
![]() |
Edward Lowton
Editor |
![]() ![]() |
Shed manufacturer fined following hand injury
25 July 2019
A garden shed manufacturer has been fined after an accident at its site in Gateshead resulted in an employee losing the tip of his right thumb and damaging tendons in his right hand.
North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court heard that on 26 July 2017 the employee of David Bell, who trades as Leam Lane Garden Sheds, was using a rip saw to cut the apex of a shed. The riving knife of the rip saw was missing and during this process the employee’s hand came into contact with the blade of the saw resulting in him losing the tip of his right thumb and damaging tendons in his index and middle finger on his right hand.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the employer had not isolated the saw to prevent it from being used until it had been repaired. It also failed to ensure the employee had received suitable and sufficient training in the use of woodworking machinery.
David Bell, trading as Leam Lane Garden Sheds, of Salt Meadows Road, Gateshead pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £925.90.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Victoria Crofton said: “Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise risk from woodworking machinery, and provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers. They must also ensure any defective equipment cannot be used.
“Had this been done this worker would not have suffered these serious injuries.”
- £200,000 fine after worker fatally injured
- Steel firm fined following worker’s death
- Construction materials manufacturer fined after worker loses arm
- Worker loses legs in compressed air explosion
- West Midlands manufacturing company fined after worker crushed
- Manufacturer in court after worker loses arm
- Manufacturer fined after worker crushed by roller
- Company fined following leak testing death
- Company fined £1,350,000 after pressure test fault
- Number of UK workers killed jumps
- No related articles listed