Employee Paid £200,000 as Compensation for Disability Caused due to Work AccidentHealth and safety, HSE, IOSH training, NEBOSH, IOSH, CERLAP, CIPD, Risk Assessment, Workplace Law
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust recently paid £200,000 as compensation to its 58-year-old employee named Michael Kirkham for the disability caused to him due to a fall at workplace.
Kirkham was employed with Staffordshire Ambulance Service and his job was to report to emergency calls of local surgeons immediately with heavy tools weighing nearly 60 pounds. The tools had to be carried in large bags, which according to Kirkham was not appropriate for carrying such equipment. It is pertinent to note that Kirkham had actually complained several times to his employer about the inappropriateness of the bag.
On the fateful day, Kirkham fell down with the heavy equipment while responding to an emergency because his bag got caught in the handle of a door. The fall caused serious injuries to his shoulder and he was asked to remain absent from work for at least four weeks.
After four weeks, when he resumed office, he realised that he was not able to perform his tasks properly. A few months later, he started losing sensation in his arm and suffered from constant pain in the neck and shoulder region. He now uses a stick for walking.
West Midlands Ambulance Service accepted responsibility for the accident and paid Kirkham the requisite compensation in an out of court settlement. However, a representative of the Trust, while talking to Workplace Law Network, stated that this accident had occurred well before Staffordshire Ambulance Service merged into
It is pertinent to note that the Trust had actually inherited the problem during its merger. However, according to the representative, the Trust truly sympathises with the employer and condones his loss. Moreover, it is committed towards ensuring complete safety of its employees and towards ensuring that such accidents do not recur in the future.
For help in managing health and safety hazards and risks, Workplace Law can assist in establishing good practices by addressing problems and rectifying deficiencies. Organisations can achieve compliance with Occupational Health and Safety Accreditation Standard (OHSAS 18001) by demonstrating legal and regulatory compliance with improved policies and performance to achieve a successful safety management system.
