Worker loses arm despite century-old protective law

A court heard how an Inverurie papermill worker lost his arm despite a century-old piece of legislation designed to protect factory workers.

Aberdeen Sheriff Court fined International Paper (UK) Limited of Inverurie, £6,000 after they pleading guilty to a breach of Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), who brought the successful prosecution, today also highlighted that laws of this kind go back to the 19th century, and that standards for safeguarding machinery were well publicised.

The fine comes after a man had to have his arm amputated when it became caught in machinery on 13 January 2009, despite legislation being enacted more than a century ago to safeguard workers in these situations.

Since the incident, the paper mill at Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, has ceased production (April 2009) for other reasons.

The injured person was employed as a machine assistant in January when a paper break occurred which meant the paper had to be re-fed known as tail feeding. While attempting to throw the sheet of paper into the machine the man was pulled into the workings by the paper which appears to have wrapped itself around his left arm.

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