A factory quality inspector whose arm was shredded by a circular saw has received compensation after help from his trade union.

Sarwan Singh Bains from Great Barr in Birmingham was forced to take more than three years off work as a result of the accident at Caparo Precision Tubes in Oldbury in October 2006.

He needed three operations after the saw cut through his right arm causing extensive damage to his tendons, muscles and nerves.

The arm was so badly injured Mr Bains has been left with very little function and is now unable to work.

Mr Bains, 65, had worked for the steel conversion company for 39 years. Whilst carrying out a quality inspection on the circular saw the safety guard failed and it sliced into his arm.

Thompsons Solicitors pursued a claim for compensation

Following the accident Mr Bains contacted his union the GMB, which instructed its lawyers, Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.

Thompsons successfully argued that Caparo Precision Tubes had failed to ensure its equipment was safely guarded.

Mr Bains said: “It was horrific. The saw sliced through all of my tendons before it was stopped. I was terrified I was going to lose my arm and as it is I have been left with little use in my dominant arm which has had an affect on my quality of life and forced to give up work much earlier than I had originally planned.

“I’m delighted that the GMB and Thompsons Solicitors helped me to claim for my losses and the pain I have been through.”

Russell Farrington from the GMB said: “Mr Bains has suffered massively because his employers failed to ensure he was working with safe equipment. He should never have been put in that dangerous position.”

Celena Chester from Thompsons Solicitors Birmingham office said: “Mr Bains’ employer had dangerous equipment. There should have been a thorough inspection programme to pick up and rectify potential faults but instead Mr Bains was exposed to a trap.”