Woodworking trainee’s injury on panel saw lands furniture manufacturer in court

An Essex furniture manufacturer has been fined after a teenage worker suffered severe hand injuries whilst using a panel saw unsupervised.

The woodworking trainee, who does not wish to be named, was employed part time at the manufacturing plant in Brightlingsea, Essex, when the incident occurred on 19 February 2013.

The 17-year-old was working unsupervised in the company’s workshop and decided to use a panel saw to cut a sheet of MDF. As he was feeding the MDF through the saw by hand, he pushed down on the board with his right hand to keep the MDF sheet flat.

But his hand was too close to the saw and was caught by the revolving blade. He suffered severe lacerations across the palm, fingers and back of the hand.

The young worker, from Brightlingsea, had to undergo surgery to replace shattered bone and needed skin grafts to repair tissue damage. He will require further surgery to improve mobility in his hand as he is still unable to properly bend his hand and fingers.

The incident was investigated by the HSE, which on 28 March prosecuted the employers for serious safety failings.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court was told that on the day of the incident, many of the experienced employees – including the supervisor – were away attending an exhibition. The experienced woodworkers who remained had not been instructed to take responsibility for the supervision of young workers or to challenge any unsafe working practices they observed.

As a result, the teenager, who divided his week between his work training at the firm and a woodwork course at a local college, had been left on his own in the workshop with no replacement supervisor.

HSE found that despite having employed young people who were still in part-time education, the company:
•    failed to carry out a Young Persons’ risk assessment
•    did not provide written safe-working instructions, and
•    failed to implement any formal supervision or mentoring arrangements

The non-BWF member company, was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £699 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and Regulation 19(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Paul Grover, said:

“The incident was a direct consequence of the company’s failure to complete a specific assessment of the risks that a young person would encounter when carrying woodworking operations at their site. Had they done so, the vulnerability of the young worker, due to his immaturity, lack of training and appreciation of risk, would have been identified.

The safety of your workers is of prime importance. The BWF's comprehensive 91 page Guide to Health and Safety in the woodworking industry includes guidance on young persons in the workplace and with HSE recovering costs at a rate of £1000/day for inspections during which a breach is found, BWF has prepared a number of resources to help you mitigate Health and Safety risk such as:

– A 12 point ‘Health and Safety: the essentials’ checklist to help prevent you getting caught out and advice on what HSE field inspectors are looking for in our Health and Safety publications.

– Our selection of woodworking machinery safety cards

– Health and Safety training – including machine refresher training, Health & Safety management qualifications and more.

– As a member you can also ring our Health and Safety helpline on 0844 209 2610.

Look out for our brand new 'BWF Health & Safety Hero' initiative to reduce accidents in the workshop.