Herefordshire joinery firms rapped over safety

Two Herefordshire joinery firms have been rapped over safety failings.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) served an immediate prohibition notice on RJ Joinery & Equestrian Services of Glanwye Business Park, immediately over the English border from Hay-on-Wye, over use of a circular table saw.

Without a suitable top guard and riving knife (a safety device installed on the saw), there was a risk of serious personal injury, with operators “liable to suffer cuts or amputation” from contact with the saw, inspectors said.

The HSE directed that use of the saw cease until the safety issues were addressed.

It has also served an improvement notice on another Herefordshire firm, T J Crump Oakwrights of Sugwas Farm west of Hereford, saying the traditional housebuilder failed to prevent or control employees’ exposure to Isofloc, an injectable insulating material.

This contains the flame retardant boric acid, which can affect people’s reproductive systems.