Steelworker Loses Hand in Accident at Work

A Mr Charles Ducey is bringing a case against his former employer after he lost his hand in an accident at work.

He was working at steel company The Steel Works when a devastating accident which he claims was caused by the negligence of his employers, resulted in him losing his hand.

He was working on the production line at the factory checking for burs on the recoiler when his glove was caught in a bur, pulling his hand into the machine.

His prosecution team have identified a number of individuals and companies who were collectively responsible for Mr Ducey’s accident.

They say that the recoiler machine was negligently designed by manufacturers Cauffiel Machinery. The machine apparently suffered from a design fault which meant that operators checking for burs were likely to have their gloves pulled and dragged into the machinery.

Another design fault in the machine was the lack of a safety switch which would immediately shut off the machine should anything become snagged. Guards should have been installed on the machine also, which would have prevented Mr Ducey’s hand from being dragged so far into the machine.

His employer is also being held responsible for Mr Ducey’s terrible accident on the count that the company failed to provide adequate training and instruction before Mr Ducey was asked to manually check for burs.

Mr Ducey says that he was never told of the correct method to use when checking for burs, which would have prevented his accident from happening.

He also claimed that in addition to failing to provide adequate training, his employers failed to take simple safety precautions such as installing guards and putting up signs with basic safety rules.

“Prior to the time of the accident, it was reasonably foreseeable that if the employees were not properly trained and the heavy machinery used to process and cut steel were not properly maintained with adequate guards and safety devices, the employees would be working in an unsafe environment and could suffer serious and fatal injuries,” says his lawyer.

Mr Ducey says that his company went to great lengths to cut corners on cost and were not at all concerned with the health and safety of it’s workers. The company hired many young, inadequately experienced workers in order to get away with appalling safety standards and minimum pay levels.

Talking about the safety standards at his workplace, Mr Ducey said “the owners acquiesced in and ratified the dangerous practice of running steel through the big slitter and recoiler at a speed that did not allow for visual inspection, but required the employees to stick their hands on the steel as it was rapidly moving along the big slitter.”

Of his injuries, Mr Ducey says “I sustained injuries of a severe and permanent nature including amputation of my left hand, fingers and thumb and injuries to my back which caused and will continue to cause great pain, disability, medical expenses and lost wages.”

For his devastating injuries from which he will not recover, Mr Ducey hopes to receive around £100,000 in damages.