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Dangerous Machinery at Work

Introduction to Dangerous Machinery in the Workplace
  Machine Operators at Risk of Injury at Work
Injuries caused by dangerous machinery in the workplace
  Most Common Injuries caused by Dangerous Machinery at Work
Man we helped claim compensation after he was injured by dangerous machine at work
  Example of a claim we have dealt with for a man injured by dangerous machinery
News Stories we have published about Dangerous Machinery in the Workplace
  News Stories about accidents at work caused by Dangerous Machinery
Making a Personal Injury Compensation Claim after being injured by a dangerous machine at work
  How to start a claim for compensation

Introduction to Dangerous Machinery in the Workplace

Machine Operators at Risk of Injury at Work

There are many workplaces in the UK where machinery is used on a daily basis including factories, garages and food processing plants to name but a few.

Most machinery can be dangerous if it is not maintained, guarded or used properly.  People who work with machinery should always receive training from their employer on how to operate the machines correctly and should also be provided with the relevant safety wear by their employer necessary to operate the machine.

Employers are also responsible for carrying out risk assessments in relation to the machinery and the work process and also maintaining and repairing machinery used in the workplace.

At Thompsons Solicitors, we hear from many injured workers who have been asked to operate machinery without any training as well as injured workers who tell us that safety guards have been missing from or have been modified on the machine they were operating and as the guards had not been replaced properly or at all, this led to their injury.

If you have been injured by dangerous machinery at work, you may be able to make a personal injury claim for compensation.

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Injuries caused by dangerous machinery in the workplace

Most Common Injuries caused by Dangerous Machinery at Work

The vast majority of accident at work claims we hear about at Thompsons Solicitors which have occurred as a result of dangerous machinery involve injuries to the hands or fingers.  Eye injuries can be caused by items or particles being ejected at high speed or from breakages and disintegration of the materials or moving parts. Wearing ill fitting or loose protective gloves or wearing jewellery such as rings, necklaces or bracelets which may become caught on moving parts is also dangerous. Inexperience as well as complacency with machinery are matters that the employers must take into account to protect against injury. The employers must also consider and assess whether the work equipment and machinery can be safely operated with the range of personal protective equipment provided and if not, to then make any necessary changes

Dangerous machines can trap, cut or crush body parts which come into contact with them and in most cases, those body parts are the hands or fingers.

Crush injuries requiring reconstructive surgery are commonplace as are serious lacerations, amputations and degloving incidents (where the skin is stripped away from the hands and fingers).  Dangerous machines can cause life-changing injuries to people as if you lose a limb your life will never be the same.  Even if you lose a finger, you may have to take a lot of time off work and perhaps change your profession.

In the most serious of cases, workers have been killed by dangerous machinery.

If you have been injured by a dangerous machine in the workplace, you may be able to make an accident compensation claim.

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Man we helped claim compensation after he was injured by dangerous machine at work

Example of a claim we have dealt with for a man injured by dangerous machinery

Mr Jackson worked in a meat factory as an inspector and was standing at his station inspecting one of the pieces of meat when a colleague working nearby caught his arm with a whizzer, which is used to cut pieces of meat from the carcasses.

Mr Jackson needed 12 stitches to his arm and he was absent from work for a week as a result.

He held his employers responsible for his accident as there had previously been complaints made about the lack of space available to work in, particularly with dangerous machinery being used.

With help from Thompsons' specialist personal injury lawyers, he was awarded £1,625 compensation for his injury caused by dangerous machinery.

If you have been injured by a dangerous machine at work, you may be able to make a compensation claim.

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News Stories we have published about Dangerous Machinery in the Workplace

News Stories about accidents at work caused by Dangerous Machinery

In the past we have published many news stories on our website about workers we have helped to make compensation claims after they have been injured by dangerous machinery.  Follow the links below to read these stories or to read all of our news stories, visit our News Desk.

23rd January 2012 - Britvic factory worker compensated after suffering from crushed hand

13th December 2011 - Bristol man becomes bionic

6th October 2011 - BAE systems pay compensation after accident with antiquated machine

14th April 2011 - Family speak out after firm fined for causing worker's death

11th April 2011 - Compensation for firefighter's crushed foot

10th February 2011 - Gamekeeper saved by son receives compensation

24th January 2011 - Shredded arm leads to steel firm paying damages

21st January 2011 - 300,000 for factory worker’s arm / hand crushed by machine

14th January 2011 - Cemex compensate family for fatal explosion

11th December 2009 - Builder secures damages for loss of finger

15th October 2009 - Shipyard worker scarred for life

9th July 2009 - Keen athlete forced to retire after workplace injury

2nd June 2009 - Payout for man whose hand was crushed

22nd May 2009 - Injured dad couldn't hold his baby

21st May 2009 - Engineer compensated for horrific injuries

28th April 2009 - Involving workers saves lives

27th February 2009 - Finger lost in grinding accident

3rd October 2008 - £335,000 compensation for family of Gloucestershire man crushed to death at work

9th July 2008 - The GMB and Thompsons Solicitors have secured damages of more than £130,000 for a Cumbrian factory worker who was injured whilst operating a machine

9th May 2008 - Machine operator from Merthyr Tydfil injured by seamer machine secures £11,000 damages

16th January 2008 - NHS Logistics Authority pays factory worker damages after fork lift truck injury left him with a partially amputated foot

10th January 2008 - £175,000 damages for Preston man who suffered severe physical and psychological injuries after his hand was trapped in a machine at work

24th September 2007 - Electrician wins damages of £237,000 following accident at Heathrow Airport

17th September 2007 - Damages awarded after paper cut left machine worker with serious finger injury

6th July 2007 - Kent groundsman secures compensation after losing a limb in an accident

22nd March 2007 - Car parts worker secures compensation for crushed hand accident

If you have been injured at work by a dangerous machine, you may be able to make a personal injury compensation claim.

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Making a Personal Injury Compensation Claim after being injured by a dangerous machine at work

How to start a claim for compensation

As with all personal injury compensation claims, you would need to prove that accident caused by the dangerous machinery was caused as a result of the negligence of another party (in this case your employer) and once you appoint a personal injury compensation solicitor, they will assist you in compiling the evidence and presenting it to the third party insurers.

Every personal injury compensation claim is very different and while some are settled within a matter of months, others can take years. Most cases are settled out of Court; however, some will need to progress this far.

If you or someone you know has been injured by a dangerous machine in the workplace, 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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