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News Desk | News Story
1st October 2009
Compensation for shoulder injury caused by vibration
Injury caused by vibrating tool
A GMB member has received £17,500 in compensation after his shoulder was permanently damaged by using vibrating tools at work.John Sides, 44, from Barrow in Furness, was using a handheld grinder to remove paint from a floor during his job as a team leader for cleaning products manufacturer Robert McBride Ltd based in Barrow.
He used the vibrating tool for two full days when he began to suffer from shoulder pain.
He severely strained his right shoulder and has been left with permanent symptoms.
No training on how to use grinder
It was the first time he had used the grinder and he wasn’t given any training on how to use it safely.
His injury means he can no longer lift his arm above shoulder height and as a result has difficulty carrying out tasks like painting and decorating.
He has also had to give up his hobby playing darts and was forced to withdraw from the local league he played in.
Following the accident he contacted his union the GMB which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
Employer admitted liability for injury
Thompsons was successful in settling the claim out of court after Robert McBride admitted negligence.
Mr Sides said: “When I was asked to remove the paint I thought I was being provided with the correct tool for the job, but after using the grinder for two full days I was in a lot of pain.
“My shoulder still hurts when I lift up my arm and as a result I’m limited in the type of jobs I can do. I’ve also had to give up playing darts at a high level because of the pain.”
Dangerous levels of vibration caused long term injury
Tom Brennan Regional Secretary of the GMB said: “Mr Sides was exposed to dangerous levels of vibration which has resulted in him suffering from a long term injury.
“Had his employer taken more care to give him training on how to use the tool correctly to minimise vibration this accident could have been avoided.”
Paul Morpeth from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Mr Side’s injury impacts on the type of work he is able to do, now and in the future, and the level of compensation reflects this.
“Mr Sides was doing a job which was new to him. A risk assessment should have been carried out and training given before he started the task.”
How to start a claim for compensation
If you or someone you know has been injured at work, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any personal 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 personal injury compensation claim forms.
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