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News Desk | News Story
15th December 2008
HGV worker driven to compensation claim over serious knee injury
Tripped over at Work
Employers are being urged by UNISON to clean up their acts after a labourer was awarded thousands of pounds for injuries sustained during a fall.
Gary Harper, who worked for Quadron Services in Leicester, was forced to take a year off work after tearing cartilage in his knee.
The 41-year-old, from Hinckley in Leicestershire, had tripped over a piece of timber that had not been cleared away while collecting cement from a warehouse in 2005.
He has returned to work as a HGV driver, but will suffer long-term knee pain.
Compensation for injuries
UNISON helped Mr Harper receive £12,000 compensation for his injuries.
Mr Harper said: “My employers had been warned time and again about the risks of this type of accident, but they did nothing to make sure our working environment was as safe as it could be.
“It was a silly accident, but I ended up with intensive surgery, in a lot of pain and off work for a year.
“Thankfully, now my knee is almost as good as new, however it can still be excruciatingly painful.”
Dangers of messy working environment
Hope Daley, Health and Safety Officer for UNISON, said: “Employers must be aware of the dangers of a messy environment.
“Procedures like risk assessment may seem tedious, but they prevent accidents like this from happening.
“In busy workplaces like building sites there should be thorough training to ensure that staff understand the importance of keeping the workplace tidy.
“The money cannot make up for the unnecessary pain suffered by Mr Harper.”
Importance of Risk Assessments and Health and Safety Training
Nicola Harrison, from Thompsons Solicitors, said: “This claim shows the importance of risk assessments and making sure staff are fully trained in health and safety.
“An accident that could easily have been avoided has led to a painful injury and has wasted both time and money.”
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury at work after slipping or tripping, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online personal injury compensation claim forms.
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