October 27th, 2009
A man who suffered hearing loss after working in three different noisy environments has been awarded compensation.
John Walton worked at the British Steel Corporation from 1978 to 1983, Darchem Projects from 1985 to 1987 and Turbros Engineering from 1987 to 2007, the Workplace Law Network reports.
All three were noisy to work in and when Mr Walton went for a medical in 2007, he discovered he had occupational hearing loss.
He took legal action against all three employers and it has now been ruled following a hearing that the victim should receive £12,750 in compensation.
GMB spokesperson Billy Coates commented: "It is only right that those deafened through their employer’s negligence should be compensated for the long-term damage to their hearing."
According to the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, workers must have hearing protection available at noise levels of 80 decibels or above and should be made to wear it at 85 decibels.
The organisation states that 500,000 people have suffered hearing difficulties as a result of excessive noise in the workplace.
Tags: 000 People, 80 Decibels, British Steel, Coates, Darchem, Deaf Workers, Excessive Noise, Hearing Difficulties, Hearing Protection, John Walton, Negligence, Noise Levels, Noisy Environments, Occupational Hearing Loss, Royal National Institute, Spokesperson, Steel Corporation, Workplace Law
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October 2nd, 2009
A man from Barrow-in-Furness is to be paid compensation after using a vibrating tool at work left him with a permanent injury.
John Sides, 44, was an employee at cleaning products manufacturer Robert McBride and had been using a grinder to remove paint from a floor, the Workplace Law Network reports.
After using the equipment for two days, Mr Sides began to suffer problems with his shoulder and now has permanent symptoms associated with hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
He took legal action against the company because he had not been given any training on how to use the grinder and because his injuries have left him unable to do his decorating job properly.
Robert McBride admitted negligence and agreed to a compensation payout of £17,500.
Spokesman for the trade union GMB Tom Brennan said: "Had his employer taken more care to give him training on how to use the tool correctly to minimise vibration, this accident could have been avoided."
Last month, GP Martin Scurr said in an article for the Daily Mail that anyone who has developed work-related HAVS should look into making a compensation claim because it is a recognised industrial disease.
Tags: Arm Vibration Syndrome, Barrow In Furness, Barrow Man, Cleaning Products, Compensation Claim, Daily Mail, Gmb, Gp, Grinder, Hand Arm Vibration, Job, Negligence, Paint, Products Manufacturer, Robert Mcbride, Scurr, Spokesman, Tom Brennan, Workplace Law
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March 16th, 2009
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has blamed inappropriate safety regulations for causing the death of an employee at a pet food firm.
Marcus Snow was employed in the packing department of the unnamed company when the incident occurred in February 2006, the Workplace Law Network reports.
A machine used to transfer cans onto a conveyor jammed and Mr Snow bypassed the guards in order to climb in and free it.
However, the pick-up unit restarted and crushed Mr Snow against a stack of trays, causing his death by asphyxiation.
The HSE has prosecuted the company and has warned both employers and workers against the dangers of unprotected machinery.
She commented: "This tragic incident was entirely foreseeable and entirely preventable. The poor standards of machinery guarding on site meant that it was only a matter of time before the risk of serious personal injury was realised."
According to figures released by the HSE, 229 people were killed at work in 2007-08.
Tags: Cans, Conveyor, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Health Safety, Hse, Matter Of Time, Packing Department, Pet Food, Risk, Safety Deficiencies, Safety Regulations, Serious Personal Injury, Stack, Tragic Incident, Unnamed Company, Workplace Law
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January 23rd, 2009
A man who was hurt after slipping outside a branch of Tesco has been awarded compensation.
The unnamed victim was employed as a cash machine maintenance worker and had to visit the Jarman Park outlet in Hemel Hempstead, the Workplace Law Network reports.
However, unbeknown to him, the sewers had overflowed, coating the footpath in slime.
The man slipped, injuring his hip, spine and knee and tearing the cartilage in his knee. He had to take four months off work.
After pursuing his case through the trade union GMB, the victim has now secured £10,500 in compensation.
Rosie Conroy from the GMB said staff only attempted to put up warning signs after the accident.
"The area should have been cordoned off and hazard signs placed nearby to alert pedestrians to the problem," she added.
Anyone who is injured due to a slip, trip or fall because of the negligence of the occupier 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: Cartilage, Conroy, Footpath, Hazard Signs, Hemel Hempstead, Jarman Park, Machine Maintenance, Maintenance Worker, No Win No Fee Compensation Claim, Occupier, Pedestrians, Personal Injury Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation Claims, Sewers, Slime, Solicitor Specialising, Tesco, Warning Signs, Workplace Law
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December 10th, 2008
A man who suffered permanent injury to his hand after being exposed to vibrating power tools has been paid compensation.
Mark Twinn, 51, was employed by a London borough council, where he worked with compressors and jackhammers for up to five hours a day, the Workplace Law Network reports.
He took legal action against the council and has now been awarded £5,000 in an out of court settlement for his Vibration White Finger, which leads to leads to painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves, joints and muscles of the hands and arms.
"These problems are worse in the winter and brought on by the cold. I struggle to keep my fingers warm in the winter and they become very stiff," Mr Twinn commented on his symptoms.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, around five million workers in the UK are exposed to Hand Arm Vibration at work.
Tags: Blood Vessels, Compressors, Court Settlement, Fingers, Hand Arm Vibration, Health And Safety, Health And Safety Executive, Jackhammers, Joints, London Borough Council, Muscles, Nerves, Power Tools, Vibration White Finger, Workplace Law
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