October 30th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned employers that they must adhere to regulations regarding working at height following an accident in which a man broke his spine.
Philpott Demolition and Recycling employee Gediminas Vasiliauskas had been removing roof tiles from an aircraft hangar when the tragedy occurred in April 2007.
He was not wearing a safety harness and when he lost his footing, he fell from the roof of the building. The victim had to have a metal plate inserted into his spine and lost his sense of taste and smell.
He was also unable to work for a year after the accident.
Tim Philpott, the owner of the business, was fined for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was given a substantial fine.
HSE Inspector Nicola Surrey said: "Mr Vasiliauskas was lucky to survive this incident, which could have been avoided if his employer had taken precautions to ensure his employee’s safety."
Under Work at Height Regulations, every employer should make sure that work is not carried out at height when it can be successfully carried out at ground level.
Where work at height is carried out, employers are legally obliged to take adequate steps to prevent falls.
Tags: Adequate Steps, Aircraft Hangar, Demolition, Footing, Health And Safety, Health And Safety At Work, Health And Safety At Work Etc Act 1974, Health And Safety Executive, Nicola, Norwich, Quot, Recycling, Roof Tiles, Safety At Work, Safety Harness, Sense Of Taste, Spine Health, Surrey, Tragedy, Working At Height
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April 27th, 2009
The family of a young servicewoman are seeking compensation from the army after she committed suicide due to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Chanice Ward, 29, had served in Bosnia and Kosovo as part of her duties with the Royal Army Medical Corps, but had been traumatised by what she saw.
She began to suffer mental health problems and made an attempt on her own life in 2002. Shortly afterwards, she was discharged by the army and told her services "were no longer required".
Before her death, Ms Ward had launched a compensation claim against the army in an attempt to have her discharge altered to a medical one due to PTSD.
"I know the army has finally admitted that there is such a thing as PTSD, but I’m slightly bitter that they did not help me," she told the Norwich Evening News before she died.
However, Ms Ward took an overdose in early April. Now, her father has said he intends to pursue the compensation claim himself in order to get justice for his daughter.
According to PTSD.net, people with the disorder may find it difficult to handle the stress of seeking compensation and so should seek the advice of a specialist 
Tags: Army Corps, Army Medical Corps, Army Ptsd, Attempt, Bosnia, Compensation Claim, Kosovo, Medical One, Mental Health Problems, Norwich, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Royal Army Medical, Royal Army Medical Corps, Servicewoman, Suicide, Traumatic Stress Disorder
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April 2nd, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to employers who require their workforce to carry out tasks in confined spaces after a man was killed.
Kevin Hall, 46, was welding in the hold of a ship in dry docks at Richards Dry Dock and Engineering in August 2005.
However, two other employees were also welding above him, which caused water to enter the confined space.
Mr Hall was electrocuted and died from his injuries.
HSE inspector John Claxton said that employers should better prepare staff for work in confined spaces.
"The procedures in place were inadequate for a known and well established risk and the incident was completely avoidable," he remarked.
Mr Claxton said that workers must be fully trained and that atmospheric monitoring and rescue arrangements must be in place before people are sent into confined spaces.
Richards Dry Dock and Engineering of Norwich has been in shipbuilding for more than 30 years and has 85 metres of dry dock.
Tags: Atmospheric Monitoring, Confined Spaces, Dry Dock, Dry Docks, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse Issues, John Claxton, Norwich, Risk, Shipbuilding, Workforce, Workplace Death, Workplace Health
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December 4th, 2008
A man whose father died from asbestos-related cancer has launched a battle for compensation on his behalf.
Leslie Wood, 87, died from mesothelioma – which was caused by asbestos poisoning – last year, the Norwich Evening News reports.
He was a retired carpenter, but may have come into contact with asbestos at several points during his working life.
His son Ivor Wood is now calling for anyone who may have information about his father and his exposure to the deadly building material to come forward.
"This is not about compensation, but for justice to the suffering people have had to endure. To think there are still people out there now who are risking their lives and working with asbestos, something needs to be done," said Mr Wood Jr.
Last month, 68-year-old Gerald Chumley was awarded compensation of £110,000 when he developed mesothelioma after working for the Western National Omnibus Company, ThisisDevon.co.uk reported.
Tags: Asbestos, Building Material, Cancer, Carpenter, Chumley, Leslie Wood, Mesothelioma, Mr Wood, News Reports, Norwich, Risking Their Lives, Several Points, Suffering, Wood Jr
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November 28th, 2008
Bowthorpe 53-year-old Ivor Woods has vowed to seek compensation for his father’s death from mesothelioma, the Norwich Evening News has reported.
Leslie Woods was exposed to asbestos during his career as a carpenter, which resulted in the malignant lung condition that took his life at the age of 87 in September last year.
However, his son is not sure precisely where or when the exposure took place and is asking for information that could help him identify the location.
He believes his father may have come into contact with asbestos at a number of hospitals in London during the 1970s when he was employed by Anglian Widows.
A spokesman for Anglian Home Improvements said the company could not comment on the case before it gains specific details of how, when and where Mr Woods worked for them.
Giving insight into why he is seeking compensation, Mr Woods said: "I never want to see anyone be so afraid through struggling to breath and be so scared as he was in his final hours."
The Health & Safety Executive recently launched a campaign designed to raise awareness that asbestos is still a danger to workers, particularly those in the construction industry.
Tags: 1970s, Amp, Anglian Home Improvements, Asbestos, Career, Carpenter, Compensation Claim, Construction Industry, Health, Hospitals In London, Insight, Leslie Woods, Lung Condition, Mesothelioma, Norwich, Safety Executive, Spokesman, Widows
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