May 15th, 2009
A boy who was attacked by a gang of youths on school premises is seeking compensation for the injuries he sustained.
Henry Webster, 18, was a pupil at Ridgeway School in Wroughton near Swindon in January 2007, the Telegraph reports.
He had an altercation with a 15-year-old boy and agreed to meet him on the tennis courts after school. However, when he met the boy, he was ambushed by a group of his friends.
The gang beat Mr Webster with claw hammers and he was left fighting for his life.
He is now suing the school for £1 million in damages, claiming that it had not done enough to prevent racial tensions from erupting.
At a high court hearing, Judge Hagen criticised the school, saying he was "astonishing" that staff had not been supervising pupils on the tennis courts when the bell went.
The school denies the allegations and another hearing is set for October.
Schools have a duty of care towards pupils and anyone injured while on school premises should seek advice from a personal injury lawyer, as they may be eligible for compensation.
Tags: 1 Million, Allegations, Altercation, Claw Hammers, Damages, Duty Of Care, Hagen, Hammer Attack, Henry Webster, High Court Hearing, Mr Webster, Personal Injury Lawyer, Pupil, Pupils, Racial Tensions, School Premises, Swindon, Telegraph Reports, Tennis Courts
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April 29th, 2009
A former teacher is suing a council for £700,000 in compensation after her water was spiked with blackboard cleaning fluid.
Shaaira Alexis, 52, was given the mixture by a pupil who had been trusted with a set of classroom keys in February 2005, the Daily Mail reports.
The teacher drank the fluid and felt a burning sensation in her mouth and throat. She had to be taken to hospital to be treated and although she was released on the same day, she claims that the psychological impact was more severe.
"I believe the incident has taken something away from me that I will never get back," Ms Alexis told the high court.
She is suing Newham council for negligence – claiming that it had allowed pupils and teachers to be put at risk – and is seeking £700,000 for injuries, lost earnings and the pension she would have received had she stayed on at the school.
According to the National Union of Teachers, £18 million in compensation was paid out in the UK in 2008 to teachers who were injured, bullied or discriminated against.
Tags: Alexis, Blackboard, Burning Sensation, Cleaning Fluid, Daily Mail, Earnings, February 2005, Mixture, National Union Of Teachers, Negligence, Psychological Impact, Pupil, Pupils, Risk, Water Cleaning
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April 20th, 2009
A man who slipped on a temporary wheelchair ramp has received compensation from his former employer.
Warren Spour, 36, worked at South Tyneside College in South Shields when the accident occurred in October 2006, the Shields Gazette reports.
He had been walking into a temporary classroom over the wheelchair ramp, which was wet with rain, when he slipped and landed heavily on his shoulder and wrist.
Mr Spour launched a compensation claim against the college, alleging that its safety procedures were insufficient for staff and pupils.
"My shoulder still hurts during the cold weather and it is arthritic. I am concerned that when I’m older it will only get worse," he added.
He is now to receive an undisclosed sum of compensation after the college admitted liability.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, almost 11,000 people were seriously injured due to a slip or trip at work last year.
Tags: Cold Weather, Compensation Claim, Gazette Reports, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Lecturer, Pupils, Rain, Safety Procedures, Shields Gazette, South Shields, South Tyneside College, Undisclosed Sum, Wheelchair Ramp, Workplace Accident
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April 6th, 2009
A woman who lost her husband to the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma has secured compensation of £290,000, it has emerged.
The widow, who has not been named, took legal action after her spouse died aged 61 after being exposed to the building material while teaching chemistry in East Sussex for 34 years.
He breathed in fibres and dust while using equipment for science demonstrations and experiments and died in September 2007.
The woman took legal action against East Sussex council and has now secured a payout.
"My husband just didn’t know what danger he was exposing himself to on a daily basis," she commented.
A council spokesperson said the authority strives to provide a safe working environment for staff and pupils.
If a person or their surviving partner can prove they were exposed to asbestos as a result of negligence, a claim for compensation may be made as a result and the advice of a solicitor should be sought.
Tags: Building Material, Cancer Mesothelioma, Chemistry, Daily Basis, East Sussex, Exposed, Fibres, Negligence, Pupils, Science Demonstrations, Solicitor, Spokesperson, Sussex, Woman, Working Environment
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March 9th, 2009
A garage has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after a work experience student was seriously injured in an accident on his placement.
The unnamed pupil was working at Holdingham Garage in Sleaford, owned by Hockmeyer Motors, when he was caught in the path of a fireball caused by igniting brake fluid being sprayed onto a running engine.
He was badly burnt and his t-shirt was melted onto his chest.
HSE inspector Judith McNulty-Green said the accident could have been avoided if the risks associated with using the solvent in this way had been assessed.
"It is imperative that if companies contract to have work experience pupils from local schools they update any risk assessments," she added.
Hockmeyer Motors was fined and prosecuted under health and safety regulations.
According to guidelines from the HSE, students participating in work experience are regarded as the placement provider’s employees for the purpose of health and safety.
The placement provider must assess any risks to the pupil and should maintain the appropriate measures to avoid them.
Tags: Brake Fluid, Fireball, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Local Schools, Mcnulty, Measures, Placement Provider, Pupil, Pupils, Risk Assessments, Safety Regulations, Sleaford, Solvent, T Shirt, Work Experience Student
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