A firm in Powys has been fined £10,000 after a woodworker lost his arm clearing sawdust from under a circular saw.
59-year-old Brian Morris, from Llanbadarn Fynnyd was working at Stagecraft Display Ltd.’s factory near Llandrindod Wells when the incident occurred in February 2012.
Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court heard how Mr Morris had finished sawing after an 11-hour shift and all that remained was for him to clean down the saw and saw well. Stopping the machine, he opened the door of the well but the blade was still running at the time. He knelt down on one knee and blew air into the well in an effort to clear the dust however; as he did this a forklift truck came into the factory. As he turned to look the moving blade caught his jacket sleeve, cutting his right arm. He managed to pull himself free but his arm was practically wholly severed.
Mr Morris was admitted to hospital, where he remained for a month however doctors weren’t able to successfully reattach his arm and he needed to have an amputation below his elbow. As a result of the incident, Mr Morris was unable to return to work and he has since died from an unrelated illness.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that whilst the machine had been fitted with an interlock, stopping power to the saw once the door to the saw well was opened it took in excess of 30 seconds for it to come to a halt completely.
The court also heard how a self-employed machine maintenance engineer had inspected the saw three months prior to the incident occurring and told a manager at the company that it needed to be taken out of service or alternatively fitted with a brake, which would have stopped the blade much sooner.
The company was fined £10,000 alongside costs of £11,865 after it pleading guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act.
“This incident was entirely preventable,” said HSE inspector Damian Corbett, who spoke after the hearing. “Saws cause the most injuries in the woodworking industry and power-operated circular saws are dangerous machines which have caused many serious incidents.
“Employees should not be able to gain access to dangerous parts of the machinery while they are moving and Stagecraft Display had a duty, as do all employers, to ensure that this cannot happen.
“Unfortunately in this case the saw had not finished rotating despite the fact that Mr Morris had switched it off and he then inadvertently came into contact with the moving blade, suffering a horrific injury.”