A Cornwall builder has been sentenced after one of his workers sustained serious, life-changing hand injuries whilst operating a handheld circular saw.

David Avent of Callington, Cornwall pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He has been fined £1,120 and ordered to pay costs of £8489.48.

Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard how David Avent, trading as David Avent Building Services, undertook a barn refurbishment in Callington during February 2017.


On 07 February, a worker, who had recently turned 17, was using a circular saw to cut wooden flooring sheets when the blade made contact with his hand causing serious, life-changing injuries. The saw blade cut fully through his index finger, three quarters through his middle finger and half way through his ring finger.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found David Avent had no record of any information, instruction and training that he had provided to his employee in the safe use of the circular saw nor had he ensured that safe working practices were followed when cutting the flooring sheet. The investigation also found that circular saw blade had not been properly adjusted for the size of material being cut at the time of the incident and the flooring sheet was not appropriately supported whilst being cut.