Compensation news
09/06/2011

Cambridgeshire work injury claim possible for employee

An employee at a food manufacturing company in March, Cambridgeshire, may choose to make a work injury claim for his pain, suffering and any loss of earnings.

The incident occurred in February 2010 when the victim, who was employed as a cleaner, was extracting a potato food product from an outlet pipe. A rotating screw inside the pipe seriously damaged two of the fingers on one of his hands.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the guard on the machine, in place to prevent accidents such as this from taking place, was not correctly maintained.

An HSE inspector stated, "This case illustrates the consequences of failing to manage and control workplace risks adequately and HSE will not hesitate to hold companies to account for failing in their duties in such a way."

The firm was prosecuted and fined £10,000 for breaching a Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulation. It also had to pay court costs of £5,614.

Although the 38-year-old victim has since returned to work at the company in a different capacity, the personal injury which he sustained means that he has trouble gripping objects with his damaged hand.

Now that the manufacturing firm has been found liable, the employee may decide to pursue a work injury claim for compensation.