Chainsaws (Hansard, 1 May 1991)

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in theOfficial Report the date when a requirement was made that students of sculpture working in wood required a recognised chainsaw certificate.

§ Mr. Forth
I am not aware of any such requirement. However, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 requires that employers must ensure that anyone who uses chainsaws or other dangerous machinery, including students in an educational establishment, should first receive appropriate training and instruction. Where necessary Health and Safety Executive inspectors enforce this requirement at visits to workplaces, including educational establishments.

§ Mr. Gareth Wardell
To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department holds on the number and nature of accidents through the use of chainsaws over each of the past 10 years.
232W

§ Mr. Forth
Information on the number of injuries caused by persons coming into contact with a chainsaw is in table 1. This information relates to injuries reported to the Health and Safety Executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 for the period 1986–87 to 1989–90. Such injuries were not separately identified in the Health and Safety Executive's database before 1986–87.
Details of the nature of such injuries in 1989–90 are in table 2.

Table 1

Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates from 1986–87 to 1989–90¹

Severity of injury 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90²

Fatal — — — —

Major injury 9 14 10 7

Injury resulting in over three days off work 60 60 78 67

Total 69 74 88 74

Table 2

Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates, 1989–90²

Nature of injury and site of injury³ Severity of injury

Fatal Major injury Over three days off work Total

Amputation

Finger — 1 — 1

Fracture

Several locations — 1 — 1

Laceration

Total head — 1 7 8

Total upper limbs — 2 16 18

Total lower limbs — 1 29 30

Contusion

Total torso — — 1 1

Total upper limbs — — 1 1

Total lower limbs — — 1 1

Superficial

Total head — — 1 1

Total torso — — 1 1

Total upper limbs — — 5 5

Total lower limbs — 1 5 6

Total — 7 67 74

¹ Years commencing 1 April.

² Provisional figures.

³ Total head—includes injuries to the eye, ear, face, head.

Total torso—includes injuries to the neck, back and trunk.

Total upper limbs—includes injuries to finger(s), hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.

Total lower limbs—includes injuries to toe(s), foot, ankle and rest of lower limb.

Footnote: Injuries reported to the Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates cover the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, agriculture and forestry, education and some service and leisure activities.

Table 1
Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates from 1986–87 to 1989–90¹
Severity of injury	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90²
Fatal	—	—	—	—
Major injury	9	14	10	7
Injury resulting in over three days off work	60	60	78	67
Total	69	74	88	74

Table 2
Injuries resulting from coming into contact with a chainsaw as reported to HSE's factory and agricultural inspectorates, 1989–90²
Nature of injury and site of injury³	Severity of injury
	Fatal	Major injury	Over three days off work	Total
Amputation
Finger	—	1	—	1
Fracture
Several locations	—	1	—	1
Laceration
Total head	—	1	7	8
Total upper limbs	—	2	16	18
Total lower limbs	—	1	29	30
Contusion
Total torso	—	—	1	1
Total upper limbs	—	—	1	1
Total lower limbs	—	—	1	1
Superficial
Total head	—	—	1	1
Total torso	—	—	1	1
Total upper limbs	—	—	5	5
Total lower limbs	—	1	5	6
Total	—	7	67	74
¹ Years commencing 1 April.
² Provisional figures.
³ Total head—includes injuries to the eye, ear, face, head.
Total torso—includes injuries to the neck, back and trunk.
Total upper limbs—includes injuries to finger(s), hand, wrist and rest of upper limb.
Total lower limbs—includes injuries to toe(s), foot, ankle and rest of lower limb.
Footnote: Injuries reported to the Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates cover the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, agriculture and forestry, education and some service and leisure activities.