Personal Injury Solicitors

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has prosecuted a Bedfordshire-based metal company for safety breaches, after a worker suffered severe leg injuries and underwent partial amputation of his foot in a workplace accident.

Luke Simpson, 24 – an agency worker – was injured at Smiths Metal Centres Limited when a bundle of 18 stainless steel bars weighing around 900kg fell from a four-wheel trolley being manually moved by Mr Simpson and another staff member.

The trolley tipped over and the bundle of bars fell off the top of the trolley, trapping his leg and foot. He was rushed to hospital by the emergency services and diagnosed with a fractured right leg. Mr Simpson’s right foot was also badly crushed and despite a number of operations to save the foot, most of it was amputated. Mr Simpson now has a prosthetic foot and he was unable to return to work for several months – he is currently only able to work on a part-time basis.

HSE found that the metal trolleys had been used on site for around 20 years without incident. Smiths Metal Centres Limited purchased the trolleys to be used as workstations, but employees had chosen to use them to move metal stock around the site.

There was no risk assessment or written system of work for the trolleys at the time of the incident – the trolley involved had faulty wheels and there was no record of any maintenance. After the accident, the trolley was given a safe working load of 500kg – half the weight placed on the trolley at the time of the incident.

At Luton Magistrates’ Court, Smiths Metal Centres Limited of Stratton Business Park in Bedfordshire pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The company was fined £130,000 with costs of £2,456.40 and a victim surcharge of £120.

After the hearing, HSE Inspector Emma Page said:

“Luke’s life has been drastically altered by what happened – and this incident could have been very easily avoided with some very simple measures.

“The right equipment and a correct maintenance system would have prevented this from happening.”


Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Industrial Injury Claims

Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors can advise those injured in industrial accidents caused by negligence on how to make a no win no fee claim for compensation, including claims involving:

• Amputation
• Brain injury
• Bruising
• Burns
• Chemical poisoning
• Crush injuries
• Fractures
• Hand-arm vibration
• Hearing impairment
• Head injury
• Lacerations
• Latex/rubber allergy
• Lung damage/breathing difficulties
• Mesothelioma
• Nerve damage
• Paraplegia/quadriplegia
• RSI
• Sight loss
• Silicosis
• Spinal injury.

Personal injury claims have to be made within three years of injury or diagnosis of injury.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on claims involving catastrophic injury, as well as claims involving mesothelioma and industrial diseases.

Duncan Lewis also offers supportive legal advice to bereaved families whose loved one has lost their life as a result of industrial accident or illness caused by negligence, including illness diagnosed at post mortem.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Industrial Injury Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 0333 772 0409.