February 14, 2018

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In court

Worker’s hand partially severed in chop saw

A manufacturing company based in Gloucester has been fined after an incident at its site resulted in a worker having his fingers and part of his palm severed.

Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court was told how on 2 August 2016 Petr Jelinek, an employee of Mercury Specialist Frames Limited, was in the process of using an Omga chop saw when the blade fell onto his right hand, severing the fingers of his right hand above the knuckles.

No risk assessments

The Health and Safety Executive’s investigation found that the company failed to provide sufficient information and instruction, and there were no risk assessments or safe systems of work in place.

Mercury Specialist Frames Limited of Goodrich Business Park, Gloucester pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,057.72.

Responsibility for safe methods

Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Tania Nickson said: “Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to inform, instruct and train their workers in the safe system of working.”

“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the serious injuries sustained by the employee could have been prevented.”

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