While working as a sheet metal worker at an engineering firm, Donald was involved in an accident with a machine that crushed his hand and left him with permanent injuries.

He and his colleagues were using a rolling machine with no safety equipment and no emergency stop facility. Donald was at the rear of the machine while another colleague fed a sheet of metal, with another stopping and starting the machine.

It was too heavy to lift out, so he offered his help to a colleague. The machine operator pushed the button but pushed it the wrong way, causing the rollers to advance the opposite way, pulling in Donald’s hand and crushing his fingers and hand. The operator then reversed the sheet, so Donald’s hand was crushed twice.

From the initial medical report, the case was thought to be a small tissue injury, but as the case progressed, it turned out Donald had damaged the nerves in his hands and had suffered a permanent disability as a result.

Crystal Collins, our Claims Handler who looked after the claim said:

“The proper safety procedures were not in place when Donald was operating the machine, and this failure caused substantial injuries.

“The claimant was left in excruciating pain and suffered severe injuries to his hand, leaving him unable to hold anything or close his hand. He is still in ongoing pain and has to regularly visit the hospital. He was unable to work in engineering again, instead choosing to take up gardening on a self-employed basis. Donald has a positive outlook on life and has adapted his gardening tools to be able to work in gardening, which he enjoys.”

Liability was accepted by Donald’s employer.