Worker loses tips of two fingers in band saw

A fabrication company have been fined after a worker lost the tips of two fingers while working with a band saw.
The court heard that the employee was assisting a saw operator to cut ducting by holding the metal while the band saw vice was tightened, before the saw was used to cut the metal, however on one particular cut the saw was lowered and cut the tip off two of his fingers on his right hand.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the saw operators had in the past been removing the guard on a number of occasions whilst this particular job was being carried out as it got in the way.
There was inadequate information, training and supervision, allowing the band saw to be used in an unsafe way, both on the day of the incident and during the period leading up to it.
The company was fined a total of £3,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,336 after pleading guilty to an offence under Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER).