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16th August 2007

£45,000 compensation for Mason after ladder fall broke both feet

Workplace Accident

A council worker who broke both his feet after falling from an unsecured ladder has won compensation from Pembrokeshire County Council. With the assistance of his union, UNISON, and Thompsons Solicitors in Cardiff, Mr Michael Morgan, 61, of Dyfed, secured damages of £45,000 following the injury which left him unable to work.

Mr Morgan was employed as a mason with Pembrokeshire County Council. On the 21st February 2003, he was installing windows in a council property when one side of the ladder he was standing on sank into the ground causing him to fall from a height of 12 feet.

Mr Morgan suffered serious injuries to the heel bones in both his feet. As well as being in plaster for 10 weeks, Mr Morgan had to use a wheelchair for six months, then crutches and eventually a stick. He was in a lot of pain and even now, four years after the accident, his feet are painful all the time, especially in cold weather.

Working at Heights

Regional UNISON secretary, Paul O’Shea, said: “Working at heights can be extremely dangerous and employers must make adequate provision for staff working in such circumstances. Mr Morgan’s injuries meant that he had to be medically retired from work. This accident would not have occurred if he had been provided with the right equipment or assistance.”

Petra Williams, Mr Morgan’s representative at Thompsons Solicitors in Cardiff, said: "Mr Morgan was experienced at his job but had to put the ladder up himself. None of his colleagues were available to hold the ladder whilst he was on it and no equipment was available to him to secure the ladder to the house he was working on."

Commenting, Mr Morgan said: “As well as suffering pain and the loss of my employment, the accident has caused me all sorts of difficulties. What used to be everyday tasks like driving the car or walking the dog have become very difficult. I’m gradually regaining the ability to do certain things. I’m grateful to the union and to Thompsons because the compensation goes some way towards helping me out on the financial side.”

This story was also published by The Western Telegraph.

Compensation Claim Advice

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

There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. 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.