Main Line Timber has been fined £10,000 with costs of £1,000 after an employee lost two fingers on his left hand while working on machinery.
The 27-year-old employee of the Daventry-based timber gate manufacturer was pulled into the rotating blade of an inadequately guarded circular saw on 25 July 2014.
The saw was not fitted with a riving knife or 'take off' table when the incident happened.
Northampton Magistrates' Court heard that the employee had been working on the saw alone and was both feeding and removing large pieces of timber from the saw when a piece of wood snagged and pulled his left hand into the blade.
The workers left hand was severely injured, with his little finger and ring finger subsequently amputated.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had failed to ensure that required safety features were installed on the machine and to maintain the condition of the top guard on the saw.
In addition, the employee did not receive adequate training for use of the saw and there was an unsafe system of work in place.
Main Line Timber pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
After the hearing, HSE Inspector Jenna McDade, said: "Had the company taken suitable measures to ensure workers did not come into contact with the rotating blade, had the saw been properly guarded and fitted with relevant safety features and had employees been provided with adequate training, this young man would not have lost two of his fingers."
(LM)
Construction News
12/08/2015
Main Line Timber Fined After Employee Loses Fingers On Machinery

01/04/2025
Galliford Try's Building East Midlands business has officially broken ground on a £63 million Single Living Accommodation (SLA) project at RAF Digby, Lincolnshire.
The historic base, the Royal Air Force's oldest station established in 1918, will see the construction of four new Junior Ranks SLA bu

01/04/2025
The regeneration of Nottingham city centre has taken a significant step forward following an agreement for Homes England to acquire the Broad Marsh site from Nottingham City Council.
As the Government's housing and regeneration agency, Homes England will take ownership of the former shopping centre

01/04/2025
Work has officially commenced on Morgan Sindall Construction's latest education project in Greater Manchester, the permanent home for Star Radcliffe Academy, a five-form entry secondary school with space for 750 students aged 11-16.
Operated by Star Academies, one of the UK’s highest-performing mul

01/04/2025
The UK's construction industry is experiencing a significant upturn, driven by ambitious government initiatives to build 1.5 million homes and undertake major infrastructure projects.
This surge has spotlighted a critical challenge: the need for a skilled workforce to meet escalating demands. Rece

01/04/2025
Plans to acquire 10 two-bedroom homes in the village of Hook have been approved by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing.
The purchase, supported by Welsh Government funding, will see the council secure the properties from Kooner Properties Ltd, which is currently developing the

01/04/2025
The relocation and expansion of Fred Nicholson School took a major step forward as pupils visited the construction site and participated in a ceremonial steel signing.
The school, which serves children and young people aged 7 to 16 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), is moving f

01/04/2025
Castlemere Developments has appointed Ryan Morrissey as project manager to oversee its legacy and new developments.
The 34-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to the Windsor-based company, which has a number of ongoing projects across London and the south east.
Morrissey's most recent role

01/04/2025
Rail passengers traveling across the Pennines over the Easter weekend are being urged to plan ahead as major upgrade work between Huddersfield and Dewsbury is set to impact train services from Saturday 19 to Monday 21 April.
As part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), engineers will be carryin

31/03/2025
GMI Construction Group has announced the practical completion of Citylabs 4.0, a cutting-edge 125,000 sq. ft laboratory and workspace development, further solidifying Manchester’s position as a leader in life sciences and healthcare technology.
Developed in partnership with Bruntwood SciTech and Ma

31/03/2025
Kier has completed the construction of HMP Millsike for the Ministry of Justice, increasing prison capacity by approximately 1,500 and marking a significant milestone in the UK’s prison infrastructure.
The facility was officially opened by Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Rt. Hon