An accident at work led to devastating injuries for a worker.
On 10 February 2017, an employee of Aylescott Feeds and Driers Ltd needed to unblock a feed pellet press. He first turned it off before attempting to unblock it, when suddenly the machine started up again.
As a result, Ross Standen’s hand caught in the press which resulted in awful injuries to his thumb and tendons in his index finger, says the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.
Following the incident, Mr Standen required numerous operations. His thumb had to be amputated and skin grafts, and bone fragments had to be removed from his leg. The accident left the 39-year old with serious mental health issues, including suffering regular flashbacks, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and insomnia.
Health and Safety Executive’s investigation uncovered that at the time of the incident, there was no way to isolate the machine. There was no lockout-tagout procedure.
Aylescott Feeds and Driers Ltd of Burrington, Umberleigh in Devon admitted their fault at the Exeter Magistrates’ Court and pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The Devon based animal feed manufacturer was fined £14,933 and will have to pay costs of £2,500.
If the company had identified the safety risks prior to the incident, Mr Standen might not haver suffered such a lifechanging injury. The life of a single parent is already a difficult one and following the accident, Mr Standen’s life become even harder. He is unable to enjoy regular activities with his son, like cycling and gaming due to the state of his hand.
It is tough going through a traumatic event, and even harder when you know it could have been prevented. All employers should have suitable safe system of work in place to minimise the risks, especially when machinery is involved. Unfortunately, many neglect this duty, which can lead to their employees suffering the consequences.
So, what to do if you have been injured at work? If you feel like the company you work for has neglected their responsibilities and this led to your injury, you are entitled to make a claim to compensate for it. By filing a work accident claim, you can ensure that you get what you deserve.
Do not know how to make a claim? Leave it to us. We will guide you through the entire process of making a claim and will do it on no win, no fee agreement, to make sure you are not burdened with financial risk. We have a network of nationwide medical experts, prosthetists, vocation experts, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation providers and many others who can assist in your recovery.
Call us now on 0151 306 3694 or fill in a claim form on our website. You can also contact us through our social media (which can be found at the top of our page). We offer a free consultation, at a time that is convenient to you.