Plastic bag firm fined after worker loses fingersRSS Feed

A plastic bag firm has been fined after a worker lost a finger in an accident at work.

Karen Schoelzel was replacing the rubber insert on a cutting tool when the machine, which is used to punch handles in plastic
bags, started operating.

The device came down on her left hand, causing her to lose her entire index finger and her middle finger to below the second knuckle.

Almost a year on, the 53-year-old is still unable to return to work.

Arrow Flexible Packaging Ltd was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs.

Ms Schoelzel commented: "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. I am affected by how I do everyday things such as gardening, shopping and even eating, because using cutlery is difficult."

In other news, major European firm 2 Sisters Food Group has been fined £230,000 after a worker lost most of his right hand in an accident at work.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by T B Walters

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