A concrete product supplier has been prosecuted after a worker lost the top of his finger while using a table saw to cut wood.

Llanharan Concrete Co, of Llanharry Road, Llanharan pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety Regulations 1999. It has been fined £6,000 with £1,889 in costs.

Cardiff Magistrates' Court heard how the worker was using the table saw to cut wood when his glove became entangled with the moving saw of the blade. He was rushed to hospital where he underwent surgery to amputate the top of his left index finger to the first knuckle.

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A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found there was a lack of supervision, no risk assessment or safe system of work was in place for using the table saw, and no training was given to the worker before using the saw.

Previously, the company had been advised by a HSE inspector and their own health and safety consultants to implement safe systems of work for their machinery.

HSE inspector Lee Jones said: "This injury could have easily been prevented had the risk been identified.

"Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from dangerous parts of machinery."

(LM/MH)