A Dundee laminate panel company whose employee suffered a horrific hand injury as a result of a health and safety breach has been fined £5,000.
Lam-Art (Dundee) Ltd worker James Doig had to have parts of two fingers amputated after his right hand was crushed as he checked to see whether a veneer press being operated by a colleague was heating correctly.
Mr Doig was rushed to hospital following the incident at the company’s Liff Road premises in December 2014.
Depute fiscal Emma Stewart told Dundee Sheriff Court: “Mr Lundie was aware that the plates required time to heat to the correct working temperature and decided to switch on the Orma veneer press.
“He operated the two-handed control to close the plates until they were only four or five centimetres apart on the mistaken understanding that they would heat up faster in a closed position.”
Mr Lundie asked Mr Doig for help because the oil heater did not appear to work and Mr Doig checked the control panel, finding the power switch was on. He then checked oil reservoir pipes.
Miss Stewart said: “After feeling the pipes, which were still cold, Mr Doig placed his right hand on the surface of the lower platen to check for sight of it beginning to heat.
“At the same moment, and without warning, Alan Lundie operated the two-handed control to close the plates.”
All four of Mr Doig’s fingers were trapped between the plates.
He called out to Mr Lundie stating: “Alan, you’ll hae to open the press, my fingers are in here.”
Mr Doig wrapped his hands in rags and was driven to Ninewells Hospital by Mr Lundie.
The damaged index and little fingers were repaired but his middle and ring finger had to be amputated at the second joint from the tip.
He returned to work after just seven weeks but still suffers phantom pains and sensations.
Defence solicitor Victoria Anderson said the company had since prepared information for all press operators and spent almost £10,000 on safety training.
Lam-Art (Dundee) Ltd admitted a single charge of failing to ensure that all persons on the press had adequate health and safety information.
Sheriff George Way said: “I am left in no doubt the company takes its concerns and obligations seriously.
“The court can only express its remarkable respect to Mr Doig that these things can happen in life and he is to be thoroughly commended in his very Scottish attitude to get on with life.”