Wirral business admits health and safety breaches after man severs fingers
11 Sep 2020
Kitchencraft admitted fault after one of their employees severed his fingers in a circular saw.
A West Kirby kitchen-fitting firm has accepted it had breached health and safety procedures which led to an apprentice severing his fingers in June 2016.
This month, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the company at Liverpool Magistrates Court, where the company was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £17,000 in compensation.
The apprentice was unsupervised when using the circular blade and was working on an unguarded table when his hand came into contact with the machinery. Although his fingers were saved lasting injury has been caused meaning he is currently reassessing his future career.
The breaches were as follows:
Training on the machinery had not been provided to the apprentice
The apprentice has not been properly supervised
The company had failed to ensure a suitable guard was provided and used
The employee was not supplied with appropriate push stick or holder when using the machinery
The HSE investigation also found that Kitchencraft did not have Compulsory Employers Liability insurance at the time of the incident.
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.
At Percy Hughes & Roberts, we understand the lasting effects an accident at work like this can have on an employee. We will always look to guide an individual through a possible claim against their employer and will look to ensure preventable accidents like this are reduced.
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