Sawmill fined after horrific work accident

Sawmill sanctioned over 'horrific' injury 25739

An Elgin-based company has been fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a horrific sawmill accident.

Tennants was prosecuted by the Authority after the extent of lacerations sustained by Polish national Damian Gawlowski became clear.

Elgin Sheriff's Court was told that the 20-year-old worker was using a saw blade to cut pieces of timber, but as he did this, his arm was drawn into the machine and cut in half lengthways up to the elbow.

When the injured workman was rushed to hospital, doctors told him he had sustained serious ligament injury, as well as muscle and nerve damage. 

Mr Gawlowski has since lost one finger and part of another and had to go through 16 operations. He also struggles to complete day-to-day tasks with his right hand.

The HSE later established that the 20-year-old had not been given adequate training and this led Tennants to receive a £30,000 fine, after it pleaded guilty to a single breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

By Chris Stevenson

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