An employee of a Warwick golf club has received a successful accident compensation payout from the club.
The green keeper was injured last year while working at the golf ball washing machine. He switched the device on but found that it was jammed. He then bypassed and disabled the front guard without the use of a spanner or other tools, which left the belt and pulley system exposed.
Using his left hand, the employee than pushed on the upper pulley and it started up. Unfortunately this drew his fingers into the rotating parts of the machine and the keeper suffered a partial amputation to his left hand index finger and injuries to his middle and ring fingers.
The owner of the golf club was ordered to pay £5,000 in accident compensation, along with a fine of £13,500 and £8,000 in costs to the district council.
Councillor Michael Coker, portfolio holder for the environment, told the Coventry Telegraph, “This incident demonstrates that companies who use dangerous machinery must ensure such equipment is maintained in a safe condition and that staff are properly trained in their safe operation.
“Any equipment with moving parts has the potential to cause a serious injury to the person using it," Coker added.