Scott Timber fined for worker injury

Scott Timber has been fined £5,000 after a worker lost his finger operating a circular saw.

Scott was fined at Stafford Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to breaching health and safety regulations.

A 42-year-old worker severed his finger on the circular bench saw at Scott’s Stoke-on-Trent premises in January 2011.

A Health & Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the saw’s top guard had not been adjusted correctly, with the required “push stick” protection device not attached. The employee had also not been given sufficient training.

The employee was off work for several months afterwards.

HSE inspector Katharine Walker said circular saws had a relatively high accident rate in the woodworking industry.

“The majority of circular saw bench incidents result in fingers being severed, or requiring amputation, and in most cases occur when the saw guard was either missing or not properly adjusted,” she said.

Scott was also ordered to pay £2,309 costs.