Waitrose sushi maker, 27, claims bosses THREW AWAY his fingertips after they were severed in pepper slicing machine and told him to order a taxi to hospital
- Viraj Kakadia permanently severed two fingers following the incident in January
- He works for Taiko Foods, providing sushi for supermarkets including Waitrose
- GMB union claims he was using one of only two steel gloves available on the day
- It is also alleged that bosses told him to order a Bolt taxi to get to the hospital
A Waitrose sushi factory worker has claimed bosses threw away his fingertips after they were severed in a pepper slicing machine and told him to order a taxi to the hospital.
Viraj Kakadia, 27, has been left with two of his fingers permanently severed following the incident at the Taiko Foods factory in Acton, west London, in January earlier this year.
General trade union GMB claims he was using one of only two steel gloves available to employees on the day when his fingers became trapped in a machine used to cut peppers for sushi boxes.
Instead of calling an ambulance, though, bosses are alleged to have instead suggested he called a Bolt taxi to get to hospital.
When doctors at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington enquired as to the whereabouts of his fingers, Mr Kakadia said the factory had disposed of them.
The GMB is now filing for compensation over ‘negligence’ that could be worth up to £20,000 if successful.
One union official said the case was ‘harrowing’ and said it has put in multiple grievances over the firm’s handling of the affair.
Viraj Kakadia says bosses at the factory threw away the tips of two of his fingers after an industrial accident
Mr Kakadia pictured at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington receiving treatment for the injuries earlier this year
Taiko Foods provides sushi (pictured) for major British supermarkets including Waitrose
GMB London organiser Hiten Vaidya said: ‘They should have called an ambulance. It’s the employers responsibility, and it has been totally unacceptable.’
Mr Kakadia, originally from India, works six days a week at the factory and speaks little English.
He claims there was no sensor or safety guard on the pepper slicing machine and alleges the device had broken down several times in the week before the accident, but it remained in use.
Taiko Foods, which provides sushi for major British supermarkets, says all workers are provided with adequate personal protective equipment, the machine was in working order and the Bolt provided the ‘quickest means’ of getting to hospital.
Mr Kakadia says he was not provided with sick pay for the two weeks he required off work following the incident, instead having to take the time as holiday.
Speaking through a translator, he told MyLondon: ‘The employer is playing games with my life. If they sent the finger tips with ice with me to the hospital, I’d still have them intact today.
‘They didn’t call an ambulance, and they haven’t offered me any support.
‘The employer isn’t providing a safe working environment. The standards aren’t there. The training is not there. And it is not a trade union organised workplace. So we are standing up and protesting for our rights. They don’t treat us equally. They don’t value our work. And the jobs we do are very hard.
‘Since my accident three months ago – the company hasn’t said anything about my injuries. Why is the company not helping and supporting me?’
Mr Kakdia is now back working, but says he lost most of the flesh on his two fingers and they remain very painful’.
Mr Kakdia is now back working, but says he lost most of the flesh on his two fingers and they remain very painful’
A spokesperson for Taiko Foods says Mr Kakadia will be reimbursed for the time he required off work.
They added: ‘As a national food manufacturing business, Taiko takes its health and safety obligations very seriously. The wellbeing of our colleagues is paramount. We provide each employee with thorough training and a full supply of PPE, and we ensure that all machinery is well-maintained and has the correct safety features in place.
‘This was an incident to which the on site team responded swiftly and efficiently, ensuring our colleague reached hospital as quickly as possible.
‘Our colleague will be paid in full for his leave of absence and we have reinstated any annual leave he took following this incident.’
A statement from Waitrose added: ‘“Worker welfare is incredibly important to us and we’re really concerned to hear about this. We are investigating this as a matter of urgency with Taiko.’
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