HSE FINE FOR COMPANY WHOSE EMPLOYEE WAS PARTIALLY BLINDED IN AN ACCIDENT AT WORK

May 2nd, 2008 Hinchliffes

The Health and Safety Executive have levied a fine of £10,500 against Weldex UK Ltd after their employee was blinded in one eye following an accident at work, which was caused by inadequate work equipment.

The work accident occurred when the employee was undertaking grinding tasks in August 2007. The grinding disc he was using shattered, and fragments penetrated the visor he was wearing and entered his left eye. He subsequently lost the sight in that eye because of the injury.

The company pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The HSE has repeated its warnings to employers, concerning their need to properly maintain work equipment and to provide their employees with adequate training.

COMMENT:-

All employers must take steps to prevent, or at least control, the risks posed to their employee’s health from using work equipment. The equipment must be suitable for the task envisaged, regularly inspected and maintained, and used only by workers who have received adequate training. Failure to comply with Regulations could prove to be very costly.

In addition to the heavy fine imposed on this company, they may also face a successful claim by the injured employee for personal injury compensation.

Accident compensation for the loss of one eye could exceed £30,000, together with any financial losses directly related to the accident, including lost wages while off sick, and the possible loss of future earnings if the worker could no longer undertake the same work and instead had to manage on a lower wage for a less skilled job.

PERSONAL INJURY CLAIM SOLICITORS:-

If you have suffered any form of accident at work, contact personal injury specialists Hinchliffes Solicitors for immediate legal advice, to find out if you are entitled to make claims for injury compensation. All cases are dealt with on a No Win – No Fee basis and successful Clients keep 100% of the compensation recovered.

Call now on 0800 138 1348 to speak direct to a personal injury lawyer or go to our Start Your Claim Now page to submit details of your personal injury claim online.