The teenage employee of a Cornwall-based timber company is now considering bringing a work accident claim against his employer after he nearly lost the use of his hand completely after it came in contact with a vertical panel saw.
Truro, Cornwall native Lewis Maker, aged eighteen, had only been with his new employer for five days before his hand had been dragged against the razor-sharp blade of a panel saw, according to accident claim specialists with insider knowledge with the case.
While Mr Maker attempted to cut one piece of board on the saw, he severed the top part of his hand. Mr Maker has regained only limited movement in the hand following doctors’ valiant efforts to re-attach the top part of his hand, say personal injury claims specialists.
The Government’s Health and Safety Executive launched an investigation into the incident, revealing that the teenage worker had not received any proper training at all on how to operate the saw in a safe manner. Due to the investigative efforts of the HSE, the young man’s former employer, Frame Homes (South West) Ltd, located in Redruth at the Cardrew Industrial Estate, received a fine of £20,000 after it entered a plea of guilty to being in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act. The company was also ordered to pay £13,700 in legal fees and other court costs to Truro Magistrates’ Court.
One inspector for the HSE, speaking in the wake of the hearing, remarked that the teenage worker’s life changing injuries could have been avoided quite easily if only the company would have provided a satisfactory level of training. The inspector also stated that employers need to be responsible for providing adequate training and instruction to their employees as well as competent levels of supervision.