Accident Claim Law - Accident Claim News

Accident at work results in employee losing his thumb

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:13:02 GMT

Accident at work results in employee losing his thumb

An accident at work that saw a man lose part of his thumb has resulted in the prosecution of an adhesive tape manufacturer.

The 19-year-old agency worker had only been employed by Latrave Limited for three weeks when the incident happened.

During training on how to fix a problem on a running printing press, the man's left hand was pulled in between two rollers and his thumb severed.

Despite being airlifted to a specialist hand injury unit at Royal Derby Hospital, the teenager had to have part of the digit amputated.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the machine's guard was missing and the worker was being trained in an unsafe way.

Inspector for the organisation Mark Austin said: "This inexperienced 19-year-old agency worker has suffered serious, permanent harm ... his future career path may have been changed and it will have a lasting effect on his life."

The HSE also recently prosecuted Scott Timber Limited after a worker severed his finger while using a circular bench saw.

Serious Law, accident claim�solicitors

Posted by T B Walters

'Safety failings' lead to accident at work death

Thu, 17 May 2012 11:06:51 GMT

'Safety failings' lead to accident at work death

A retail marketing company's failure to heed safety warnings has led to the death of an employee in an accident at work.

Bezier Limited was ordered to pay �118,500 in fines and costs after William Aveyard was crushed to death at it printing factory.

The 49-year-old was using a press to cut out signs and is thought to have climbed on to a moveable plate to remove waste following a mis-feed.

However, the plate activated and crushed him against the fixed press, with Mr Aveyard pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found Bezier had failed to ensure Mr Aveyard was adequately trained and there was no written safe system of work for operators of the machine.

This is despite the company having experienced a fatal incident at a separated company a year earlier under similar circumstances.

The news comes after Aden Pro Form was recently prosecuted for allowing a worker to operate a machine from inside a fence guard, which resulted in the employee sustaining crush injuries to his arm.

Serious Law, accident claim�solicitors

Posted by M Heap

Safety failings lead to equipment hire company fine

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:07:56 GMT

Safety failings lead to equipment hire company fine

Failing to address unsafe working practices has led to an equipment hire company being fined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Four Improvement Notices were issued to Rapid Hire in Swindon, as concerns were raised about the potential for an accident at work due to inadequate training and inspections.

An investigation by the HSE found limited teaching was given to operators of forklift trucks and telehandlers, while equipment that was available for hire was not properly inspected.

However, despite being ordered to rectify these issues, a return visit by the body three months later revealed the compliance was still being ignored.

Inspector Ian Whittles said: "Even though there were no reported incidents, serious safety breaches continued and these could easily have resulted in serious injury."

The HSE also recently prosecuted Unicorn Services Limited for repeatedly ignoring safety warnings at a site where a four-storey block of flats was being built.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by T B Walters

Construction firm fined after worker's foot crushed

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:55:22 GMT

Construction firm fined after worker's foot crushed

An accident at work that led to a construction worker sustaining serious injuries to his foot has resulted in a prosecution.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated an incident in Lincoln that saw self-employed ground worker Ross Smith's right foot ran over by a six-tonne dumper truck.

It is understood the driver of the vehicle was concentrating on avoiding other obstacles when he collided with the 23-year-old as he attempted to move a compacting machine out of the way.

Mr Smith suffered four broken bones and Maypine Construction was found guilty of failing to provide a suitable traffic route around the site, manage and monitor the construction activity and carry out a suitable risk assessment.

HSE inspector Martin Waring said: "By law, employers and duty holders must know what hazards and risks are in their workplaces and take steps to eliminate or reduce these risks."

A similar prosecution was brought against Countrystyle Recycling Limited after 19-year-old Daniel Brown sustained injuries when a 16-tonne shovel ran over his right foot as he sorted waste at the company's plant.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by T B Walters

Construction site accident at work leads to death

Mon, 14 May 2012 11:05:44 GMT

Construction site accident at work leads to death

Two companies have been fined following an accident at work that led to the death of an employee at a construction site.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident, which saw a tipper lorry crush mini-digger driver Richard Kenny when it overturned on uneven ground.

According to the body, J H Hallam and J and H Construction failed to ensure the safety of the victim by not properly planning or organising the control of the tipping of the bulk materials.

HSE inspector Frances Bailey said: "This death could have been prevented. It is well known that tipper lorries can overturn - especially on sloping or uneven ground - and it is vital that people are kept a safe distance."

The two companies were fined a total of �130,000 and ordered to pay costs of �40,000.

News of the prosecution comes after lift manufacturer Schindler was fined �300,000 for safety failings that led to an employee being crushed to death during work at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5A.

Serious Law, accident claim solicitors

Posted by M E Dixon

Landlord prosecuted following accident at work death

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:17:35 GMT

Landlord prosecuted following accident at work death

An accident at work that resulted in the death of a self-employed builder has led to a landlord being prosecuted.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought a case against Jagdev Singh Bal after an investigation found the three men he hired to replace a roof at his property in Hounslow has no training in this work.

One of the men - Sarabjit Singh Sanghera - died after sustaining head and neck injuries when he fell during a clean-up operation at the site.

The HSE found no scaffolding had been erected around the home and two ladders were being used to access the roof.

HSE inspector Loraine Charles commented: "It is vital that small residential landlords appreciate that they have legal duties in respect of the health and safety of persons who carry out work on their properties."

News of the prosecution comes after Holy Trinity Brompton parish council was fined for safety failings that led to a self-employed joiner being left paralysed when he fell from a balcony while working at St Paul's Church.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by M E Dixon

Firm director fined after employee sustains burns

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:09:22 GMT

Firm director fined after employee sustains burns

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a company director after an employee suffered burns due to an accident at work.

Jamie Thomas Jewell of Calmore in Totton asked the 29-year-old worker to cut the top off an unused propane gas tank with a disc cutter.

This action caused the flammable gases within the storage unit to set alight and the employee sustained burns to his left arm, torso and abdomen.

HSE inspector Ray Kelly said of the incident: "Neither the defendant nor the employee had any prior experience of this type of work and as such there was the potential for further and more widespread damage to life and property."

Mr Jewell, who is the director at Suffix Pre-cast Ltd, was criticised for asking the victim to come to his house to carry out the job, which he was not contractually obliged to do as part of his role at the company.

The news comes after Veolia Environmental Services was prosecuted when an agency worker was seriously burned by hot ash at an incineration depot.

Serious Law, accident claim solicitors

Posted by M Heap

Accident at work leads to healthcare provider prosecution

Wed, 09 May 2012 10:53:11 GMT

Accident at work leads to healthcare provider prosecution

A private healthcare provider has been fined after an accident at work resulted in an employee having to undergo surgery on her knee.

Shelagh Allen sustained a fractured knee cap when she slipped on a floor that had just been mopped by a housekeeper at Nuffield Health Ipswich Hospital.

She underwent an operation on the injury the same day and was fitted with a leg brace that meant she was forced to walk with the aid of crutches for four months.

Health and Safety Executive inspector Glyn Davies described the incident as "completely avoidable" and Nuffield Health was fined �5,000.

"The hospital floors should have been tested for their slip-risk and consideration given to replacing any high risk surfaces as well as providing staff with anti-slip footwear," Mr Davies remarked.

Nuffield Health has more than 200 private hospitals, health clinics, fitness and wellbeing centres, and diagnostic units across the UK.

Serious Law, accident claim solicitors

Posted by T B Walters

Accident at work death leads to prosecution

Tue, 08 May 2012 11:07:22 GMT

Accident at work death leads to prosecution

An accident at work that resulted in the death of a self-employed contractor has led to a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Paul Gibbons was working for Acryflor Limited at an industrial site when he fell eight metres through a fragile roof.

An investigation found the company had failed to put adequate safety measures in place with regard to working at height.

Director of the building firm Matthew Peter Williams was fined �2,500 after the HSE claimed nets or crash deck platforms should have been provided.

Inspector at the body Jon Harris said: "The company should have employed a planning co-ordinator to develop a construction plan for this work and the project should have been overseen by someone with appropriate knowledge and experience."

Elsewhere, Staveley's Eggs was recently prosecuted by the HSE after a female worker suffered serious foot injuries when she fell through a fragile roof at the company's site.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by M E Dixon

Construction firm fined after accident at work

Fri, 04 May 2012 10:59:57 GMT

Construction firm fined after accident at work

A construction company has been hit with a fine following a serious accident at work that left a man in danger of losing his foot.

Paul Daniels, 50, was working for CJL Construction in Somerset in September 2010 when he was hit by a forklift truck.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the case and launched a prosecution against the firm. It has now been fined �10,000.

Mr Daniels endured shattered bones in addition to almost losing his foot. At the time of the incident, he was working in Langport to install drainage systems on a row of new houses.

HSE inspector Annette Walker stated: "This was now over a year ago and he has required further operations and treatment and is still unable to return to work."

Partner at JD and RL Spalton David Spalton is another to have recently been brought to justice by the HSE, as he was fined �2,500 for his part in an accident in which a farm hand lost his right eye.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by M Heap