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18th February 2008

Michelin sued for £2,500 compensation after employee fractured his finger

Slipped and fell at Work

Michelin Tyre PLC has been sued for £2,500 compensation after an employee from Staffordshire fractured his finger. The compensation was secured with the support of leading trade union Unite and their personal injury specialists, Thompsons Solicitors.

Gary Hughes was working as a shunter at the firm’s site in Campbell Road, Stoke on Trent. As part of his normal duties, he had to operate various mechanical vehicles including a Prime Mover which he had to climb in and out of to operate the hydraulic lifts. On the day of his accident, he tried to alight from the vehicle, but slipped off and fell forwards, landing heavily on the floor and fracturing his finger.

Mr Hughes explains: “The floor was regularly contaminated with oil and diesel spillages. Over time the soles of my safety boots got covered in oil and became really slippery and dangerous. Also, I never received any appropriate training on how to use this specific type of vehicle. Luckily I was able to put my hand out to break my fall; if not, my injuries would have been even worse.”

Trip, slip or fall

Regional Secretary for Unite, Peter Grocott, comments: “We’re pleased that Mr Hughes was able to secure compensation through legal assistance provided by Unite. However, for employers, the claim serves as a reminder of the importance of training staff properly to use the work equipment that they are given as part of their job and why they must ensure that floors in the workplace should be kept free from substances that could cause their employees to trip, slip or fall.”

Representing Mr Hughes, Martyn Gwyther from Thompsons Solicitors in Stoke on Trent, comments: “It’s easy to see that a fall from height, even a relatively low height such as this one, can lead to very serious consequences. The law is there to protect employees like Gary Hughes, and it is the employer’s duty to ensure that they remove potential slipping hazards from the workplace.”

Slip or Trip at Work Compensation Claim Advice

If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury at work after slipping or tripping, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim including claims for workplace accidents. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.

Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.