March 20th, 2009
An inquest has heard how two men were killed in a workplace accident when an untrained colleague loosened the bolts of the crane they were working on.
Gary Miles, 37, and Steven Boatman, 45, were 105 feet up from the ground in February 2005 as they carried out work for Eurolift (Tower Cranes), which is owned by WD Bennett’s Plant & Services, Building magazine reports.
Their colleague Dave Smith loosened the bolts of the crane’s tower while the pair were in the air and then signalled for them to move the crane around.
However, the pressure on the equipment was too much and the crane collapsed.
Mr Miles and Mr Boatmen were thrown off and landed on the roof of a school. Both died at the scene.
WD Bennett’s Plant & Services had no health and safety representative onsite because he had called in sick that day, the court has heard, but the company denies breaches of health and safety regulations and the case continues.
The Health and Safety executive is in the process of drawing up a register of safety checks on tower cranes after pressure from the construction industry.
Anyone responsible for workplaces which use cranes should ensure that tower cranes are erected and dismantled by competent people who have the necessary training and experience.
Tags: Amp Services, Boatman, Boatmen, Bolts, Breaches, Colleague, Construction Industry, Crane, Dave Smith, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Health And Safety Representative, Inquest, Onsite, Safety Checks, Safety Regulations, Tower Cranes, Two Men, Workplace Accident, Workplaces
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January 6th, 2009
A teacher who was assaulted by a pupil has been awarded compensation for the injuries he sustained.
Colin Adams, 50, was pushed to the floor, punched, kicked and strangled by the 12-year-old after he reprimanded him in 2004.
However, although other teachers were present, nobody was willing to step in for fear of being accused of pupil assault.
Eventually one colleague came to Mr Adams’ aid, pulling the pupil off him.
Mr Adams suffered injuries to his back and has been unable to work since the incident.
After a four-and-a-half year court battle, Mr Adams will now be awarded £250,000 in compensation.
"An appropriate financial settlement was agreed … based on Mr Adams’s loss of salary, future loss of earnings and damages for the injury he suffered," a spokesperson from Newham council commented.
Anyone who has suffered an assault at work, in a school or any other environment, may be eligible for personal injury compensation and should seek the advice of a solicitor within three years of the incident occurring.
Tags: Colin Adams, Colleague, Damages, Fear, Financial Settlement, Half Year, Loss Of Earnings, Newham Council, Personal Injury Compensation, Pupil, Salary, School Teacher, Solicitor, Spokesperson
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January 2nd, 2009
A teacher who was assaulted by a pupil more than four years ago has been awarded £250,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement with Newham council.
Colin Adams, 50, was knocked to the ground and strangled by a 12-year-old boy in front of several colleagues at the school where he worked in 2004, the Newham Recorder reports.
The child had a history of violence that staff were apparently unaware of, as he had previously attacked a security guard and pupils at a nearby library.
Mr Adams’ workmates were reportedly slow to intervene to prevent the assault, with the colleague who eventually stepped in telling the victim that he was scared that he would be accused of assault himself.
A UPI article citing the Daily Mail quoted Mr Adams as blaming the current "can’t touch" culture that exists in schools.
Since the attack, Mr Adams has not been able to work due to back problems and stress.
Newham council commented: "An appropriate financial settlement was agreed … based on Mr Adams’s loss of salary, future loss of earnings and damages for the injury he suffered."
Tags: 250k, Colin Adams, Colleague, Colleagues, Court Settlement, Daily Mail, Damages, Financial Settlement, History Of Violence, Loss Of Earnings, Nearby Library, Newham Council, Newham Recorder, Pupil, Pupils, Quot, Security Guard, Upi Article, Workmates
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October 31st, 2008
A man who suffered a serious injury to his foot after a colleague reversed over it in a refuse van is to launch a claim for compensation.
Kevin Jobe, 48, was helping the driver, Arturas Jablonkis, to reverse, when he suddenly moved the vehicle back and turned its wheels, Recycling and Waste Management reports.
As a result, Mr Jobe’s foot was crushed against the kerb and he claims he may still have to have it amputated.
A claim has been launched against Veolia Environmental Services, with Mr Jobe alleging that the company failed to train staff properly and did not provide warning of the manoeuvre.
He hopes to claim £150,000 in compensation.
A spokesperson for Veolia Environmental Services said: "Our sympathies are with Mr Jobe for his continued recovery and we take the injuries he suffered extremely seriously. We are therefore working closely with our insurers as the matter continues to be thoroughly investigated.”
According to new statistics from the Health and Safety Executive, over 136,000 workers suffered injuries during 2007-08.
Tags: Colleague, Damages, Dustbin, Foot Injury, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Kerb, Kevin Jobe, Launch, Manoeuvre, Recycling, Spokesperson, Statistics, Sympathies, Train, Veolia Environmental Services, Waste Management Reports, Wheels
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October 14th, 2008
Dr Ian Kirwan joined the firm having qualified in September, after successfully completing his training contract with Irwin Mitchell with seats in Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Insolvency and Employment. He has worked in Claimant Personal Injury from birth injuries to misdiagnosis and mostly high value cases.
Ian brings valuable experience to the firm, not only with his legal skills, but he also has a PhD in Microbiology and gained valuable experience of the medical profession having worked in Cancer Research for a number of years.
In his spare time, Ian pursues an interest in most sports especially rugby. He enjoys photography, walking in the countryside and painting using watercolours or oils.
Tags: Appointment, Birth Injuries, Cancer Research, Claimant, Clinical Negligence, Colleague, Countryside, Dr Ian, Insolvency, Irwin Mitchell, Kirwan, Medical Profession, Painting, personal injury, Phd In Microbiology, Photography, Solicitors, Spare Time, Sports, Watercolours
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