Work injury news
27/01/2010

Supermarket worker wins compensation

A former supermarket worker from Scotland has received a payout of accident compensation for a work injury she sustained as a result of an incident in which her hand became stuck between two heavy metal crates.

The crush work injury resulted in the woman being rushed to hospital, where doctors quickly diagnosed her with a soft tissue injury and nerve damage.

Although the 35-year-old had worked for the supermarket for 12 years, when she returned to work she was served with written warning for absence, despite managers knowing the circumstances of her accident.

She commented, "Although I had a cast on my hand, I was able to return to the store a week after my hand was crushed.

"I couldn't believe it when I got told I was getting a written warning.

"Even though I had a doctor's line and my boss had driven me to hospital a week earlier, the same woman gave me the warning for being off.

"After 12 years' service, I expected to be treated better than this. To make matters worse I was made to work on the checkout, which meant I was lifting heavy items.

"That didn't help the healing process. After the way I was treated, I was left with no choice but to leave the company."

A payout of accident compensation for the woman's work injury was reached in out-of-court negotiations between the woman's no win, no fee solicitor and the supermarket's insurance representatives.