July 14th, 2009
A welder who badly hurt his back while lifting equipment at work is to receive compensation.
Kevin Hartley, 63, was an employee at Network Rail Infrastructure in 2006 and had been a track welder for 34 years, the Sheffield Star reports.
That February, he attempted to lift a heavy piece of machinery and fell, slipping a disc in his back and causing damage to his sciatic nerve.
Mr Hartley tried to return to work after he had treatment for his injuries, but found it too painful and took early retirement soon afterwards.
He decided to take legal action against Network Rail for failing to protect his safety.
In a new development, it has been revealed that the company has agreed to a payout of £37,000, although a spokesperson said it would be inappropriate to comment on the individual circumstances.
"This compensation comes as a great relief as it will pay for the private healthcare I received on my back," said Mr Hartley.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, more than a third of all over-three-day injuries reported each year are caused by manual handling.
Tags: Circumstances, Early Retirement, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Kevin Hartley, Network Infrastructure, Private Healthcare, Rail Infrastructure, Sciatic Nerve, Sheffield Star, Spokesperson, Star Reports, Welder, Workplace Accident
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June 3rd, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a warning to all employers that they must provide a safe place to work in order to avoid injury and potential prosecution.
Its advice comes after Sunderland-based car parts manufacturer International Automotive Components Group was fined under health and safety regulations when a man sustained serious injuries on its premises.
Trevor Rollin had been using an overhead crane to unload tools from a metal rack in August 2008 when it collapsed and fell onto him.
The employee suffered multiple fractures, as well as cuts and bruises.
International Automotive Components Group was found not to have provided stabilisation for the single bay tool racking and was fined under Regulation 20 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
HSE Inspector Fiona MacNeill said: "The safety of work equipment cannot be taken for granted. Employers should assess and prioritise the more serious risks in their premises."
According to additional figures from the HSE, six million working days were lost to injury between 2007 and 2008.
Tags: Automotive Components, Car Parts, Components Group, Cuts And Bruises, Fiona, Fractures, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Macneill, Metal Rack, Overhead Crane, Premises, Prosecution, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations, Provision And Use Of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, Rollin, Safe Place, Safety Regulations, Workplace Accident
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May 27th, 2009
A man who suffered horrific injuries in an accident at work has received £50,000 in compensation.
David Cotterrill, 29, was an engineer at Silver Spring Mineral Water Company’s factory in Kent when he slipped on a patch of oil that had not been cleaned from the factory floor.
The door of a bottle-making machine had been left open and Mr Cotterill slipped into it, catching his shirt sleeve on the workings.
As a result, he suffered a compartment injury – where the body’s muscles swell too much to be contained by the tissue – and had to travel to France for pioneering surgery.
Mr Cotterill took legal action against the company and has now secured £50,000 to pay for his medical costs and the pain and suffering he was caused.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, six million working days were lost between 2007 and 2008 as a result of serious injuries in the workplace.
Tags: Cotterill, Engineer, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Horrific Injuries, Medical Costs, Mineral Water Company, Muscles, Pain And Suffering, Silver Spring, Travel France, Travel To France, Workplace Accident
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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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March 24th, 2009
A man who suffered serious injuries to his arm while at work is pursuing a compensation claim against the company involved.
Anthony Rackham, 42, was feeding a sheet of steel into a machine at Kingspan in Sherburn last year when his glove got caught in its rollers, the Scarborough Evening News reports.
He was pulled into the machine, where his arm got broken. Mr Rackham was forced to have a bone graft operation and said he still does not know if he will fully recover.
It was found that the guard which should have been covering the machine had been taken off.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Paul Robinson said: "If the situation had been properly planned and controlled effective guarding would have been in place at all times."
Kingspan has admitted culpability for the incident and has accepted a fine from the HSE, but Mr Rackham is now pursuing a compensation claim individually.
According to the HSE, 299,000 reportable injuries occurred in the workplace in 2007-08.
Tags: Bone Graft, Compensation Claim, Employee Compensation, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Kingspan, News Reports, Paul Robinson, Rackham, Rollers, Scarborough Evening News, Workplace Accident
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