April 16th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned firms that their safety procedures must be up to scratch after a company was fined and prosecuted for two worker accidents.
SDC Trailers of Mansfield pleaded guilty to breaches of regulations in both cases.
In one incident, a man was hurt when an unsecured load fell from a lorry and landed on his leg, while another suffered crush injuries when the same thing happened only weeks later.
HSE inspector Maureen Kingman said: "The unloading of trailers in which loads have not been properly secured places those involved at considerable risk."
She added that this case shows how serious failing to comply with health and safety regulations can be.
According to figures published by the HSE, six million working days were lost to injuries at work in 2007-08, with 299,000 reportable injuries occurring.
Victims of such injuries may be eligible for compensation if it can be proved that they occurred as a result of negligence.
Tags: Accidents, Breaches, Crush Injuries, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse Issues, Kingman, Lorry, Lost, Negligence, Reportable Injuries, Risk, Safety Procedures, Safety Regulations, Sdc Trailers
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April 7th, 2009
The number of compensation claims being made as a result of damage to cars in potholes is on the increase, it has been reported.
According to the AA, potholes cause more than £1 million in damage to vehicles and are endangering lives, with one in seven people having experienced such a problem.
AA president Edmund King said authorities should work harder to ensure that Britain’s roads are in a good state of repair.
"Skimping can cost lives and not a single one should be lost on the roads for want of a pothole being filled or surface renewed," he added.
Research from the Asphalt Industry Alliance recently found that there has been a 13 per cent increase in compensation claims for pothole damage or injuries over the last ten years, with an 87 per cent rise in London alone.
The news follows reports earlier this month in which it was revealed that cyclist Ian Davis is to receive compensation from his local council after badly injuring himself when his bike hit a pothole.
Tags: 1 Million, Aa, Asphalt Industry, Authorities, Cars, Compensation Claims, Edmund King, Industry Alliance, Last Ten Years, Local Council, London News, Lost, Pothole Damage, Potholes, Single One
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March 31st, 2009
A man who suffered an injury to his hand while at work has received £5,000 in compensation from his former employers.
David Drabble, 61, was working for George Wimpey UK when he had to cut, drill and assemble a staircase, the South Yorkshire Star reports.
It is thought that as he drilled, he hit a piece of soft wood, which made the drill change speeds and caused it to jolt into his hand.
Mr Drabble was left with nerve damage and still has problems gripping. He has also lost some of the feeling in his little finger.
He took legal action against George Wimpey UK, claiming that he had not been given adequate materials to do the job.
Although the firm denied liability, it agreed to an out-of-court settlement of £5,000.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, six million working days were lost to workplace injury between 2007 and 2008, with 299,000 reportable injuries occurring.
Tags: Adequate Materials, Change Speeds, Court Settlement, Drabble, George Wimpey, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Job, Little Finger, Lost, Nerve Damage, Reportable Injuries, South Yorkshire, Staircase, Workplace Injury, Yorkshire
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March 6th, 2009
A man who lost the use of his arm after being admitted to hospital following a suicide attempt has received damages from the NHS trust he held responsible.
Michael Dexter, 58, took an overdose in December 2002 and was taken to Blackburn Royal Hospital after being found by his family.
However, a medic gave him at least one 200ml dose of 8.4 per cent sodium bicarbonate to stop the effects of his overdose, the Manchester Evening News reports.
A normal dose would have been 50ml. Mr Dexter took legal action against East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust after he lost the use of his left arm as a result.
"I know they saved my life but if you went in with a heart attack you wouldn’t expect to leave with a limb you can’t use," he commented.
The trust has now agreed to a settlement with Mr Dexter, which his solicitor said was proportionate to his right to be treated appropriately.
Clinical negligence occurs when a professional in the health service provides care that is deemed to be below standard and this causes physical injury, death or distress.
Negligence may occur from delay or failure to diagnose a condition, delay or failure to treat a condition, when a treatment goes wrong, use of the wrong treatment, or failure to obtain consent.
Tags: Clinical Negligence, Damages, Dexter, East Lancashire, Failure, Health Service, Heart Attack, Hospitals, Injury Death, Left Arm, Lost, Manchester Evening News, Medic, Nhs Trust, Sodium Bicarbonate, Solicitor, Suicide Attempt
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February 10th, 2009
A man who lost part of his toe after being involved in a workplace accident at Marks and Spencer has secured a compensation payout.
Timothy Payne was working in the warehouse at the Sunset Walk store in Milton Keynes when he got into a lift designed only for goods.
The lift began to go up, but it caught Mr Payne’s foot and crushed it. He had to have the tip of his big toe amputated.
After an investigation, the company admitted breaching health and safety regulations, as it had been aware that workers had been using the lift in this manner regularly.
The court heard that there was not sufficient signage in place to warn employees of the dangers of doing so.
Mr Payne received £31,128 in compensation as a result of the injury he sustained.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, six million working days were lost from workplace injuries during 2007-08.
Tags: Big Toe, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Lost, Marks And Spencer, Milton Keynes, Safety Regulations, Signage, Sunset Walk, Timothy Payne, Workplace Accident, Workplace Injuries
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