£5,000 in compensation for lost finger

An Environment Agency worker who lost part of his finger while trying to unblock a faulty wood chipper has been awarded more than £5,000 in compensation. He was a Rivers Operative responsible for keeping a river free from debris for boat users, and was attempting to free up the equipment by rotating the flywheel with his right hand when his left hand came into contact with the propeller blade. The end of his left middle finger was sliced off. The blockage happened because the wood chipper had not been correctly calibrated. The only way to unblock it was to do so manually.