04-07-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Teenager lost his thumb in Highland hotel horror incident
His thumb made contact with the blade and was cut off, with the man taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
Colleagues located his thumb a short time later and after initial treatment the teenager was transferred to St John's Hospital in Livingston where he underwent surgery to successfully reattach it.
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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 company for which he was working, 3B Construction, 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 HSE investigation found that 3B Construction failed to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to employees operating a table circular saw; failed to ensure that the system of work for the operation of said saw was safe and appropriately supervised; and failed to provide apprentice joiners with the information, instruction and training needed to operate said saw safely.
The saw table in the condition it was in when the teenager's thumb (not pictured) was cut off (Image: Asmar Gondal) The company pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) and Section 33(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and the man has since resumed his apprenticeship with another firm.
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.'
3B Construction has been approached for comment.
