Engineering company fined, USA News (Brackley): An engineering company has been penalized following an incident where a young worker suffered a finger amputation while operating equipment. Thomas Davies, 21, is set to receive £15,000 in compensation after reaching into an inadequately guarded automatic saw.
The worker reached into a machine at Dlinexsign Ltd, a signage company based in Brackley, to retrieve a cut piece of material. As he went to grab the material, his hand came into contact with a moving saw blade, resulting in the loss of part of his finger. Mr. Davies accessed the dangerous moving parts while the machine was running.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the firm failed to take effective measures to prevent access to the dangerous parts of the machine. An inspector for the organization noted that the incident could have been prevented.
HSE Inspector Dulanjala Kandana-Arachchige stated that the event demonstrates serious consequences when machinery access is not effectively prevented. Employers must ensure proper guarding and effective measures to protect workers from dangerous moving parts, according to the regulator.
Court Proceedings and Penalties
Dlinexsign Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 11(1) of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. The firm was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £15,000 in compensation to Mr. Davies at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on October 23, 2026. The company was additionally ordered to pay £9,9064.34 in prosecution costs. The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Tom Ledden-Rocks and paralegal officer Natalie Ellis.
