Reaseheath College fined £40k after teen saws off fingers | Northwich Guardian

A LEADING land-based college in Cheshire was fined after one of its teenage student cut off three of his fingers with a disc saw.

Reaseheath College admitted breaching heath and safety laws after second-year horticulture student, Aaron McGuire, suffered life-changing injuries when his hand came into contact with a mitre saw's cutting disk.

The incident happened on September 20, 2023, as Aaron was using the saw to cut a piece of wood along its length.

On the day of the incident, the youngster's tutor had witnessed him using the saw improperly, but he was allowed to use it again later without supervision.

The wood twisted and pulled his hand into the cutting disc of the saw, severing two fingers and the thumb on his left hand.

Following an eight-hour operation, surgeons managed to successfully re-attach Aaron’s thumb and index finger, but the middle finger could not be saved.

Adam McGuire is worried his next operation on his hand might stop him from starting university in September (Image: HSE) An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the college, which specialises in training for outdoor careers, failed to adequately risk assess or produce a written safe system of work for using the mitre saw.

It had also failed to keep proper training records, and provided no refresher course for using the saw following the students’ return from their summer break.

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In light of the findings, the HSE decided a criminal prosecution was appropriate, which was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer, Edward Parton, and paralegal officer, Jason Dix.

Reaseheath College appeared at Chester Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, June 4, where it pleaded guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

It was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £6,106 court costs.

As a result of his injuries, keen hockey player Aaron said everyday tasks were now more difficult.

The 19-year-old said: “Although my left hand is not my dominant hand, I have had to adjust to doing things I would normally do with my left hand, such as cutting food and picking up everyday objects like glasses and cups.

“I cannot grip things properly and it makes it difficult to do the hobbies I did.

“Prior to the incident, I was a keen hockey player. I still try to play hockey now, but it is nowhere near the level I was playing at before I had my injury.”

More than 18 months on, Aaron has been told that he requires further surgery to his middle finger, which he hopes won’t affect his plans to go to university in September.

He added: “There are a number of reasons why an operation needs to take place.

“One of them is because the bone in my index finger is gradually sliding down and pushing into the skin on my hand.

“The operation is due to take place later this year.

“If the timing of the operation occurs around September when I am due to start my university course, this will have a significant impact on my studies.”

HSE guidance states in addition to being adequately trained, users must demonstrate competence, and the level of supervision should be directly related to the level of competence.

It also states young people warrant special consideration due to their judgement and lack of experience.

HSE inspector, Summer Foster, said: “Places of education and workplaces must ensure they have properly assessed the risks where young people are using dangerous machinery.

“If suitable training, an assessment of competence, and appropriate supervision had been carried out, then this accident would not have been able to happen.

“A young man has been left with life-changing injuries as a result.”

A spokesman for Reaseheath College said: “The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff are our top priority and we are very sorry this incident occurred. "We are very pleased Aaron was able to complete and pass his course, and we wish him well in his future career and look forward to supporting it whenever required.

“As an industry focused land-based college, we are committed to ensuring our students are well prepared for industry, and we have an excellent health and safety record before and since this incident nearly two years ago.

“Following this isolated incident, we took immediate and robust action to review where any processes needed to be strengthened and ensured any lessons to be learned were implemented rapidly.

“Our goal always is to ensure our students and staff have the safest environment.

"We will continue to work with the HSE and other regulatory bodies across our many specialist operations to ensure we meet or exceed expectations.”