Pages On: Workplace Injuries

Paramedic compensated for broken nose after being headbutted by assailant

Posted: 1 May 2016

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Head and Brain Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A paramedic from Isleworth, who has opted to remain unnamed, has received an undisclosed figure in compensation for an attack that took place when he was called to an altercation in Acton, West London. The 46-year-old was responding to a call from a chip shop owner, who was being distressed by a customer who seemed to be very much under the influence of alcohol in the middle of the afternoon. The paramedic team attended the disturbance, but the assailant refused to receive medical attention from the paramedics. He seemed to leave the scene…

Car worker awarded compensation following exposure to chemical fumes

Posted: 26 April 2016

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Industrial Deafness and Disease, Workplace Injuries

A 59-year-old car worker has been awarded compensation following the inhalation of chemical fumes whilst at work.  The worker, who has remained unnamed, was working on a production line at a car factory in Solihull when he noticed a strange smell. He started to feel light-headed and passed out on the concrete floor. The worker felt tightness across his chest and experienced breathlessness. First aid workers initially administered oxygen, but when it was clear that his condition was not improving. He was rushed to a local hospital where doctors diagnosed that…

Injured factory worker receives £122,000 after seeking legal advice

Posted: 21 April 2016

Posted in: Foot Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A factory worker, who sustained considerable injuries to his foot and ankle when a burning iron girder fell on him, has received £122,000 pounds after seeking legal advice. The worker, Shaun Powell from Chesterfield, was initially approached by his employer and offered £1700 for his time off work just six weeks after the accident. He decided to take advice from his union, who in turn referred him to their solicitors. The solicitor has condemned the underhand tactics of Mr Powell’s employers, stating: “This is the worst case I’ve seen of employers and…

Coalville woman receives compensation following death threat

Posted: 12 April 2016

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

A woman has been awarded £40,000 from Leicestershire County Council following a serious incident at her place of work. 60-year-old Diana Gruber, from Thringstone, Coalville, had been working as a kitchen assistant at the Coalville Resource Centre in Leicestershire for 10 years. The centre was being run to offer assistance to adults with learning difficulties, and Mrs Gruber had enjoyed working with both her workmates and visitors alike. It was during a session where she was serving teas at a hatch to people, when a male visitor approached her and started to…

Army death wrongly recorded as suicide

Posted: 15 February 2016

Posted in: Armed Forces Injuries, Criminal Injury and Assault, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

8-year-old Pte Cheryl James died at Deepcut barracks in 1995, which, at the time, was recorded as suicide. A second inquest into her death has, however, recognised that her death, originally recorded as suicide amid allegations of bullying and abuse at the barracks, may not have been suicide. Twenty years later, the army has apologised to her family, for “failing” young recruits. The inquest heard from Brig John Donnelly, the Army’s director of personal services, that the army had not been fully aware of the risks of leaving young soldiers to carry…

Port operator fined £300,000 over worker death

Posted: 30 January 2016

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Port operator, Clydeport has been fined £300,000 at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court following the death of 22-year-old worker Craig Logan in February 2015. The operator pleaded guilty to several breaches of health and safety laws, including failure to make risk assessments and ensure safe working practice. These led to Mr Logan being crushed to death on a crane at a coal terminal in Hunterston, Ayrshire. Mr Logan had gone to inspect the unloader crane cab when it had stopped working. It was revealed that Clydeport had failed to ensure that the cab was…

Tayside councils pay-out over £700K in compensation claims in 4 years

Posted: 2 January 2016

Posted in: Gym & Leisure Centre Accidents, Public Place Accidents, Road Traffic Accidents, School Accidents, Workplace Injuries

Councils in Tayside have paid out more than £700k in compensation claims since 2012 according to figures just published. The council paying out the most in compensation is Angus who has handed out over £343,000. The local authority pay-outs have been to both members of staff and members of the general public. The claims relate to defective footpaths, theft, damage to property and cars by grass cutting as well as injuries caused in schools and parks. £16K paid out for defective footpath In excess of £100k has been awarded following employer liability…

Thousands paid to Scottish teachers in accident compensation

Posted: 30 December 2015

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Head and Brain Injuries, School Accidents, Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip

An annual report has revealed that a total of £180,000 was paid out to Scottish teachers and lecturers in 2013/14 in compensation. This figure has shown a dramatic decrease on the previous year, where a total of £300,000 was paid out. The report highlighted the highest payment, which saw a teacher being awarded £50,000 after suffering severe injuries from falling and hitting their head on ice in the school playground. Another teacher won over £3,000 after accidentally being hit in the face with a musical instrument. Educational Institute of Scotland…

NHS Tayside staff awarded over £500k in workplace injury compensation

Posted: 30 November 2015

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

New figures have revealed that NHS Tayside staff have been awarded over £500,000 in workplace injury compensation in the last five years. The total amount went to almost 200 claimants between 2010 and 2015; with injury causes ranging from scalpel accidents to scalds and burns. NHS chiefs said that they take the “health and safety of staff very seriously” and have promised to continue running their internal programme of incident reviews. The figures found that in 2014/15 alone, a total of £49,611 was paid out to staff members in compensation.…

Prison officer injured during training has damages rejected

Posted: 28 November 2015

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

A prison officer has had her action for damages refused after suffering a serious injury during a riot training exercise. Bernadette Smith was a prison officer at Addiewell Prison, employed by Kalyx Ltd, when the accident happened. She had been taking part in a one-day “control and restraint” training course in September 2010, which involved a “simulated prison riot”. The training exercise, run by the Scottish Prison Service at its Fauldhouse training facility in Bathgate, West Lothian, involved the attempted control of a mock riot. Where the pursuer had been…

Factory worker wins £125,000 injury compensation for crushed arm

Posted: 23 October 2015

Posted in: Arm Injury, Faulty Work Equipment, Workplace Injuries

A 58-year-old factory worker has been awarded a £125,000 work accident compensation package after having his arm crushed by machinery. Robert Faulds, from Falkirk, suffered severe injuries to his right arm after it was pulled into heavy machinery at a bottle-top factory in Bridge of Allan in September 2013. Mr Faulds claimed that after the accident, United Closures and Plastics blamed him and demoted him. It was heard that Mr Faulds had been working on a printing machine at the time of the accident. His right arm was pulled in by…

Timber firm fined over workplace injury

Posted: 7 September 2015

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Hand Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A timber company has been fined £7,000 after a worker was dragged into machinery by his hand at a Lockerbie sawmill last year. Scott Gordon suffered life-changing injuries as a result of the incident at Steven’s Croft in March 2014, and was told by doctors that he would be permanently scarred. The company responsible, Forest Sawmills Ltd of Kidderminster, admitted to breaching health and safety regulations. It was heard in Dumfries Sheriff Court that the firm had failed to put any protective measures in place to prevent injury from happening…

Schoolboy dies after industrial accident during work placement

Posted: 21 August 2015

Posted in: School Accidents, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A young schoolboy was killed last week in an industrial accident during his time on a work placement in Aberdeenshire. 17-year-old Michael McLean was found unconscious at Denholm Oilfield Services in Inverurie last Friday, before being rushed to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Doctors were unable to revive him, and his life-support machine was later switched off. The teenager from Kincorth in Aberdeen had been on his last day of a summer placement with the company when the accident happened. The boy’s father, Mark McLean, works for the company and had secured…

Construction firm fined £200,000 over employee death

Posted: 25 June 2015

Posted in: Neck Injuries, Shoulder Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A construction firm has been fined £200,000 after a worker died on a building site in Glasgow. 31-year-old Daniel Hurley, from Cork, Ireland, died in 2009 after a steel frame fell on top of him, crushing him. The firm, Morris and Spottiswood, was fined after admitting to health and safety failings that caused the death. It was heard in Glasgow Sheriff Court that Mr Hurley’s partner, 34-year-old Carrie McArthur, felt that the case took far too long to reach court, which she stated in a letter written to Sheriff Norman…

Clutha victim launches legal battle for promised charity funds

Posted: 5 June 2015

Posted in: Hip Injuries, Neck Injuries, Shoulder Injuries, Workplace Injuries

Following the Clutha tragedy in November 2013, a charity fund was set up to help survivors of the crash. Douglas Naismith, a retired firefighter who was injured as a result of the helicopter crash, has launched a legal battle against Glasgow City Council for failing to provide him with financial assistance from the charitable fund. The Clutha Appeal Fund was set up by the city council to support anyone that was affected by the accident. Mr Naismith, however, claims that he, and half of the casualties involved in the crash,…

Worker sues over leg-crushing injury

Posted: 22 May 2015

Posted in: Leg Injuries, Workplace Injuries

59-year-old Melvin Price is suing his employer, Tayside Contracts, after a tarring machine caused him serious injury. Mr Price had been operating a tarmac chipper when it rolled on to his left leg in November 2012. Reports stated that Mr Price, who was 55 at the time, had to be freed by a colleague before police and ambulance teams appeared at the scene.   It was heard that Mr Price had been working behind the machine when it rolled backwards and ‘shattered’ his leg. He was immediately rushed to Ninewells…

Prison officer loses injury claim after training course accident

Posted: 16 May 2015

Posted in: Arm Injury, Neck Injuries, Shoulder Injuries, Spine & Back Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A prison officer has been refused compensation after claiming for an injury suffered during a training course. Bernadette Smith, who worked for the private security firm Kalyx, was stationed at Addiewell Prison in West Lothian when the accident happened. She had been involved in a ‘mock riot’ training session when she was hit by a 12ft long plank of wood. She suffered injuries to her wrist, shoulder, back and neck. The training course was organised by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) and took place on the 22 September 2010. Ms…

Tyre maker fined after worker is trapped and killed in industrial oven

Posted: 3 May 2015

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Tyre-making company Pirelli has been fined £150,000 after one of its employees died in an industrial oven. 48-year-old George Falder, from Carlisle, was found dead in the machine, (which reaches temperatures of 150C) by one of his colleagues. The Health and Safety Executive described it as a “tragic death”. Pirelli admitted to health and safety failings that caused the death in the Carlisle Crown Court. The company was forced to pay £46,700 in costs. The HSE brought further criminal proceedings against the company after an investigation found that there was no…

NHS Scotland staff suffer 35,000 workplace injuries

Posted: 9 March 2015

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Workplace Injuries

Recently released figures have revealed that NHS staff members in Scotland have suffered 35,000 injuries at work over the past three years. The figures were released by the Scottish Liberal Democrats, showing that staff had suffered injuries ranging from needle wounds to serious falls, with the figures also covering stress-related injuries. The Scottish Liberal Democrats’ health spokesperson Jim Hume described the violence against staff in the NHS as “worrying”. Injuries between 2011 and 2013 saw the highest figure in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde at 9,583 injuries, followed by NHS…

Fife faces huge medical negligence compensation bill

Posted: 30 January 2015

Posted in: Birth Injury, Criminal Injury and Assault, Medical Negligence, NHS Claims, Workplace Injuries

Fife’s NHS has recently been bombarded with a flood of medical negligence claims that could see them having to pay out £17million in compensation. Recent figures revealed that 77 claimants are currently seeking compensation for medical negligence, with one claiming over a birth defect. Furthering this, they also face a further 31 cases of liability lodged by NHS members of staff, seven of whom are claiming for alleged assaults by patients. Critics have raised the point that NHS Fife’s recent flood of claims is the continuation of a pattern recognised…

Scottish councils pay out millions in damages

Posted: 29 December 2014

Posted in: Pothole Injuries, Public Place Accidents, Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip

New figures have revealed that Scottish councils have paid out millions of pounds in damages over the last five years alone. The data, obtained by BBC Scotland, found that £15.5million was paid out to claimants, with claims including workplace violence and dangerous science experiments. The most compensation was paid out to pothole and water-related claims, with potholes costing Glasgow council £1.7million since 2000. The data was gathered through a number of freedom of information requests. Despite the magnitude of the figures, it actually found an overall decrease in council payouts. The…

Nurse suing NHS Tayside for slip that broke her wrist

Posted: 18 December 2014

Posted in: Arm Injury, Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip

A nurse at Ninewells Hospital is suing NHS Tayside after she slipped and broke her wrist. 42-year-old Verita Roach had been working at the hospital as a theatre nurse in the maternity block when the accident happened. She had been moving between emergency operations, pushing a trolley of used surgical equipment into another room to be cleaned, when she slipped and fell. She suffered a severe fracture to her left wrist. The hospital’s cleaning procedures are currently being investigated, but the hospital said that cleaning regimes have to be scheduled in…

Six-figures for family of worker killed in garage accident

Posted: 8 December 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of a man who died while working at a garage has received a six-figure sum in compensation. Stevie Conway was working in a chemical tank at the Diamond Wheels Tech site in Dundee’s Baird Avenue when the accident happened in 2011. Mr Conway’s partner, Angela Garthley, launched legal action against the firm following his death. She claimed that the firm had been negligent and that the accident could easily have been prevented. The case was meant to go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh last Friday, (5…

Worker blinded in one eye after being struck by wiring

Posted: 3 December 2014

Posted in: Head and Brain Injuries, Workplace Injuries

An Edinburgh-based company has been fined after one of its employees was struck in the eye by a piece of wire that left him blind in one eye. 20-year-old Declan Shipcott, from Alexandria, was working for Viridor Enviroscot at its Glasgow-based materials recycling facility when the accident happened two years ago. It was heard at Airdrie Sherriff Court that Mr Shipcott had been helping two colleagues clear a blockage in a machine. The wire cutters he was using allowed a piece of wire to bounce and strike him on the…

1,700 public service workers attacked in the last year

Posted: 31 October 2014

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Workplace Injuries

New figures have revealed that in the last year alone, a total of 1,700 Fife public service workers were violently assaulted while at work. The figures were released as part of UNISON’s annual survey of violent incidents, showing that in Fife 1,114 health board workers and 586 council employees were affected. It was also highlighted by the report that over the last eight years violent assaults on public service workers has almost doubled.  The chairman of UNISON Scotland’s Health and Safety Committee, Scott Donohoe, said that better monitoring procedures needed to…

Public service workers continue to be attacked

Posted: 28 October 2014

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Workplace Injuries

Recently released figures have revealed that violent attacks against public service workers in Scotland only continue to rise. A total of 37,052 incidents of violence were reported to employers this year, a rise of 3,363 reports in the twelve months previous, and an increase of 17,000 from 2006 when records began.  It has been recognised that around 100 attacks on service staff take place in Scotland daily. Dave Watson, Unison’s Scottish organiser, said that these figures are “completely unacceptable” and that more should be done to protect those working in…

Asbestos firm fined £15k for working without a licence

Posted: 2 October 2014

Posted in: Asbestos Exposure, Workplace Injuries

The bosses of a Hove-based firm have recently been prosecuted after they ignored asbestos regulations and removed some of the material from a building without a licence. Asbestos Damage Limitations (ADL) had been refused a licence to remove asbestos after theirs had expired the previous month. When trying to renew it, the Health and Safety Executive declined the licence renewal based on the firm’s previous ‘inadequate performance’. Three weeks later, they continued to work on premises without a valid licence. The case was taken to the Brighton Magistrates’ Court after the HSE had…

Investigation launched following farmer death

Posted: 28 September 2014

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A Health and Safety Executive investigation has been launched after a farmer was killed in March. 66-year-old Jim Sharp had been operating a grain auger on Monday the 17th of March when the workplace accident happened. Mr Sharp was well known in the farming community, having been a former convenor of the NFU Scotland livestock board.. The president of the farming union, Nigel Miller, said that Mr Sharp has definitely left his mark on farming in the borders. He said: “As a man he had a sharp intellect and a level of…

Killed zookeeper’s family demand answers

Posted: 19 September 2014

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Neck Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of 24-year-old zookeeper Sarah McClay has demanded that their questions are answered following her death in May last year. The accident happened at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dulton-in-Furness, whereby Miss McClay was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger. It was heard during the inquest that the tiger had managed to get through an open door from its enclosure to a corridor in which Miss McClay had been working. Animals and their keepers are supposed to be kept apart by lockable self-closing doors. However, the male…

Mystery Ski lift fault leaves eight injured

Posted: 28 August 2014

Posted in: Falls from Heights, Public Place Accidents

After eight people were injured on a ski chair-lift in Aberdeenshire, the operators will not face prosecution. The accident happened in February of last year at the Lecht Ski Centre in Corgarff in Aberdeenshire. It was heard that while some skiers were left stranded in the air for over an hour, others fell about 20ft (6m) to the ground. Eight people, including five children, were hospitalised, and a further 30 people required rescuing. It was heard that a connecting mechanism on the chair-lift became damaged, causing some of the chairs to…

Helicopter crash victims remembered a year later

Posted: 25 August 2014

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

One year after a helicopter crash in Samburgh Airport killed four people, 100 people gathered in Shetland to pay their respects. Last August a Super Puma helicopter crashed while trying to land at Samburgh Airport in Shetland, killing Sarah Darnley, from Elgin, Gary McCrossan, from Inverness, Duncan Munro, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, from Winchester. 100 people gathered at the dedication service held at the Samburgh Airport memorial site on Saturday (23 August).  Wreaths were placed into the sea and a helicopter flypast also took place to mark the occasion.…

Worker death at abattoir caused by collapsed steel door

Posted: 20 August 2014

Posted in: Neck Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An abattoir in Galashiels has been fined after being found guilty of two health and safety breaches which led to the death of one of its workers. The owners of Scottish Borders Abattoir Ltd were fined £100,000 after being found guilty by a jury at Jedburgh Sherriff Court. They originally denied the charges. 48-year-old David Barker from Selkirk died in an accident at the abattoir in January 2011. It was heard that he had been in a storage container, loosening the fixings of a steel partition door, when the door collapsed and…

Stair lift worker awarded compensation for falling down steps

Posted: 4 August 2014

Posted in: Spine & Back Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip

A stair lift worker from Inverness has been awarded compensation after falling down a step. Kathryn Hay (45) won £2500, after she slipped from one step to another while measuring them during the installation of a stair lift. Ms Hay had been using an expandable meter stick when the accident happened in a house in Lossiemouth. One end of the stick began to fall while she was measuring, causing Ms Hay to reach out and grab it. This caused her to slide from one step to the one below. The accident caused Ms…

Aberdeen lorry driver sues for £30k after serious fall

Posted: 28 July 2014

Posted in: Arm Injury, Foot Injuries, Leg Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Workplace Slip

A 58-year-old lorry driver from Aberdeen is suing an engineering company for around £30,000 after an accident left him with life-changing injuries. Robert Craig had been carrying out a delivery when the accident happened in July 2011. He has now opened a legal battle against Whittaker Engineering with the hope to win around £30,000 in damages. Whittaker Engineering is an Aberdeenshire-based firm that designs and builds equipment and components required for the marine and offshore industries. It has been supplying demand for the last three decades. “Caught in reinforcement panels” Mr…

No procedure to avoid accident that lead to farmers death

Posted: 23 June 2014

Posted in: Falls from Heights, Head and Brain Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Following the death of well-known farmer William Davidson (62), a sheriff has ruled that there was no procedure in place to prevent the workplace accident from happening. Mr Davidson died in January 2013 after he fell from a silage pile at his farm near Moffat. He had been pulling back plastic sheeting when the accident happened, causing him to fall from the 16ft silage pile. It was heard that Mr Davidson’s feet had become tangled in the sheeting. Mr Davidson was a well-respected man in the farming world, having been a director…

Inspectors concerned about hospital standards

Posted: 6 May 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Medical Negligence

Inspectors have raised concerns following a recent inspection of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee. The hospital had been provided with a set of nine requirements to address following an unannounced Healthcare Environment Inspectorate visit earlier in the year. However, a recent inspection found that some of these areas are still being neglected by the hospital. The NHS Tayside facility has been informed that they must have addressed all nine areas within one month. An action plan has been drawn up to ensure that this is carried out, with areas for improvement including cleaning, handwashing…

Accident that crushed worker's legs leads to £10,000 fine

Posted: 25 April 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Leg Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A Stirlingshire firm has been heavily fined for serious Health & Safety breaches after a worker’s legs were crushed by a one tonne mould.The injury occurred when a worker, with more than 35 years of experience, was using an overhead crane to lift a mould. As the mould was moving, it struck him below the knees, crushing his legs between the casting box and a cast iron platform.An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that although risk assessments were in place relating to operations at the foundry,…

Animal shelter fined over volunteer saw injury

Posted: 24 April 2014

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Hand Injuries, Workplace Injuries

The largest shelter for horses and donkeys in Scotland has been fined after a volunteer lost part of his hand in a saw accident. Mountain Animal Sanctuary Trust has been fined a total of £6,000 for breaching health and safety regulations. The trust pleaded guilty to the health and safety offence at Forfar Sherrif Court earlier this week. The volunteer had been using a defective circular saw when the accident happened. The court heard that he had been operating a bench saw to cut up pieces of wood from an animal…

Aberdeen Firms Fined for Worker's Serious Fall Through Floor

Posted: 21 April 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Falls from Heights, Spine & Back Injuries, Workplace Injuries

Two construction firms based in Aberdeen have been fined for serious safety failings after a worker fell and fractured his spine in several places.The worker had been replacing a floorboard over a hole in the first floor of a hotel in Aberdeen when he fell nearly four metres to the ground floor. Having suffered eight fractures and two broken ribs, he had to undergo physiotherapy to learn how to walk again and will have permanent damage to his lower back.Following in investigation into the incident, the Health and Safety Executive…

Inquiry date for farmer death

Posted: 15 April 2014

Posted in: Falls from Heights, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

A fatal accident inquiry has been scheduled following the death of a farmer in Dumfries and Galloway. The 62-year-old livestock farmer, Willie Davidson, had been working at Poldean Farm near Moffat when the accident happened in January of last year. He died as a result of falling from a 30ft (9m) shed. The Crown Office has announced that an inquiry is to be held into the circumstances of the workplace death of Mr Davidson. He had been a well-known figure in the farming community of southwest Scotland, having played an active role…

1,000 injured in Scotland’s crumbling schools

Posted: 8 April 2014

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, School Accidents, Workplace Injuries

Over the last year, around 1,000 staff members and pupils have suffered injuries as a result of the poor structural condition of Scotland’s schools. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) received more than 600 reports of accidents involving pupils and visitors at educational institutions in Scotland, with most of them requiring hospital treatment. On top of this, they also received over 400 reports of teachers and school staff badly injured.  Schools have been advised by the HSE to only report serious injuries caused by either “the condition of the premises”, inadequate supervision…

Drop in compensation claims within teaching profession

Posted: 26 January 2014

Posted in: School Accidents, Workplace Injuries

Scotland’s largest teaching union has recognised a decline in workplace compensation claims made by those in the teaching profession in 2013. With numerous accidents occurring in the teaching profession every year, the Educational Institute of Scotland saw £300,000 worth of compensation claims made in 2013, compared with £1.5 million in 2012. This has highlighted that health and safety standards are improving across Scotland’s schools. The general secretary of the Institute of Scotland said: “This is actually a positive development, as it highlights that there have been fewer very serious injuries to teachers…

Super Puma that killed sixteen in accident “fell like a torpedo”

Posted: 7 January 2014

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Faulty Work Equipment, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

An accident inquiry has been launched after sixteen men died in a helicopter crash in the North Sea. One eyewitness of the accident said that the Super Puma helicopter “fell like a torpedo” through the sky, with the rotor blades coming down several seconds after the fuselage of the helicopter. The crash occurred in 2009, but many family members are still awaiting answers. The Bond Super Puma came down just off Peterhead, and all fourteen passengers and two crewmembers lost their lives. Immediately after the accident, a rescue boat was launched to…

Timber company fined over trapped worker

Posted: 27 November 2013

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Hip Injuries, Workplace Injuries

Timber firm, Hunter Wilson Ltd, have been fined £44,000 after one of their workers became trapped in a log haul machine when cleaning. The Gretna-based company admitted to breaching numerous safety regulations and pleaded guilty in March 2011. The injured worker was 28-year-old Steven Cairns who sustained serious injuries in the workplace incident, including a broken pelvis. It was heard at Dumfries Sherrif Court that no other workers actually witnessed the incident, but his screams were heard by workmates, who quickly rushed to his assistance. Mr Cairs was instantly airlifted to a…

Fife council fined following chainsaw accident

Posted: 5 November 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Foot Injuries, Workplace Injuries

Fife council has received a major fine after janitor Craig Davies lost his toe while chainsawing a tree that had blown down in high winds. The 40-year-old janitor was seriously injured at work after a large branch from the tree fell onto his foot and trapped it against the trunk. Despite three major operations, doctors were unable to save one of his toes. Fife council has been fined £20,000 after failing to carry out basic risk assessments surrounding the use of chainsaws.  Mr Davies was called to Canmore Primary School in…

Tributes paid 60 years after lifeboat tragedy

Posted: 27 October 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

60 years ago a lifeboat disaster took the lives of 6 men just off the east coast of Scotland — a service is due to take place today to commemorate their deaths. The accident occurred only quarter of a mile from the harbour in Arbroath on the 27 October 1953. The men who died in the tragedy were David Bruce, Harry Swankie, William Swankie, Thomas Adams, David Cargill and Charles Cargill; the only survivor was Archibald Smith who managed to keep hold of a rope that had been thrown to the boat…

Firm admits failures following River Clyde deaths

Posted: 15 October 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After a tug boat sank in the River Clyde in December 2007, killing three crew members, the owner of the vessel has admitted to health and safety failures. The ‘Flying Phantom’ had been trying to guide a cargo vessel to a dock when it sank directly opposite Clydebank College in West Dumbartonshire. The tug boat capsized when thick fog rolled in and the boat’s towing winch had not released quickly enough, causing the boat to capsize by the vessel it was pulling. Three crew members lost their lives in the accident:…

NHS Lothian fined following patient attack on staff member

Posted: 12 September 2013

Posted in: Criminal Injury and Assault, Employer Negligence, Head and Brain Injuries, Workplace Injuries

NHS Lothian pleaded guilty last week to two charges of employer negligence after one of their nurses was violently attacked by a schizophrenic patient in March 2009. The nurse had thirty years of experience with difficult patients and managed to break free, but sustained injuries to her head after the patient ripped out her hair and “violently” shook her head. Magdalene Anderson was attacked from behind in the patient’s home in East Lothian. The patient, who has suffered thirty years of psychiatric illness, had previously attacked another NHS nurse with a knife. Due…

Swinney to make statement regarding Super Puma crash

Posted: 4 September 2013

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

While the reason for last month’s Super Puma crash continues to be investigated, Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney is due to make a statement at Hollyrood. Twelve days after the crash occurred — killing four people off Shetland — Mr. Swinney is expected to offer condolences to the families of those killed in the accident. As well as praise those who helped during the search and rescue operation. He said that ministers would co-operate with an industry inquiry, but that a decision is not ready to be taken concerning a wider…

Tribute paid to Shetland helicopter crash victims

Posted: 27 August 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The family of Gary McCrossan (59) — one of the four who died in the Shetland helicopter crash on Friday — has released a statement paying tribute to him.  Described by family members as being “a fun, loving guy who was full of life”. His family and the families of the other crash victims — George Allison (57), Sarah Darnley (45) and Duncan Munro (46) — all have unanswered questions regarding the cause of the crash. A senior executive of CHC Helicopter — the operator of the Super Puma —…

Legionnaires’ outbreak in Edinburgh cost NHS £750,000

Posted: 24 July 2013

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Personal Injury, Public Place Accidents, Wrongful & Accidental Death

After Edinburgh saw an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that killed four people last year, a report has unveiled the overall cost to the NHS — £750,000. Despite the fact that the root cause of the viral spread has not yet been pinpointed, the death of these four individuals prompted an NHS payout to cover further hospital admissions and advanced staffing. Further additions to the bill included medication, lab costs and public information. The outbreak was restricted mainly to the south-west of Edinburgh, with the report pinpointing a source around the…

Study reveals impact of air pollution on weak hearts

Posted: 13 July 2013

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Personal Injury

An international study has revealed the impact of air pollution on weak hearts — causing major damage, and in some cases, death. The British Heart Foundation, who funded the Lancet work, argues that the UK has to make serious changes in order to clean up the air. The levels of air pollution in many of the UK’s cities are above safe levels set by the European Union. This is not only a problem in the UK, but worldwide Despite major gains in lowering pollution throughout the European Union, some major metropolitan cities…

Fisherman rescued from boat wreckage

Posted: 2 July 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

At around 10:00 GBT yesterday, a 55-year-old fisherman made a mayday call after being thrown out of his fishing boat. The man was found four miles south-east of Torness Power Station after being thrown out of his 25ft boat, said the RNLI. A lifeboat crew soon pulled him out of the wreckage. The fisherman waited for 35 minutes in the water before being picked up, said a coastguard spokesman. An all-weather lifeboat and RAF search and rescue helicopter searched endlessly before finally spotting him amongst the wreckage. Dunbar lifeboat coxswain, Gary…

Man inhales engine fumes on Edinburgh ship

Posted: 30 June 2013

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease

A man is currently receiving medical attention in hospital after inhaling “dangerous” fumes on a boat in Leith, Edinburgh. The man had been on board the Hirta at Ocean Drive, when an engine leak occurred on the fishing inspection ship. Hirta is one of the fisheries patrol vessels that operates out of Leith. The engineer had to be taken to hospital after inhaling the gas, which he came into contact with when cleaning on board the ship. It is believed that he was mixing chemicals in the engine room to clean the…

Offshore Injury Claims

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

Although there are many advantages of working offshore, the nature of the work and the machinery involved means that from time to time accidents occur. It is important to note that such accidents are rare given the strict regulations in place. When such accidents do occur, they do not normally cause an injury. However, if you have been unfortunate enough to suffer an injury offshore as a result of a faulty machine or individuals’ or organisations’ negligence you may be able to claim compensation with a assistance of a solicitor**…

Occupational Stress

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

Employers have a duty of care to their employees and this is implied into all employment contracts. As a result all employers must have regard for the health and safety of everyone that works for them, which means that they must work with their employees to ensure that there is no undue pressure and stress at work. It therefore follows that if your health and safety is compromised because of the actions of your employer then you could be entitled to bring a claim for compensation. Claim Against Your Employer…

Factory Injury Claims

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

Although the number of factory injuries suffered is less than many other types of injury, they are often more serious. If you or someone that you know has suffered an accident whilst working or visiting a factory it is possible that compensation may be available. The amount of compensation will be determined by a number of factors, including the cause of the accident and the severity of the injury. However, there are several other considerations and it is important that you seek expert legal advice from an experienced personal injury…

Toxic chemical leak at Edinburgh fitness club

Posted: 20 June 2013

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Workplace Injuries

Virgin Active have been fined a total of £20,000 after a lethal mix of chemicals was released into the Edinburgh fitness club in 2010. Numerous staff from the fitness club had to be taken to hospital after the chemicals leaked into the pool plant room at the Omni Centre.  Even though this room was not accessible to the public, four members of staff had to be taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. A chemical called Polyaluminium Chloride was mistakenly mixed with a swimming pool disinfectant, sodium hypochlorite, which then caused a…

Zoo Worker is Mauled to Death By Tiger in Freak Accident

Posted: 3 June 2013

Posted in: Head and Brain Injuries, Neck Injuries, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Described by colleagues as a “very experienced” staff member, who was both “proficient and passionate” at her job, was mauled to death by a tiger on Friday. Sarah McClay (24) — originally from Glasgow — worked as a zookeeper at South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria and was attacked by a Sumatran Tiger when in the staff area of the big cat enclosure. The reason for the tiger being in the staff enclosure is unknown, but detectives have put it down to either “human or mechanical” error. Police believe that…

Campaigners criticise asbestos compensation scheme

Posted: 30 May 2013

Posted in: Asbestos Exposure, Industrial Deafness and Disease, Mesothelioma

With around 4,000 people a year dying from asbestos-related diseases, this silent killer is now the UK’s leading cause of work-related deaths. Mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer, was recently addressed in the Queen’s Speech as a scheme has been proposed to help sufferers. This new scheme has been presented to assist victims who are unable to trace an insurer, or employer, that is liable to pay compensation.  However, campaigners argue that thousands of victims of other asbestos-related illnesses, such as pleural thickening and asbestosis, will miss out on the benefits of this new…

Workers’ Memorial Day Increases Awareness With New Website

Posted: 25 April 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

Sunday 28th April is Workers’ Memorial Day, the day on which we remember the thousands of lives lost or affected due to workplace accidents or ill health.    The day also coincides with the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, which is marked by the International Labour Organization to help raise awareness of occupational accidents and industrial diseases around the world.    Workers’ Memorial Day is an internationally recognised event which gives people across the world the chance to remember those who were killed or seriously injured while…

Scheme to award fatigue management in the railway industry continues

Posted: 9 April 2013

Posted in: Public Transport, Workplace Injuries

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has announced that its award scheme for innovative schemes to manage fatigue in the railway industry is to run for a second year. The prize aims to raise the profile of occupational health issues in the sector. IOSH Railway Group chair Martin Leeks said: “Fatigue can cause injuries and deaths to workers and passengers on our railways. It hampers mental alertness and affects performance, causing errors because of reduced concentration, perception, judgement and even memory. Ultimately, it can lead to drowsiness and…

Firm fined after worker suffers burns

Posted: 3 April 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

Aluminium powder reacted with water in an industrial vacuum cleaner to create hydrogen gas that exploded and burned a worker, a court has heard. A Staffordshire research and development company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the incident at its site. A 27-year-old employee suffered burns to the top of his body and was in hospital for two weeks. He was off work for three months before returning to work for the company. Stafford Magistrates’ Court heard the specialist vac had been used to clean up…

Fatal Accident Inquiry into helicopter tragedy

Posted: 26 March 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries, Wrongful & Accidental Death

The Crown Office has recently announced the results of its investigation into the deaths of all 16 men on board the Super Puma helicopter AS332 L2 G-REDL, which crashed into the North Sea on 1st April 2009. Having carefully considered all the circumstances of this incident, Crown Counsel have decided that there is insufficient evidence for a prosecution and as a result no criminal proceedings are instructed. The deaths of all 16 men who lost their lives in the tragedy are to be the subject of an inquiry in terms…

Healthy workplaces are key to employee wellbeing

Posted: 13 March 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

Employers should devote more time and effort to ensuring that their workplaces are as healthy as possible for workers. That is the advice of a recent TUC guide, aimed at promoting healthier working and helping trade union safety representatives identify what within their workplaces is making staff ill. Sickness absence levels According to TUC figures, around 170 million working days are lost every year because people are too ill to go into work.  Approximately 23 million of these days are down to work-related ill health, and four million are caused…

Solar panel firm fined for worker fall

Posted: 12 March 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Falls from Heights, Workplace Injuries

A Dorset company specialising in the installation of solar panels has been fined for safety failings after a worker fell from a roof in Hampshire. The employee stepped through a roof light and fell three more than metres before landing on a raised platform. This broke his fall and he managed to escape uninjured. The company was installing 68 solar panels on the flat roof of the building over three days. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) established that a scissor lift had been provided for employees…

Draft guidance unveiled on first aid changes

Posted: 26 February 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published new draft guidance to help employers get to grips with proposed changes to workplace first aid. Two pieces of guidance have been published on the HSE website following a consultation on proposals to amend the First Aid Regulations (1981) and remove the requirement for HSE to approve first aid training providers. The changes are expected to take effect on 1st October, subject to final approval by the HSE Board and Ministers. Until the regulations are changed, businesses requiring first aid training will…

Helping apprentices tackle a hidden killer

Posted: 19 February 2013

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Industrial Deafness and Disease

Apprentice tradespeople across Clydebank are set to benefit from a new HSE e-learning package to help them better understand the risks from asbestos. Approximately 4,000 people across Great Britain die each year due to asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos can be found in many buildings built or refurbished before 2000, and the group of workers now most at risk is the 1.8 million tradespeople who routinely disturb the fabric of buildings during their work. HSE Principal Inspector Archie Mitchell said: “Many young tradespeople believe that, because asbestos is no longer used in…

Worker injured in unguarded machine

Posted: 12 February 2013

Posted in: Faulty Work Equipment, Finger Injuries, Workplace Injuries

A Kilmarnock firm that makes engine parts has been fined after a worker was injured when his hand got trapped in unguarded machinery. Kilmarnock Sheriff Court heard that the agency worker was a trainee operator working on the rolling mills when the incident happened. He was attempting to free a strip of metal from the rolling mill when his gloved right hand became caught on an in-running nip and was trapped between two powered rollers. His hand was released when a colleague dismantled the top of the unit. The injured…

Government health and safety strategy puts workers at risk

Posted: 10 February 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

Government policy to reduce the amount of red tape affecting businesses means that many employees are working in sectors unprotected by unannounced health and safety inspections. According to a new study, this is a development that has led to some deadly consequences. Government’s approach In March 2011, the Government outlined details of its new health and safety framework, entitled ‘Good Health and Safety, Good for Everyone’, which was aimed at supporting the Government’s growth agenda and easing the regulatory burdens on business. One of the measures under the new framework…

Health and safety in supply chains

Posted: 29 January 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

Increasingly, businesses are outsourcing their activities and processes. But what implications does the growing importance of supply chains have for safe working conditions? A new report from the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) sheds light on occupational safety and health (OSH) within these complex networks of suppliers and service providers. The report, Promoting occupational safety and health through the supply chain, analyses existing literature on the subject, as well as government policies and case studies, to provide an overview of how OSH can be managed and…

Workplace health and safety proposals criticised

Posted: 9 January 2013

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has called on the Government to rethink implementing its health and safety proposals, describing some proposals as conceptually flawed. IOSH head of policy and public affairs Richard Jones said: “We’d like to see the Government reconsider the way it is implementing the Löfstedt review, as it is going much further than was recommended, or intended. We don’t believe the case has been properly made for a number of the proposals — quite the opposite — they offer no real benefit and introduce…

Fife construction firm fined for dangerous scaffolding

Posted: 18 December 2012

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

A Fife construction firm has been fined for exposing workers to fall from height risk by using unsafe scaffolding. Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard that work to construct a single storey house extension had reached the stage where roof tiling, the installation of a skylight and other work to make it wind and watertight remained outstanding. A scaffold was in the process of being constructed by workers employed by the company. It appeared incomplete when HSE Inspectors arrived, and they quickly established that those involved in erecting it were not trained…

Building contractor fined for ignoring safety risks

Posted: 30 November 2012

Posted in: Employer Negligence, Workplace Injuries

A Newquay building contractor has been fined for allowing multiple safety failings at a new-build construction site, exposing workers to serious risk of injury. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that numerous ‘fall from height’ risks were observed at the site, including unprotected edges in floor-to-ceiling window openings, the lift shaft and stairwell. Scaffolding was also incomplete. A health and safety inspection had been carried out by a competent advisor two months before the HSE inspection. The fall risks were highlighted by the advisor, yet no…

Businesses urged to kick bad habits to reduce work injuries

Posted: 27 November 2012

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

The vast majority of workplace accidents in Northern Ireland could be avoided if more employers worked to stamp out bad habits and promote a strong safety culture in their businesses, said a health and safety body. It is estimated that in 80% of workplace accidents, unsafe conduct is a contributory factor – people either adopting unsafe work practices or failing to follow company policies on health and safety. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health’s (IOSH) Northern Ireland Branch has encouraged business bosses to adopt behavioural safety strategies to help…

Concerns over health & safety in the railway industry

Posted: 22 November 2012

Posted in: Public Transport, Workplace Injuries

The 2012 Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) Rail industry conference 2012 has recently taken place, at which concerns were raised about ongoing worker safety. Richard Price, Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) chief executive said: “Health and safety needs to remain at the forefront of everyone’s minds — an unsafe industry can’t be an efficient industry. Safety and occupational health management has a crucial role to play in improving value for money. “ Mr Price highlighted that although there has been a 12% reduction in the overall level of…

Proposed exemptions send wrong message on workplace health and safety

Posted: 7 November 2012

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Workplace Injuries

A professional body has criticised proposals to exempt self-employed workers from health and safety laws and to scale down the number of workplace accidents that employers should report. The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has submitted evidence to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), urging the regulator to retain current requirements on the self-employed and improve the reporting system for work-related accidents. IOSH fears the exemption of certain workers from health and safety regulations will cause confusion. The chartered membership body has advocated more government support for business…

New figures published for workplace ill-health and injury

Posted: 1 November 2012

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Workplace Injuries

Recently published figures have shown slight falls in a number of key areas of workplace ill-health and injury.The provisional statistics published by the Health and Safety Executive show that in Britain between April 2011 and March 2012: 22,433 major injuries such as amputations, fractures, and burns to employees were reported — a rate of 89.90 injuries per 100,000 workers — compared with 24,944 in 2010/11. The average for the past five years is 27,170.88,731 other injuries serious enough to keep people off work for four or more days were reported…

GPs incorrectly diagnosing work-related asthma

Posted: 29 October 2012

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Medical Negligence

Recent research from the University of Birmingham has found that GPs are often failing to correctly diagnose work related asthma in patients. One in ten cases of adult asthma are caused by work related factors, but the research found that GPs are not correctly identifying this in around 75% of patients.According to the research, around 3000 people a year develop asthma because of exposure to materials at work. Where this is diagnosed early, patients have a good chance of a complete recovery. However, two thirds of patients will never make…

Aberdeen Oil Rig Workers' Injury Claims

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

If you have been injured on an oil rig in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us for more information in making a personal injury claim in Aberdeen. Oil Rig Injury Lawyers Aberdeen Working in the oil and gas industry entails long hours, hard work in difficult conditions and…

Workplace Injuries - Industrial & Manual

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

If you have been injured at work in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us for more information in making a personal injury claim in Aberdeen. Personal Injury Claims Lawyers Aberdeen Unfortunately, in many manual and industrial workplaces, the risk of injury is ever-present. No matter what steps we,…

Workplace Injuries - Office

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

If you have suffered an office injury in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us for more information in making a personal injury claim in Aberdeen. Workplace Injury Claims Lawyers Aberdeen While we normally associate workplace injury with industrial or manual work, injuries in the office are surprisingly common.…

Slips, Trips & Falls in Aberdeen

Posted in: Public Place Accidents, Workplace Slip

If you have suffered an injury as a result of a slip, trip or fall in a public place, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contact us for more information in making a personal injury claim in Aberdeen. Injury In Public Lawyers Aberdeen Among the most common types of injury are those caused by trips or falls in public…

Injured At Work in Aberdeen?

Posted in: Workplace Injuries

If you have been injured at work in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. Your employer is under a duty to take reasonable care to prevent injury to you while you are at work. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Accidents at Work Claims solicitors Aberdeen All employers are under a duty to protect their employees…

Work Related Arm Injuries Claims

Posted in: Arm Injury, Workplace Injuries

If you have been injured in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Our compensation guide outlines the levels of compensation for some of the most common types of injury. Work Related Arm Injuries claims lawyers Aberdeen This category contains a broad group of injuries grouped together. They are categorised in…

Vibration White Finger Claims

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Workplace Injuries

If you have been injured in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Our compensation guide outlines the levels of compensation for some of the most common types of injury. Vibration White Finger Compensation Vibration white finger is an unfortunately common complaint which arises as a result of exposure to vibration.…

Lung Disease

Posted in: Industrial Deafness and Disease, Mesothelioma

If you have been injured in the last three years, and it wasn’t your fault, you may be able to claim compensation. The amount you are able to claim depends on the type and severity of your injury. Personal Injury Claims Aberdeen can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Our compensation guide outlines the levels of compensation for some of the most common types of injury. Lung Disease Compensation Claims Lung disease is frequently related to workplace injuries. These can take many years to come to light,…