Work accident news
13/11/2009

Worker loses arm in paper mill accident

A worker at a paper firm has lost his arm in a work accident in Aberdeenshire. The injured employee had to have an arm amputated after it became stuck in machinery in the paper mill where he worked.

The firm, which has since ceased production for other reasons, was ordered to pay a £6,000 fine after it pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The injured man was working as a machine assistant at the paper mill and incurred the loss of his arm when trying to free a paper jam from the machinery on January 13 2009.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), described the accident as Dickensian and highlighted that laws were put in place to prevent such accidents in the 19th century. It also emphasised that standards for safeguarding machinery were well publicised.

It has not been reported if the worker is commencing a compensation claim for the arm he lost in the work accident.