April 28th, 2009
A man who was badly hurt when an air conditioning unit fell on him at work is to receive compensation from his former employers.
Lee Sharples, 31, was working for Rosser and Russell of Salford and was using a harness to lift the heavy equipment, the Manchester Evening News reports.
However, the harness snapped and the unit fell on top of Mr Sharples, causing a broken pelvis and three broken vertebrae.
He had to take a year off work and was unable to return to the building trade. Doctors who treated him said he was lucky to be alive.
Mr Sharples is now calling for better safety in the workplace as part of today’s (April 28th) International Workers’ Memorial Day.
"Greater safety measures are needed to ensure accidents like this do not happen," he remarked.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, International Workers’ Memorial Day is held every year to remember all those killed at or by work and to highlight risks and necessary protection from injury.
Tags: Accidents, Air Conditioning Unit, Broken Pelvis, Broken Vertebrae, Damages, Doctors, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Heavy Equipment, Manchester Evening News, Memorial Day, Necessary Protection, Rosser, Safety In The Workplace, Safety Measures, Salford, Sharples
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April 17th, 2009
Thousands of ex-coal miners have won the right to claim compensation from the government after developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
The condition, commonly know as Miners’ Knee, is associated with kneeling for long periods of time and results in the wearing away of cartilage.
It reduces cushioning to the knee joint and the problem is permanent and disabling.
Yesterday (April 16th), secretary for work and pensions James Purnell confirmed that Miners’ Knee is to be added to the list of industrial diseases that victims will be able to claim compensation for through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
He said that the condition has made life difficult for many miners and has forced thousands more to retire early.
"I am pleased that we are now in a position that we will be able to offer them valuable financial assistance," he added.
Up to 10,000 former miners could be affected by the decision and the change will come into force in the summer.
According to BeatKnee.eu, anyone claiming for Miners’ Knee must be able to prove that they developed the condition as a direct result of their work in the coal industry and that their employers did not provide sufficient safety measures to prevent it.
Tags: Cartilage, Coal Industry, Coal Miners, Financial Assistance, Industrial Diseases, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, James Purnell, Knee Joint, Long Periods Of Time, Osteoarthritis, Osteoarthritis Of The Knee, Safety Measures, Work And Pensions
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December 24th, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to businesses about keeping their machinery covered where appropriate in order to reduce the likelihood of injuries to employees.
HSE inspector Stuart Parry said that this should be part of standard risk assessment procedures for firms and added that any company which does not protect its workers adequately will be prosecuted in case of injuries where appropriate.
The representative’s comments came after an accident in Derbyshire, in which a man’s hand was caught in a rotating ribbon blade. He suffered severe cuts and all his tendons and ligaments were severed.
Commenting on the accident, Mr Parry said: "Companies should ensure that access to dangerous parts of their equipment is prevented through robust and reliable measures and that their systems of work do not expose their employees to unacceptable levels of risk."
Approximately 2,000 people suffered injuries from machinery that prevented them from working for over three days during 2007-08, while 11 people died, the HSE attests.
The news follows a previous HSE warning that farm owners should not to cut back on their safety measures, after statistics revealed that 39 people working in this sector died in 2007-08, amounting to between 15 and 20 per cent of total British workplace fatalities.
Tags: Blade, Dangerous Machinery, Derbyshire, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Likelihood, Ribbon, Risk Assessment Procedures, Safety Measures, Safety Statistics, Tendons And Ligaments, Unacceptable Levels, Workplace Fatalities
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December 23rd, 2008
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has warned farm owners not to cut back on their safety measures after new figures revealed that fatalities and accidents on farms are still "alarmingly high".
In 2007-08, 39 people working in this sector died, amounting to between 15 and 20 per cent of total British workplace fatalities.
HSE board member Judith Donovan said that farmers should not be tempted to cut back where safety is concerned amid the credit crunch, but should continue to assess risks to keep employees safe.
"It is simply unacceptable that, almost every week, someone dies in a needless farm accident. These accidents don’t just destroy lives; they destroy whole families and often their farms too," she added.
Farm workers, like construction workers, are at high risk of injury or death due to the fact that they are constantly operating heavy farm machinery.
If a compensation claim is made, it is the company’s insurers who would pay, including for loss of earnings as a result of the accident.
Tags: Board Member, Compensation Claim, Construction Workers, Credit Crunch, Donovan, Farm Accident, Farm Accidents, Farm Machinery, Farmers, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Heavy Machinery, High Risk, Hse, Loss Of Earnings, Safety Measures, Workplace Fatalities
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October 28th, 2008
A man who lost the sight in one eye during a workplace accident has received damages.
David Perry, 52, was working as a plasterer for Cardiff county council. He was sweeping some loose stone next to a cement mixer and bent to reach a brush, reports the Workplace Law Network.
However, he caught his eye on the handle of the mixer, which was exposed jagged metal.
Mr Perry was told that he had ripped out his cornea and would lose the sight in his eye.
"I’ve been left disfigured and have had to keep it in place for cosmetic purposes. I am extremely frustrated by the disability that I have been left with," he commented.
Nick Hughes, a legal officer for the trade union GMB said Cardiff county council should have had safety measures in place to avoid the risk of injury to staff.
The council has now paid Mr Perry £32,000 to compensate for his injury, but declined to comment on the case.
It is the duty of employees to provide appropriate safety equipment for employees. Anyone who suffers an injury and has not had safety equipment provided should seek legal advice.
Tags: Cardiff Council, Cardiff County Council, Cement Mixer, Cornea, Cosmetic Purposes, Damages, Disability, Gmb, Legal Advice, Loose Stone, Lost, Nick Hughes, Plasterer, Risk, Safety Equipment, Safety Measures, Workplace Accident, Workplace Law
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