Work accident compensation claim news
01/11/2010

Amputated leg claim made by farm-hand

A farm-hand's work accident compensation claim is now likely to go forward after a magistrates' decision.

The farmer from near Pickering in North Yorkshire, has been fined £10,000 after accepting liability for an accident in November 2009 which cost an employee his leg.

The unfortunate victim, a 23-year-old man from Whitby, had to have his leg amputated after suffering a traumatic work injury accident involving a harvesting machine.

The young man was helping his employer cut maize when the blades of the machine became stuck.

The employer tried to unblock the blades but when he was unable to his employee came to help him.

In a breach of the Provision and Use of Work Regulations 1998, the rotating blades where still switched on and caught the young man's leg, pulling it into the machine.

His leg had to be amputated on site by the paramedics who were called to the emergency.

The farmer had to pay £10,000 for breaching work regulations. He was also ordered to pay £1,698 in costs.

Now that the farmer has accepted liability, the farm-hand may now push his work accident compensation claim forward which is likely to be successful in its outcome.