A TIMBER firm is to be prosecuted over an accident where a teenager lost his arm.

Tom Harrocks, 17, had to have his arm amputated after it became snared in part of a wood extraction silo in December.

He became trapped in the machinery at timber merchants Wenban-Smith at Dominion Way Mill, Dominion Way, Worthing.

His left leg was severely crushed and his left arm was almost severed in the accident.

Firefighters spent more than an hour cutting through steel machinery to free him.

He underwent 12 hours of emergency surgery with three surgeons, including a plastic surgeon.

Today, the Health and Safety Executive said: "We are prosecuting Wenban-Smith for three alleged breaches of health and safety legislation."

It alleges the company, based at Newlands Road, Worthing, failed to make a sufficient assessment of the risks to employees and that it failed to ensure adequate training for people working in the silo.

The company has also been accused of failing to ensure staff are unable to gain access to the screw mechanism in the silo.

A spokesman for Wenban-Smith said today: "We would not make any comment as the case is yet to go ahead."

The case is being heard at Worthing Magistrates Court on Thursday.

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