3B Construction Ltd pleaded guilty in Tain Sheriff Court to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 relating to failures at Hope Lodge, Tongue between February and June 2021.

As a result of the failures, an 18-year-old apprentice, Connor McGurk, sustained a severe injury on 8 June 2021 while operating a table circular saw without the safety guard in place.

Mr McGurk’s left thumb was severed by the rotating blade and later reattached following surgery, though he says he now has only about 70% usage of the thumb and experiences considerable discomfort in the cold of winter.

The court heard that the saw’s safety features – a top guard and riving knife – had been removed, and that Mr McGurk had not been given adequate instruction on their use.

Had the safety features been in place, it is likely that the accident would not have happened, the court was told.

Sheriff Neil Wilson accepted there were systemic failures by 3B Construction, including inadequate risk assessments, insufficient training, and a lack of proper supervision.

While risk assessments were in place, they were not properly implemented, and the unsafe use of the saw was tacitly tolerated on site.

Ayr-based 3B Construction employs 112 people and reported a turnover of over £27.4 million in its most recent accounts, the court heard.

It cooperated fully with an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and has since made safety improvements.

As a result of the company’s guilty plea and remedial actions, the fine was reduced from a starting point of £100,000 to a final figure of £40,000.

Mr McGurk no longer works for 3B Construction but has continued his apprenticeship elsewhere.

Norman Schouten, of the HSE, 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.”