A 'young man at the very start of his career', he's lost a finger and can barely use another

A company has been fined £500,000 after a teenager lost a finger - and badly damaged another - following an incident. The 18-year-old apprentice was using a horizontal bandsaw unsupervised at the time, health and safety bosses have said.

He suffered the serious injuries to his fingers in the incident at Proline Engineering Limited in Worsely, Salford, on November 7, 2022. One finger was severed completely, while the other was surgically re-attached.

The now 20-year-old has been left with very little movement and nerve damage in the finger. He was on a work placement with the firm to gain experience in fabrication and engineering. He was just over a month into his stint at the firm when the incident happened.

READ MORE:Woman hit with huge bill and ordered to tear down extension down at home following planning 'saga'

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found he was being taught how to weld. The process required multiple sections of steel to be available to practice with.

Following a brief period of verbal training, he was permitted to cut lengths of steel into sections using a horizontal bandsaw, which was in a shipping container away from the main workshop.

HSE inspector Tracy Fox said: "This young man was at the very start of his career. As a result of this companies failures, he sustained serious and irreversible injuries that have been truly life changing. Those injuries have impacted on many aspects of his life and resulted in him having to undergo numerous operations and procedures. Once a keen mountain biker and member of his local gym, his hand grip is such that he can no longer take part in those activities that he used to love."

The day the incident happened, the teenager was working unsupervised when he noticed the bandsaw was not completing a full cut due to a build-up of metal debris underneath the sawblade. As he attempted to clear away the debris, his fingers came in contact with the moving sawblade. He was taken to hospital where he remained for six days.

The investigation found Proline Engineering Limited failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment, resulting in a failure to provide suitable guarding arrangements on the bandsaw; and had failed to put in place an adequate safe system of work. It also revealed inconsistencies and inadequacies in the provision of information, instruction, training and supervision for those required to use the bandsaw.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 at Manchester Magistrates' Court. It was were fined £500,000 and ordered to pay £5,317 costs at a hearing at on November 6 this year.

HSE inspector Ms Fox said: "Had even the most basic safeguards been put in place this incident would have been avoided. The risks arising from operating machines such as bandsaws are well known. HSE has clear guidance on the provision and used of work equipment that can help in preventing incidents like this from happening.

"We would like highlight that all employers should make sure they properly assess their workplace for these risks and act to ensure that effective measures are in place to minimise the risks associated with operating machinery.

"It is crucial that as part of this assessment employers consider and manage any increased risks that may be associated with inexperienced employees."