Joinery firm fined £15,000

A London joinery firm has been fined £15,000 after a worker was seriously injured in an industrial accident.

During a hearing before City of London magistrates, Pentcroft of Wimbledon admitted breaching the health and safety regulations.

The court heard that employee Simon Lear lost part of a finger when using a circular saw in March 2010.

A subsequent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had allowed employees to use woodworking machinery without ensuring that they were adequately trained, informed of safe working practices, and supervised.

The court heard also that the company had no knowledge of the formal training that wood machinists should receive.

Additionally, an HSE inspector gave evidence that a month after the incident he had witnessed another employee using a spindle moulder without correct safety precautions in place.

The company was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £3,200 in costs.

"Woodworking machines have a long and serious accident history which is well known in the industry,” said senior HSE inspector Clare Hawkes.

“It is the employer's job to ensure that workers have sufficient information and training to work safely and that they are properly supervised. It is also the employer's responsibility to enforce safety rules, not the employees.

"There is a wealth of guidance on HSE's website about how to work safely on woodworking machinery, there was no need for Pentcroft Ltd's employees to be exposed to risks of injury."