Firm fined after worker nearly loses fingertip
Thursday, 8th November 2001.
A WOMAN’S fingertip was almost severed in an accident with a machine used for cutting material, a court has heard.
Project Office Furniture in Haverhill, which employs 270 people in the town, admitted a charge of failing to ensure the safety of its employees at Sudbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Magistrates imposed a £4,000 fine and also ordered the company to pay £903 in costs.
Chairman of the Bench Hugh Newman said aggravating factors in the ease were the company’s failure to act on a safety assessment in 1998 and that an employee was injured.
However, the magistrates had also taken into account the company’s early guilty plea and its good working relationship with the Health and Safety Executive since the accident.
Peter Nickerson, a Health and Safety inspector, said a maximum fine of up to £20,000 could be imposed for the offence.
In February this year Pauline Suffling, who had worked for Project for 23 years, was using a power cutter when she cut her ring finger, almost severing the top. The finger was saved, but she continues to suffer discomfort and loss of feeling in it.
A risk assessment on the machine had been done by the company in 1998, concluding the risk was low, but there was a possible need for people to wear chain mail gloves.
After the accident gloves had he been provided and people instructed to wear them. A civil case for compensation is currently under way.
“If gloves had been worn the risk of injury would have been minimal.
“They should have been provided after the first risk assessment.” Mr Nickerson said.
Ian Myers, for Project, said there was strong mitigation for the company and, regrettable as the accident was, it was not the worst of its kind.
“The company take their health a safety responsibilities very seriously. They have a good safety record and no previous convictions. They were not being cost conscious, this is not a case of putting profit before safety, this had just slipped through the net.” Mr Myers said.
Project Office Furniture in Haverhill, which employs 270 people in the town, admitted a charge of failing to ensure the safety of its employees at Sudbury Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
Magistrates imposed a £4,000 fine and also ordered the company to pay £903 in costs.
Chairman of the Bench Hugh Newman said aggravating factors in the ease were the company’s failure to act on a safety assessment in 1998 and that an employee was injured.
However, the magistrates had also taken into account the company’s early guilty plea and its good working relationship with the Health and Safety Executive since the accident.
Peter Nickerson, a Health and Safety inspector, said a maximum fine of up to £20,000 could be imposed for the offence.
In February this year Pauline Suffling, who had worked for Project for 23 years, was using a power cutter when she cut her ring finger, almost severing the top. The finger was saved, but she continues to suffer discomfort and loss of feeling in it.
A risk assessment on the machine had been done by the company in 1998, concluding the risk was low, but there was a possible need for people to wear chain mail gloves.
After the accident gloves had he been provided and people instructed to wear them. A civil case for compensation is currently under way.
“If gloves had been worn the risk of injury would have been minimal.
“They should have been provided after the first risk assessment.” Mr Nickerson said.
Ian Myers, for Project, said there was strong mitigation for the company and, regrettable as the accident was, it was not the worst of its kind.
“The company take their health a safety responsibilities very seriously. They have a good safety record and no previous convictions. They were not being cost conscious, this is not a case of putting profit before safety, this had just slipped through the net.” Mr Myers said.
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