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News Desk | News Story
30th December 2009
Construction worker buried in cement
Injured on Building Site
A construction worker who was buried alive in cement has received a substantial sum in compensation after help from Thompsons Solicitors.Tommy Clough, 30, from Houghton-le-Spring said he is now too scared to work in the building trade after the horrific accident on the site of the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.
He was working as a concrete finisher for Laing O’Rourke on the construction of the hospital’s new cancer centre in December 2005 when the accident happened.
Accident caused Cement Burns and Broken Ankle
It left him with cement burns across his entire body, a broken ankle and post traumatic stress disorder.
His job involved wading through the newly-laid concrete foundations with a vibrating poker, a special tool used to help the concrete set.
On the day of the accident one of the scaffolding poles which were holding up the foundations gave way as he was wading through the concrete. As a result Tommy fell through the foundations and landed five metres below on his ankle.
Cement Burns left unsightly ulcers
The wet concrete poured in submerging him.
It took ten minutes for Tommy’s colleagues to pull him free. He suffered cement burns across his entire body, leaving unsightly ulcers.
Tommy said he will never work in construction again and is now working as a bin man for Sunderland City Council on a much lower wage.
Ankle Replacement may be needed in future
Fortunately Tommy has made a full recovery from the burns. Longer term after three operations on his ankle he has been told he may need an ankle replacement in the future and he required extensive counselling to help him deal with flashbacks and nightmares.
He said: “When the concrete started pouring on top of me I thought it was the end. I thought I was dead. It was so heavy I couldn’t get out of it. It seemed like an eternity before I was pulled out. I have had real problems dealing with memories of that.
“I was relieved when the burns healed and didn’t scar. I thought I was going to be scarred for life. I am now working as a bin man but I’m on half my pre accident wages. It makes day-to-day living very difficult but this compensation will be a big help.”
Thompsons Solicitors made claim for compensation
Following the accident Tommy contacted Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for accident compensation.
Laing O’Rouke admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.
Mick Laffey from Thompsons Solicitors said: “Construction sites are inherently extremely dangerous workplaces but strict health and safety regulations mean accidents like this one should be avoided. Here the supporting scaffolding was not erected properly.”
This news story was also published by Sunderland Echo and Chronicle Live.
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has been involved in a workplace accident and suffered a workplace injury, illness or disease, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in dealing with personal injury claims for people injured during the course of their employment.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim, including compensation claims for workplace accidents and workplace injuries. 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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