1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. It helps Great Britain work well by applying a broad range of regulatory interventions and scientific expertise, to prevent work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice, promoting training, new or revised regulations and codes of practice, and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. More about the legislation referred to in this case can be found at: www.legislation.gov.uk/

3.            HSE news releases are available at http://press.hse.gov.uk