When you turn up to work, you have a right to expect that you will not be placed in undue danger. Over the years, laws governing workplace safety have tightened up and now employers are subject to strict rules governing risk management.
Meanwhile, if you suffer a personal injury at work, the consequences can be hard to cope with. As well as the physical pain a you experience, you might be traumatised on a psychological level. Also, you may go through financial hardship because of lost earnings and medical bills. The good news is, there’s no need to suffer in silence. By contacting specialist lawyers, you can make those responsible pay.
Compensation awarded due to safety failings
One man who has been awarded personal injury compensation due to an accident at work is Grzegorz Chylenski. The 33-year-old was working with a Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machine at PG Components when the incident occurred in August last year.
He had reached into the open CNC machine to retrieve a dropped object when he was struck on the head by moving parts. As a result of the impact, he sustained a fractured jaw and cuts to his face and ear.
Failings
A subsequent investigation revealed that on the day of the accident, the machine in question had been programmed by one of the directors of the company and was running on a short cycle. Meanwhile, a safety mechanism had been disabled.
Bypassing the manufacturer’s safety function that prevents the machine running when its doors are open allowed for a quicker cycle, but it also posed a risk to the operator.
Incident could have been avoided
Commenting on the case, Health and Safety Executive Inspector Dominic Goacher said: “The law clearly states that employers have a duty to ensure the health and safety of their employees, which includes ensuring machinery and systems of work are safe.”
He added: “This incident could have been avoided had the manufacturer’s safety device not been bypassed. Allowing the CNC machine to be used in this state puts operators at serious risk of injury or even death.”
Made to pay
In relation to the accident, PG Components pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety laws and was fined £11,200, as well as being made to pay costs of £2,777. It was also instructed to compensate Mr Chylenski to the tune of £2,500.
How we can help
If you’re keen to take a legal case forward after suffering a work injury, you’ve come to the right place. Here at PHC Law we’re experts when it comes to cases like this and may well be perfectly placed to take your plight on.
With more than 30 years of experience in personal injury law, we have all the ability and expertise required to achieve the best outcomes.
Taking the stress out of the process
Our legal team will take care of all your legal requirements, meaning you can concentrate on making a full recovery without having to fret about legal fees, paperwork and so on.
To find out more about how we operate, just take a look around our website.