Fine over 'Dickensian' arm loss

The serious accident happened at Inverurie Paper Mill

A firm has been fined £6,000 after a worker lost his arm in a "Dickensian-style" accident at Inverurie Paper Mill, which has now closed.

International Paper admitted breaching health and safety guidelines at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Stephen Lewendon was pulled into a machine by paper which appeared to have wrapped itself around his arm.

The HSE said the serious incident could have been worse if a colleague had not been able to help.

More than 300 workers lost their jobs following the decision to close the mill earlier this year.

Incidents of this serious and traumatic nature should not be occurring in the 21st century John Radcliffe HSE

The unrelated injury accident happened in January.

John Radcliffe of the HSE said: "This was a very serious incident and a Dickensian-style event considering the age of the legislation in place to protect workers.

"Had a colleague of the injured worker not acted as quickly as he did in stopping the machine, there could have had fatal consequences as his whole body could have been pulled into the machine.

"Investigation of the incident by HSE identified that the safety barrier provided was completely inadequate as a means of preventing access to the dangerous parts of the machine."

He added: "There has been a legal requirement to safeguard the dangerous parts of machinery in Great Britain since the 19th century and incidents of this serious and traumatic nature should not be occurring in the 21st century.

"The expected safeguarding standards for machinery in the paper industry have been well publicised following a history of serious machinery incidents.''