Sawmilling firm faces hefty fines following two work accidents

10:43:00 Thursday 2nd September 2010

Two employees at a Troon-based sawmilling company have been seriously injured in separate workplace accidents less than three months apart.

The sawmill company, Adam Wilson and Sons, has been fined £28,000 following the work accidents, which took place between May and August 2007.

The first incident involved a 55-year-old worker from Dalmellington, Ayrshire, who fell through a gap in a raised walkway left open after work had been done on a conveyor belt below.

He suffered serious injuries to his arm and permanent loss of movement in his shoulder.

Then, in August, a 59-year-old man got his head was trapped between the metal parts of a hoist after it was switched on while he was working on it and suffered serious crush injuries to his head and neck, requiring emergency surgery.

When The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) carried out an investigation, they discovered that the firm did not have safe systems in place for maintaining the conveyor belt or the hoist machine, or proper staff training or supervision in place.

The firm pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in both cases.
HSE Inspector Helen Diamond said, “These were two serious and entirely preventable accidents which will affect both the men for the rest of their lives.”

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