Compensation news
29/12/2010

Drill-related work accident costs man two fingers

An employee at a leading excavator manufacturer, who lost two fingers in a work accident, may now be able to make an accident at work claim.

Investigations into the incident undertaken by the HSE, found that the man from County Durham had not been trained in the safe use of the drill he was operating and was not given the correct safety equipment.

The drill had no guard in place and, as well as his lack of training, the employee's gloves were partly to blame for his fingers becoming caught in the rotating parts of the machine.

Upon the removal of his hand from the machine, the victim needed an operation to amputate his third finger completely and partly amputate a second finger between the first and second knuckle. Hospital staff also found it necessary during the surgery to remove a bone from his hand.

The company has been fined £6,000 and was ordered to pay £3,421.10 in costs after pleading guilty to breaching Health and Safety at Work Regulations.

Since his work accident, the man has not been able to return to employment and now that liability for his injury has been determined, he may now be able to make a compensation claim regarding his pain, suffering and loss of earnings.