Doctors managed to successfully reattach the thumb of a teenage apprentice after it had been severed off by a rotating blade
The 18-year-old was employed as an apprentice joiner by 3B Construction when the rotating blade incident happened during the conversion of a 19th century hunting lodge into a luxury hotel in the Highlands.
The company has been fined £40,000 at Tain Sheriff Court following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and a prosecution brought by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).
The teenager resumed his apprenticeship with another firm following the incident.
The thumb was successfully reattached, with limited ability
On 8 June 2021, the apprentice, who had been with the company for six months, was using a portable table saw to cut plasterboard during the project at Hope Lodge in Tongue.
He used his left hand to flick away material on the saw blade. His hand made contact with the rotating blade, cutting off his thumb. He raised the alarm with colleagues who took him to Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. His thumb was found a short time later and taken to the hospital.
After initial treatment the teenager was transferred to St John’s Hospital In Livingston where he underwent surgery to successfully reattach his thumb.
He believes his thumb is working to around 70% of what it used to be, and it has healed as much as it can. It is shorter than his other thumb, he can’t bend it fully and it is permanently swollen. In winter he suffers significant discomfort when the thumb becomes stiff and sore.
The HSE investigation found that 3B Construction failed to:
- undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to employees operating a table circular saw,
- ensure that the system of work for the operation of said saw was safe and appropriately supervised,
- provide your apprentice joiners with the information, instruction and training needed to operate said saw safely.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states employers must take effective measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery or to stop the movement of any dangerous parts of it before any part of a person enters a danger zone.
3B Construction Limited of Cassillis Business Park, Minishant Ayr pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £40,000 at Tain Sheriff Court on Tuesday 1 July 2025.
HSE inspector Norman Schouten said: “While this young man continues to live with the trauma and impact of this incident, it’s greatly encouraging to see him continuing to work as a joiner.
“However, it is only the efforts of medical professionals that prevented this from becoming a permanent amputation following the failures of the company.
“Companies and individuals should be aware that HSE and COPFS will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.”
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