A secondary school worker lost his finger in an accident in the technology department after not being trained how to use a dangerous saw safely.
Adi Soday sliced his right index finger off while using a circular bench saw as he cut wood to be used by pupils in a design and technology lesson at The Forest School in Horsham.
Mr Soday, 29, had not been trained how to use the machine safely despite having been allowed to use it on multiple occasions.
West Sussex County Council, which runs the school, has been fined after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive.
Mr Soday, who was 27 at the time of the incident on June 13, 2022, had been cutting sheets of wood for a lesson when he felt a pain in his finger.
After immediately stopping the machine, he looked down to see his amputated finger lying on the work bench.
The HSE investigation found that West Sussex County Council had not ensured that Mr Soday had been trained to use the circular saw despite having used it multiple times.
Inspector Russell Beckett said: “This incident could have been prevented had West Sussex County Council provided Mr Soday with proper training.
“Workers must be trained properly when using high risk woodworking such as bench circular saws.”
At a hearing at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, July 3, West Sussex County Council pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations.
It was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay nearly £5,000 in costs and a victim surcharge.
A West Sussex County Council spokesman said it had accepted responsibility for the breach and that it "took immediate action" to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
The council added: "This included reaffirming that all schools maintained by the county council with such workshops understand their duties under the Regulations, and supply evidence of compliance to West Sussex County Council.
“Schools are required to provide assurance that staff using equipment and machinery have been adequately trained and that proper records are held. The Council’s health and safety team conduct visits to monitor compliance and support schools to meet their obligations.”
The Forest School was also approached for comment.
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