Law Firm Calls For Safety Improvements After Sheffield Man Suffers Hand Injury In Accident at Work
11/01/2010
Industrial accident solicitors at a leading law firm have warned that businesses must do more to ensure the safety of their workers after a Sheffield man received an out-of-court settlement following a serious hand injury.
Rae Plusa, an apprentice electrician from Stocksbridge near Sheffield, was rushed to hospital after cutting his right hand on a sharp piece of exposed metal, causing a severe deep circular injury that had to be cleaned under local anaesthetic.
However, hospital staff were unable to stitch Mr Plusa’s finger, fearing that doing so would permanently restrict the movement of his finger. He was forced to take a month off work as a result of the injury and also required help with washing, household tasks and was unable to ride his motorbike.
Mr Plusa instructed Irwin Mitchell to bring an industrial accident claim against the employers and an undisclosed out of court settlement was negotiated after the company’s insurers admitted liability for the accident.
But Louise Morgan, a personal injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell, has urged employers to ensure that health and safety procedures are in place to prevent accidents in the workplace.
“Mr Plusa’s injury was obviously very painful, and could easily have been avoided had his employers followed the necessary health and safety procedures,” she claimed.
“Employers need to ensure workplaces are kept clean and safe, and must provide the right level of protective clothing to employees to make their working environment as safe as possible.”
Mr Plusa added: “I was working with mechanical fitters who were repairing a five tonne drop stamp, and was sitting on part of the structure with my right hand resting on a cover whilst they carried out part of the repair.
“When I moved my hand I felt the sharp piece of metal stick into my hand. I was very lucky not to be left with permanent damage as the injuries could have been much worse if they had caught tendons or ligaments.
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