£13,500 awarded for fingers crushed at work

Solicitors secured compensation of £13,500 for a 55 year old man who sustained injuries to his fingers in an accident at work with a pressing machine at work.

Injury details

The claimant was operating a pressing machine during the course of his employment. His elbow accidentally struck the operating lever switch causing the press to come down on his fingers.

His fingers were crushed on both hands. The injury was most severe to his left ring finger.

The man reported the accident to his employers, recording events in the accident book.

The injuries to the left ring finger were severe. Doctors were unable to save the top of the finger and it was amputated. Injuries to the other fingers healed but left permanent scars.

The man was left with a tingling sensation in his finger. He was unable to continue his hobbies of playing the guitar and calligraphy.

The tingling was considered permanent and he would be unable to return to his hobbies in the future.

Allegation

It was alleged that the claimant's employer was negligent under Health and Safety legislation.

The switch should have had a guard, the protective equipment provided was inappropriate and the workstation was inappropriate as it was too small.

Solicitors for the employer suggested that the claimant was partly responsible as he had been operating the machine for nine years already.

The claimant maintained the employer was responsible for creating safe working practices.

It was suggested the man would be unable to obtain work easily in future due to the loss of part of his finger.

Conclusion and settlement

Liability was agreed and the matter settled without proceeding to Court.

Compensation of £13,500 was agreed by way of an out of Court settlement.

£9,900 of the damages was attributed to "pain, suffering and loss of amenity".

In addition £2,700 was awarded for his increased difficulty in finding work.

A further sum of £900 was awarded for past care costs.

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