Company fined for works accident

A hardwood floor company has been fined after a worker’s arm was punctured by a large piece of wood.

Paul Murdoch, 40, of Ollerton, was cutting walnut boards on a circular ripsaw at Weldon Contracts Ltd’s workshop in Caunton Road, Norwell, on September 11 2009 when a 90cm section broke off and punctured his arm.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the machine had no guards at the time of the incident, nor did it have a riving knife - a safety device at the back of the saw that pushes the two pieces of wood apart and prevents such incidents, known as kickbacks.

Nottingham magistrates were told the machine had been used a day before the incident for a different process known as deep cutting for which the guard and riving knife were removed. Neither had been replaced.

Weldon Contracts Ltd, of The Grange, Norton Disney, admitted breaching Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and was fined £6,000 with £4,773 costs.

After the hearing, inspector Lorna Sherlock said: “Mr Murdoch was extremely fortunate not to have been more seriously injured.

"Thanks to the actions of the site first aider who insisted on leaving the wood in place until Mr Murdoch got to hospital, he has made a full recovery.

"It could have so easily been a different story.”