Fire and ambulance services were called to the Walkers Shortbread factory in Elgin on Thursday (April 6) evening. Fire services were needed to free the man’s arm. The worker was retained in hospital for two days on a precautionary basis, the manufacturer said.
Production director Nicky Walker said Walkers Shortbread treated health and safety as a top priority, and the company was relieved the outcome was not more serious.
“I was called to an incident in one of our Elgin factories last Thursday night [April 6] at around 8pm,” Walker told FoodManufacture.co.uk. “On my arrival the emergency services were already in attendance and were engaged is releasing a member of staff who had trapped his hand in a roller on a dough feeder.
‘Retained in hospital for two days’
“Following the incident, he was admitted to hospital so that his injury could be assessed and monitored. He was retained in hospital for two days after which, we are delighted to say, he was discharged with no broken bones or lacerations.”
Walker said the manufacturer would do everything in its power to ensure there was not a reccurrence of the incident.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the company were investigating the incident, Walker added.
An HSE spokesman said: “We are aware of this incident and we are investigating.”
‘Dispatched one ambulance’
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “We received a call at 8.31pm on Thursday April 6 to attend an incident at an address on Edgar Road. We dispatched one ambulance, which arrived on scene at 8.34pm.
“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was notified. We dispatched a British Association of Immediate Care Scotland doctor who arrived on scene at 9.19pm. One male patient was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital by ambulance.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “Firefighters used specialist equipment to free the casualty. They were then transferred into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Crews left the scene at 9:15pm after ensuring the area was made safe.”
Meanwhile, earlier this month a freight transport company was fined more than £40,000 for health and safety failings, after a worker was crushed by machinery.
Walkers Shortbread injury – at a glance
- Worker trapped hand in a dough feeder
- Fire services required to free man
- Retained in hospital for two days