A member of the Unite union has received £90,000 compensation after he broke his forearm in two places and fractured his elbow when his arm was caught in a printing press.

Mr Andrew Watts, 45, from Herefordshire, had more than 20 years’ experience working for packaging company, Amcor Flexibles, when the accident happened. A faulty camera in a printing press meant that, as he was setting it up to apply different colours to plastic packaging, Mr Watts had to put his hand behind the plastic to check the colours against his skin.

‘As I put my left hand behind the plastic, the sticky material caught my arm and it was dragged down in and around the roll up to shoulder level,’ Mr Watts said.

Mr Watts was taken by ambulance to hospital where he underwent an emergency operation on his elbow. Seven days later he had to undergo another operation when two plates were inserted into his arm.

Thompsons Solicitors made claim for compensation

Two years later, Mr Watts cannot fully straighten his left arm and his elbow is still painful at times. He has limited movement in his index finger and thumb, and has been left with two scars on his arm.

Gerard Coyne, Regional Secretary of Unite the union said, ‘We are very pleased that Mr Watts was able to use our free legal service in this case’.

Amie Jeffcott from Thompsons Solicitors said, ‘Due to the accident, Mr Watts has been left with a long-term disability which will significantly affect his earning capacity in the future. We are pleased that, following negotiations, we were successful with our arguments in this respect and secured this significant settlement.’