A wood floor company based in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, was fined about $9,500 for removing the guard from a table saw, an action that resulted in one worker's arm being punctured by a large piece of wood, according to The Health and Safety Executive, the country's equivalent to OSHA.
A wood floor company based in Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, was fined about $9,500 for removing the guard from a table saw, an action that resulted in one worker's arm being punctured by a large piece of wood, according to The Health and Safety Executive, the country's equivalent to OSHA.
On Sept. 11, 2009, Paul Murdoch was cutting walnut boards at Weldon Contracts Ltd. when a nearly 35.5-inch-long section broke off and punctured his arm. Weldon Contracts was also ordered to pay about $7,500 in medical costs.
Investigators found out that the saw guard and riving knife-a safety device at the back of the saw that pushes the two pieces of wood apart-was removed from the saw one day prior to the incident for "deep cutting."
"This type of machine is wholly unsuitable for deep cutting as it cannot be carried out without first removing the guards and riving knife," said Inspector Lorna Sherlock. "Not only did the company fail in its duty to only use the machine for its intended purpose, it also failed in its duty to make sure it was fit for its correct purpose by re-attaching the guard and riving knife."
Sherlock continued: "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."
The Health and Safety Executive found that Weldon Contracts Ltd. had violated Britain's Regulation 4(3) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which states, "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is used only for operations for which, and under conditions for which, it is suitable."