Burns victim's pain at court ruling

John Slack, 39, almost died when a machine fired molten nylon heated at 260 C into his face, leaving him blind in one eye and unable to breathe through his nose.

His former employers R F Rubber Products, of Ashington, Northumberland, were given an absolute discharge following a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive.

The court heard the firm had folded and there was little prospect of any fine being paid.

But Mr Slack said he now plans to seek compensation in the civil courts.

He said: "It is definitely not justice, but then normal, working people don't really get justice do they?"

An HSE spokesman said R F Rubber Products was found guilty of failing to ensure the safety of an employee at the hearing on Monday.

The company was given an absolute discharge by South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court.

It is understood magistrates could have imposed a fine of up to £18,000 but heard the company had gone bust in May.

Skin grafts

Mr Slack, of Bedlington Station, Northumberland, was unblocking an injection moulding machine when a pressure build up blasted him with the molten material.

He was hit in the face with the quick-hardening nylon and only survived because his mouth was shut at the time.

As well as the agony of the burns to his face, he almost suffocated as the material blocked his nose.

He said: "I didn't know pain like it was possible, it was searing agony beyond belief.

"It completely covered my eyes and I couldn't see anything."

The nylon hardened into a mask but as he tried to scrape it off his face he badly burned his hands too.

He added: "I thought I was going to go blind, my eyes were on fire, my mate grabbed a bottle of coke and poured it over my head."

Mr Slack was taken to Wansbeck Hospital and then to the burns unit at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where he underwent three operations to remove the nylon from his nose, as well as skin grafts to his face.

Since then he has suffered nightmares and depression and has been unable to work.

He added: "Before the accident I had worked all my life, enjoyed playing sport and liked to get out and have a pint.

"Now it takes a lot for me to get out of the house."