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20th May 2010
Unite member compensated for shoulder injury
Compensation for Accident at Work
A mechanical fitter who needed surgery on his shoulder following a workplace accident has received more than £5,000 in compensation.Geoffrey Burns, 59, from Whitehaven had to take six months off work following the accident in August 2008 while working for Sellafield.
The Unite member was using a manual pipecutter to cut four inch diameter stainless steel pipe for size reduction when he suffered traumatic tendonitis. The tool was unsuitable for the job.
Shoulder injury required surgery
The condition left his shoulder in extreme pain which needed surgery to correct.
He said: “I tried to struggle on with my injuries at first but my shoulder only got worse and I had to stop working. The quickest way for me to get my injury resolved was through surgery. This compensation will help me to pay for the cost of the private consultations I had.”
Following his accident he contacted Unite which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for compensation.
Thompsons argued that Sellafield should have provided a more modern electric pipecutter to avoid the use of excessive force which was needed to handle the manual tool.
Sellafield admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.
Mr Burns has been able to return to work and is fully fit.
Accident could have been avoided
Paul Finegan Unite Regional Secretary said: “Mr Burns’ accident could have been avoided had Sellafield taken more time to consider the risks associated with the job. The pipecutter should have been taken out of service and alternatives looked into to complete the job.”
Hazel Webb from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Sellafield failed to risk assess Mr Burns’ job adequately. A proper assessment would have highlighted the need for an electrically operated pipecutter.
“Businesses are expected to keep themselves up to date on ways that manual handling roles can be made as safe as possible.”
Compensation Claim Advice
If you or anyone you know has suffered a personal injury 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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