October 23rd, 2009
A firm in Scotland has been prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after one of its employees was seriously injured by a piece of machinery.
The unnamed man had been filling a Mobile Explosives Manufacturing Unit at Orica UK in Muirside when the accident occurred in February 2008.
He had been pouring emulsion into the machine when it suddenly blocked. As he reached in to clear the blockage, it unexpectedly started again and the man lost two of the fingers on his right hand.
An investigation by HSE officers found that the plant’s equipment was not properly guarded and there was no safe way to clear blockages that did occur. Orica UK was fined £10,000 for breaching health and safety regulations.
HSE Inspector Colin Hutchinson commented: "This was a serious and avoidable incident. All companies conducting similar operations must learn from this incident by making sure their safety procedures are both sufficient and rigidly followed."
According to statistics published by the HSE, 299,000 reportable injuries occurred at work between 2007 and 2008, resulting in the loss of six million working days.
Tags: Blockages, Colin Hutchinson, Emulsion, Explosives, Fingers, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Hse, Orica, Reportable Injuries, Safe Way, Safety Procedures, Safety Regulations, Scotland, Statistics, Unnamed Man, Workplace Accident
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August 25th, 2009
A company that operates extreme sports holidays has been ordered to pay £33,500 in compensation to the family of a girl who was killed on one of its holidays.
Emily Jordan, 21, had gone river rafting with Black Sheep Adventures in New Zealand last year, but tragedy struck and the traveller ended up in the water of the Kawarau River Gorge.
She was trapped under the water by a rock for 20 minutes and died at the scene.
An inquest found that the holiday company had failed to follow correct safety procedures and had not carried ropes in case of an accident.
It was fined £27,600 and ordered to pay £33,500 in compensation to Ms Jordan’s family.
Anyone who has been injured in a holiday accident and believes their tour operator or adventure sports organiser to be responsible may be entitled to claim holiday accident compensation and should seek the advice of an experienced solicitor.
Tags: Accident Compensation, Adventure Sports, Black Sheep, Extreme Sports, Holiday Company, Holidays, Inquest, Jordan 21, New Zealand, River Gorge, River Rafting, Ropes, Safety Procedures, Solicitor, Tour Operator, Tragedy, Traveller
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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 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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December 2nd, 2008
A father has launched legal action against Boots after his baby daughter was hit by a rolling pin outside one if its stores.
John-Paul Burns was standing outside the store in Dundee with Alyssa, 19 months old, in a pushchair.
However, a rolling pin being used on the third floor then fell from a window, hitting the child on the head.
She was taken to hospital and treated, but her family says she still suffers from headaches and problems with shyness more than seven months later.
Although Boots has now been fined £6,500 for breaching health and safety regulations, Mr Burns said this is not enough and has launched civil legal action against the retailer.
A spokesperson for Boots said: "We would like to reiterate our sincere apologies to the family for the upset and distress this accident has caused."
It added that its safety procedures have been reviewed since Alyssa’s accident.
Every business, including shops, offices, farms or factories, has a duty provide for the safety of visitors.
Anyone who is injured because of the negligence of the business may be entitled to make a no win, no fee compensation claim and should seek the advice of a solicitor specialising in personal injury compensation claims.
Tags: 19 Months, Alyssa, Baby Daughter, Dundee, Health And Safety, Mr Burns, No Win No Fee Compensation Claim, Paul Burns, Personal Injury Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation Claims, Pushchair, Retail Giant, Rolling Pin, Safety Procedures, Safety Regulations, Seven Months, Sincere Apologies, Solicitor Specialising, Spokesperson
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