A timber manufacturer has been fined after an incident on its site that caused a worker to lose three fingers.
David Broadway (36) was working at Pemberton Timber Frame Limited, a manufacturer of timber frame structures based in Evelyn Way, Ramsgate.
On 4 January 2023, Mr Broadway was working on this site, operating a panel saw. He was asked to perform a rip cut, which involves cutting down the thickness of a length of timber. The length of timber itself was too large to cut in one pass, so Mr Broadway fed it through the panel saw multiple times.
The incident was captured on CCTV footage, which shows Mr Broadway successfully completing the first cut. He flipped the length of timber over for a second cut, but this was much more difficult to pass through the saw. Footage shows Mr Broadway feeding the timber through the saw; while receiving it from the cut end, his right hand made contact with the saw blade.
His index, middle and ring fingers were instantly amputated, and his little finger was lacerated.
Mr Broadway said the accident has massively impacted in aspects of his life:
“I used to do weightlifting, ride my bike and keep active, I used to work a lot with my hands and I am now getting frustrated as I can’t do these things.
“Even normal activities like cooking or taking a shower are a challenge. It makes me feel stressed as I can’t do the everyday activities I used to do.”
Mr Broadway now also struggles to care for his children, including his young son, born after the accident.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the task Mr Broadway was asked to complete was not suitable for the panel saw.
Pemberton Timber Frame Ltd had also failed to ensure he received sufficient training or instruction on how to use the panel saw safely. This would have included vital information about the limitations of the saw, guarding and other safety features such as a riving knife and the use of a push stick.
The saw riving knife was also absent at the time of the incident.
HSE also discovered that machines capable of completing this task safely were available, but Mr Broadway was unaware of this. Had he been provided with suitable training, he could have utilised these machines instead of the panel saw.
Pemberton Timber Frame Ltd of The Strand, Walmer, Kent appeared at Sevenoaks Magistrates’ court on 8 January 2025. The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and were fined £12,000. They were also ordered to pay full costs of £4,034.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Ross Carter said:
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers.
“If a suitable safe system of work had been in place prior to the incident, the life changing injuries sustained by Mr Broadway would not have happened.”
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Peninsula Team, Peninsula Team
(Last updated )
Peninsula Team, Peninsula Team
(Last updated )
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