A SALE chain maker has been fined £3,000 after a worker with learning difficulties got his hand crushed in a hydraulic press.

Philip Bulmer, 27, of Chalfont Avenue, Urmston, suffered serious lacerations to his right hand middle finger in the accident at Eaton Catena, of Booth Road.

He was trapped in the press he was operating, which had its guard removed months earlier to allow work on larger tools.

Philip - who began working for the firm six years ago on placement from the Shaw Trust - needed surgery to repair his finger, including skin grafts. He was off work for several months after the accident in April but is now back on manual duties.

Eaton Catena pleaded guilty to Trafford magistrates to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Tim Eldridge, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive, said the firm had carried out a risk assessment before the accident when it identified the danger of trapped hands. The firm also knew Philip has learning difficulties which means he has difficulty concentrating.

The machinery had now been brought up to standard but Mr Eldridge added: "It is regrettable that Philip had to suffer an injury before the company did anything."

Stephen Rodgers, representing Eaton Catena, said the firm had had an exemplary health and safety record in the 15 years it had been operating.

As well as fining the firm £3,000, magistrates ordered it to pay £1,000 compensation to Philip and £252 costs.

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