A local authority has been sentenced after a technician lost his finger while operating a machine. A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found West Sussex County Council, the local authority in charge of the school, failed to ensure the DT worker was trained to use the bench circular saw. He had used the saw many times but had not been trained on how to use it safely.

The HSE inspector said: “Workers must be trained properly when using high risk woodworking such as bench circular saws. This incident could have been prevented had West Sussex County Council provided the technician with proper training.”

Somerset Council have issued a Safety Alert for the Competence and safe use of woodworking and DT equipment to ensure that school leaders, managers and employees are suitably aware of, and protected from, hazards arising from use of machinery in DT (Design and Technology) lessons, specifically woodworking machinery.

Learn more:

Council fined as school technician loses finger | HSE Media Centre
Safety Alert: Competence and safe use of woodworking and DT equipment
Safe use of woodworking machinery ACOP L114
Safe System of Work how to create a SSW guide on EEC