Claims Direct News Feed

Cleaner awarded £12k compensation

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:30:33 GMT

A compensation claim launched after an accident at work has resulted in a cleaner being awarded a damages sum worth £12,000.

According to the Mansfield Chad, Arkadiusz Chmiel took legal action against Timbet Door Solutions on the basis that he sustained a serious knee injury when he slipped at a factory owned by the company in Mansfield.

Mr Chmiel was hurt when he fell over as he attempted to move a wooden sawbuck weighing some 30kgs.

The professional indicated he had to twist out of the way in order to avoid the heavy equipment falling on top of him, which resulted in him requiring crutches and physiotherapy due to the damage inflicted on his knee.

"After the accident I lost a lot of wages because the pain in my knee was so bad I couldn't work," he told the news source.

Timbet subsequently admitted responsibility and awarded Mr Chmiel compensation in an out-of-court settlement.

Posted by Francesca Witney

15/05/2012 16:30

Severed finger may lead to damages

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:17:33 GMT

A compensation claim could be lodged against a Midlands company after an employee lost a finger in an accident at work.

During this incident at premises owned by Stoke-on-Trent-based firm Scott Timber in January last year, an anonymous 42-year-old professional severed his finger while operating a circular saw.

As a result of this accident, the man had to take several months away from work and, during a case heard at Stoke Magistrates' Court, he indicated the trauma of this accident still affects him now.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into how this happened found that the top guard on the machine had been removed, while the employee had also not been given sufficient training on how to operate the saw properly.

Katharine Walker, inspector at the HSE, commented: ""This incident was wholly preventable. If the company had put the appropriate precautionary measures ... it simply would not have happened."

Posted by Emily Swanson

15/05/2012 16:17

Burns to result in compensation claim?

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:00:17 GMT

Serious burns sustained during an accident at work could result in a man launching a compensation claim against his employer.

The unnamed 29-year-old was hurt when he cut off the top of an unused propane gas tank at the home of boss in September 2011 and subsequently had to take three weeks off from his job.

The employee of Southampton-based firm Suffix Pre-cast had been asked by his manager Jamie Thomas Jewell to come to his house and carry out this work.

However, the disc cutter he was using to complete the task reacted with the flammable substance and resulted in him suffering burns to his torso, abdomen and left arm.

An investigation into the incident by the Health and Safety Executive found that the worker was not provided with sufficient advice and information to do this job safely and Mr Jewell subsequently admitted breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Posted by Chris Stevenson

15/05/2012 16:00

Bus accident to result in compensation claim

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:50:10 GMT

A compensation claim is being made against Arriva by a woman who sustained a serious shoulder injury during an accident on a bus in London.

According to the Watford Observer, Caroline Bloomer was badly hurt last month when the driver of a number 142 bus she was using to return home in Abbotts Langley from the capital pulled away from a stop too quickly.

Ms Bloomer was walking down the stairs of the double-decker vehicle when the operator moved away from the stop sharply, which resulted in her falling to the floor below.

She told the news source that she is still in constant pain and has not yet been able to return to her job as a part-time public relations manager.

Because of the fact she is not a permanent member of staff, Ms Bloomer fears she may not receive any sick pay from her employer and has therefore pledged to seek damages from Arriva - a firm with more than 20,000 workers - for her ordeal.

Posted by Emily Swanson

14/05/2012 16:50

Serious knee injury may lead to compensation claim

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:45:34 GMT

Multiple knee fractures suffered during an accident at work may result in a woman launching a compensation claim for damages.

Shelagh Allen slipped over in the clinic room of a ward at the private Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital in May 2011 and subsequently required surgery on her right kneecap due to the extent of the damage caused.

Some ten months on from the incident, the professional has returned to work but can now only complete light duties and may yet need another operation on the affected area of her leg.

Following her initial procedure, Ms Allen had to use crutches to walk for around four months and also still struggles with restricted movement in the joint.

During a case brought about by the Health and Safety Executive and heard at Ipswich Magistrates' Court, the hospital admitted breaching section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, meaning Ms Allen could now seek compensation for her ordeal.

Posted by Chris Stevenson

14/05/2012 16:45

Building site accident could lead to compensation claim

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:57:16 GMT

A serious leg injury suffered in an accident at work may lead to a compensation claim being launched by a subcontracted employee.

Paul Daniels sustained several shattered bones and almost lost his foot during an incident while working for CJL Construction in September 2010 when a forklift truck hit him.

The 50-year-old was working on a project to install drainage systems to a row of newly-built homes in Langport, Somerset, when he was struck in the chest by the vehicle.

This impact knocked him to the ground and the machine's wheels then ran over his lower right leg, leaving him with a badly broken limb and a badly-damaged foot.

An investigation conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that contractor Brookvale Homes had not put a proper system in place to separate pedestrians from vehicles on its site.

Therefore, Mr Daniels may be eligible to seek substantial damages for his ordeal.

Posted by Emily Swanson

11/05/2012 16:57

Egg packer to seek damages for broken bones?

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:40:25 GMT

Broken bones sustained during an accident at work could lead to a woman seeking personal injury compensation.

The unnamed 43-year-old suffered two fractures in her left ankle and right heel when she fell through the floor of a poultry barn owned by Staveley's Eggs in Stoke-on-Tern, Shropshire, in July last year.

At the time of the incident, the egg packer - who had worked for the firm for six years but has not been able to return since - was walking on an upper level of the premises but had not been told some of the floorboards were missing.

Consequently, she fell a distance of around two metres to the concrete floor below and than had to spend eight days in hospital after undergoing surgery to repair the breaks.

Lyn Mizen, inspector at the Health and Safety Executive, commented: "This incident could have easily been prevented if a suitable risk assessment had been carried out."

Posted by Chris Stevenson

11/05/2012 16:40

Teachers 'are not under excessive stress'

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:55:29 GMT

Stress at work should not be an issue for teachers in Britain in the 21st century, regardless of the demands of their job.

That is the opinion of Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Ofsted, who has dismissed claims from professionals in the education sector that they are under excessive levels of pressure as cuts in the sector continue to bite.

Since the onset of the financial crisis, a growing number of compensation claims have been made by teachers on the grounds of occupational anxiety.

However, during a speech delivered at Brighton College today (May 10th), Sir Michael said conditions in the teaching profession have improved markedly since he began his career in the mid-1980s.

"Stress is what I was under when I started as a head in 1985, in the context of widespread industrial action ... they are now, even with the cuts, in a better position than I was 26 years ago," he insisted.

Posted by Francesca Witney

10/05/2012 16:55

Hand injury could result in damages award

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:51:42 GMT

A compensation claim may be launched by a labourer who suffered a serious hand injury in an accident at work.

Edmund Skweres required 11 stitches in a deep wound on his right hand after it got caught in machinery as he worked for Southampton-based horticultural firm AE Roberts in February 2011.

At the time of the incident, the 52-year-old was attempting to clear rubbish from around a root packing machine when his arm came into contact with the moving parts of the equipment.

The device's metal drive wheel cut through his glove and lacerated the skin between his finger and thumb.

Mr Skweres was subsequently off work for a month and, after A E Roberts admitted breaching health and safety legislation, could now be in line to receive a compensation award.

Michael Baxter of the Health and Safety Executive observed: "Mr Skweres suffered a painful and entirely preventable injury for the sake of a simple guard that would have prevented access to the hydraulic drive mechanism."

Posted by Emily Swanson

10/05/2012 16:51

Head injury to lead to compensation claim?

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:50:56 GMT

A serious head injury sustained during an accident at work could lead to a man pursuing a compensation claim against his employer.

Richard Robinson suffered a fractured skull when he fell a distance of around 1.5 metres from the prong of a forklift truck and hit his head while working for farming company WJ Watkins in North Devon last August.

The 64-year-old was using the vehicle to be lifted up so he could reach some bags of recycled material - that were suspended from the roof - so he could trample down the contents and make more room.

However, an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that WJ Watkins had not ensured this task could be carried out safely by providing workers with proper climbing equipment.

Simon Jones, inspector at the HSE, commented: "Working at height must be properly planned and supervise and employers must ensure their staff have a safe system in place."

Posted by Chris Stevenson

10/05/2012 16:50