The owner of a Penrith wood processing plant has today been fined £20,000 after a worker had his foot completely severed by a log shavings machine just two weeks into his new job.

Allan Wilson Jenkinson, aged 56, of Clifton Moor, Clifton, Penrith, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for putting workers at risk. He was also ordered to pay £6,146 in costs
 

Penrith Magistrates Court heard that a 24-year-old employee of A W Jenkinson Forest Products in Clifton, owned by Mr Jenkinson, was using a chainsaw to deal with a stuck log in the log box at the end of a conveyor. He lost his balance and his right foot became caught in the 48 razor-sharp revolving blades at the bottom of the log box.

The employee, who was working alone, crawled out of the log shavings box and used a radio to call for help. He had only worked at the firm for 15 days on a temporary contract before the incident occurred on 25 June 2009. He was a keen footballer and sportsman who had an upcoming trial with a local football club.
 

Source: HSE