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Engineering firm fined after worker suffers life-threatening crush injuries (29 September 2014)

Date: 29/09/2014
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Engineering firm fined after worker suffers life-threatening crush injuries

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has successful prosecuted an engineering firm based in Basingstoke, after a 42-year-old worker was critically injured after being crushed against a steel post by a telehandler.

The unnamed worker from Berkshire was injured on 25 September 2013, while acting as lookout for the telehandler.

He was hospitalised for four months as a result of life-threatening injuries, which included having his spleen and most of his pancreas removed. The worker has not yet been able to return to work, but is hoping to in the near future.

An HSE investigation found that an improvised operation had taken place at the premises of RVC Engineering Ltd, after a telehandler broke down and needed to be moved into a workshop for repairs.

Workers agreed that an HGV would be reversed up to the telehandler to push it just the few feet into the repair workshop.

The injured worker had been asked to act as a lookout – however, he became trapped between the moving telehandler and the post as the operation was carried out.

He was freed within minutes – but by then had suffered severe crush injuries.

On Thursday (25/09/14) at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, RVC Engineering Ltd of Springpark House, Basing View in Basingstoke, Hampshire was fined £6,600 and ordered to pay £1,087 in costs, after admitting a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Section 2(1) of Act states:

“It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Pete Collingwood said:

“Crush injuries are common from reversing vehicles in industry.

“A worker suffered a very serious injury from what was perceived to be an innocuous operation.

“It was an entirely preventable injury, as the manoeuvre could have been conducted without the need for his involvement.

“RVC Engineering should have planned this operation carefully, despite it being of a short duration – and then ensured the whole thing was adequately supervised.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – Crush Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors and can advise those who have suffered crush injuries as a result of negligence in a work accident, road traffic accident or other incident on how to make no win no fee Crush Injury Claims.

Personal injury claimants have three years from the date in injury in which to make a no win no fee compensation claim – and children who suffer crush injuries in accidents caused by the negligence of another party can make a compensation claim up to the age of 21.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Crush Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.

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