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You are in: Home Page | News Desk | News Story

9th March 2009

Savoy waiter slips on greasy floor

Slipped while working

Luis Castillo, 63, from Croydon worked at the hotel for 17 years as a waiter and a wine waiter before the accident happened in April 2007.

He was walking through the hotel’s kitchen with a bottle of wine and liqueurs on a tray when he slipped on grease on the floor.

He suffered from soft tissue damage to his foot and still suffers from pain. As a result he was off work for three months and can now only work for short periods of time.

The Savoy Hotel has been closed for a reported £100m refurbishment since December 2007 and plans to reopen later this year.

Decided to pursue claim for compensation

Following the accident Mr Castillo contacted his union the GMB which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for accident compensation.

The hotel accepted liability for the accident and agreed to settle the claim for £9,000.

Mr Castillo said: “On the day of the accident I had to walk through the kitchen to serve drinks to a customer but the floor had not been kept clean. As a result I slipped and fell. Although the accident was almost two years ago I still visit my doctor with the pain.

“It was important for me to pursue compensation because I am now limited in the work I can do. I can only take shifts now and again. Had this accident not happened I would have expected to work full time right up to retirement.”

Slips and trips are a common work hazard

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary added: “Slips and trips are a common work hazard for those employed in the restaurant trade. Employers should ensure staff have a safe work environment by following health and safety protocol.

“What may on the surface seem like a simple slip has had serious knock-on effects for Mr Castillo who can no longer work full time in the lead up to his retirement.”

Meena Santharam from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Legislation is in place to protect employees against slips and trips at work, including The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations.

“Restaurants should have an extra focus on safe flooring, adequate lighting and quick clean-up of spills to help avoid this kind of accident from happening.”

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 personal 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.