Work accident news
08/11/2011

Worker's injury costs bag factory £3,500

A packaging firm from Greater Manchester has been prosecuted for safety failings after one of its employees suffered a gruesome work injury.

The 53-year-old had been servicing a machine used to punch handles in plastic bags when the factory accident occurred in December last year.

Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that she was replacing a rubber insert under the machine's cutter when it unexpectedly sprang into life.

The tool came down on her left hand, crushing her fingers. The entire index finger and part of her middle finger have since been surgically removed.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that guards had not been fitted to prevent staff gaining access to the cutter whilst the machine was working.

Investigators also found it was common practice for employees to service equipment without first isolating the electrical supply.

The injured woman told the court her accident at work affected her both socially and professionally.

"I can no longer do the job that I did, and will be limited to the types of jobs I can do in the future," she said.

"I used to go out socialising once a fortnight and now I don't want to go. I haven't been out socially since my accident happened. During the first three months, I didn't leave the house except to go to the hospital to have my dressings changed.

"I saw a psychiatrist quite soon after the accident to help me come to terms with it because, at that point, I couldn't and wouldn't look at my injury."

Her employers pleaded guilty to breaching the Work Equipment Regulations by failing to safeguard dangerous machine parts.

The work injury and subsequent prosecution cost them £3,500 in fines and £1,000 in prosecution costs.