Pryers have recently won a successful claim for personal injury for a client. The Claimant, a 75 year old delivery driver was trying to unload a double stacked pallet of wine cartons using an electric pump truck. As he maneuvered the truck down a ramp the wine slid off the pallet and crushed him causing injuries to his back. A claim was brought against the claimant’s employer, the supplier of the wine and the supermarket depot where the incident occurred. The three Defendants blamed each other and all denied responsibility for the accident although an offer of £5,000 was made. The offer was rejected and the case ultimately succeeded in the York County Court. The Judge apportioned liability between the three Defendants and the Claimant was awarded £35,000.
Company ordered to pay after worker accident
August 13th, 2008A company has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an accident in June 2007.
An unnamed worker at Goodyear Dunlop in Birmingham was inspecting tyre casings when a pallet fell off a forklift truck passing by.
They fell onto the worker, fracturing two of his ribs, Abeceder reports.
Goodyear Dunlop pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was ordered to pay a fine of ?13,500 plus costs of £2,888.
The firm also had to pay ?4,000 to the injured worker.
HSE inspector Amarjit Kalay said: "The injuries inflicted could have been significantly worse, or even fatal. Operators of lift trucks must ensure that they operate them in accordance with training and employers must ensure that they are used safely."
All employers are obliged by law to ensure the safety of their employees under a duty of care.
They must provide a safe workplace, safe systems of work, safe equipment and safe fellow employees. The construction industry also has its own safety guidelines for specific circumstances.
