Demolition worker fined after colleague was severely injured

A demolition worker has been taken to court after his actions left one of his colleagues with serious leg injuries.

The worker was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after the incident in January this year, when he was carrying out demolition work. He climbed into an excavator and began to move it around the site. However he was unable to control the machine and caused a wall to collapse. His co-worker was unable to move out of the way quickly enough and was trapped. He suffered serious injuries to his left leg, a broken right ankle and a shattered shin. He has had to have a steel plate inserted into his right shin and ankle.

The worker was not trained or authorised to operate this type of plant equipment and therefore should not have been driving the machine on the day of the incident.

Workplace transport is the second biggest cause of fatal accidents, and it is extremely fortunate that this incident didn't result in a death. Nationally around 80 people are killed every year, and there are more than 1,500 major injuries.

The fact that serious injury or death can result from the use of machinery and vehicles makes it all the more essential for employees to have respect for, and follow the safe working procedures for workplace transport that have been put in place by their employers.

Our specialised team here at Pannone work with a wide range of accident at work related cases.  If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.

Slip at Work was no yoke!

An assistant baker for Asda who slipped on a broken egg whilst at work has won her claim for compensation.

In 2007 whilst working as a bakery assistant sustained a serious back injury when she slipped on a broken egg in the warehouse at the store where she was employed.

A suspected spinal fracture was sustained as a result of the accident and she was unable to walk long distances or use heavy equipment. When she returned to work and asked her employers for lighter duties she was informed there were no such duties.

A claim for compensation was started and during the battle, it emerged Asda had hired a private investigator to follow the grandmother to film her and show that she was fit to work, however her medical claims were backed up by doctors who sent medical evidence to prove that her lifestyle had been considerably affected, by the accident.

The lady, who is now retired, won a compensation claim payout of £21,000 for her accident at work against her old employers.

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident at work, call our specialist personal injury solicitors on 0800 0384 384 or click here to book a free no obligation meeting.