The case of a boy who lost his right hand in a butcher's mincing machine is being used to highlight the dangers of jobs for teenagers. The 15 year old was working part-time at the shop in Shaw, Oldham, when his right arm became trapped in the mincer. Surgeons from the Royal Oldham Hospital were called to the scene at J&B Fitton Ltd last September and battled for two hours to free him. However they were forced to amputate the arm above the elbow to save his life.
J&B Fitton and its manager were fined £1,500 in June 2007 following a Health and Safety Executive investigation. However this case is only one of several young teenagers who have lost limbs working in butchers. Of the 103 injuries to children at work reported since 2002, one third occurred during the last year. In fact, the Liberal Democrats claim the number of children injured while working has doubled in the last four years, and outdated laws are putting thousands more at risk.
Spokeswoman Annette Brooke said the increasing numbers of children injured while working was disturbing and many were not being employed in registered workplaces. "It is essential that workplaces are suitable and safe for children. Thousands of children may be working in unsafe environments because councils and businesses are unable to make sense of the myriad of rules concerning the employment of young people." Last year the Minister for Children, Beverley Hughes, shelved recommendations to streamline local and national laws for child employment, however increased pressure from the Liberals may see these re-addressed.
