Foot injury at work compensation claim

A Sheffield roofer has been awarded £8,220 in compensation after a workplace fall caused him to fracture and dislocate his ankle, leaving him in pain and unable to work for seven months.

Workplace injury lawyers

Craig Lee, 42, secured his award with the help of workplace injury lawyer Lynne Parker, of national law firm Irwin Mitchell, based at its offices in Riverside, Sheffield. Mr Lee, of Sheffield Road, Woodhouse, was awarded the sum in an out of court settlement against Ackroyd & Abbott Limited, of Rotherham Road, Sheffield.

Mr Lee, who was employed as a sheet roofer by Hadfield Roofing of Rockingham Road, Mexborough, at the time of the accident in May 2002, had been contracted out to Ackroyd & Abbott to work on a development of private flats on Leadmill Street, Sheffield.

He was attempting to climb off the roof onto scaffolding, when he slipped on a pile of loose timber, trapping his foot beneath the wood, causing him to fall.

Mr Lee said: The pile of timber was stacked up about a foot high and had been left out after the joiners had installed the roof joists. After I slipped, I called for help and my colleagues helped me down to the ground. I knew from the pain that I had done some serious damage and an ambulance took me to the Northern General Hospital.

Fractured bone at work compensation claim

X-rays showed Mr Lee had fractured and dislocated his left ankle and it was placed in a cast. He was in plaster for six weeks and had to attend weekly reviews at the hospital for further x-rays, after which time he was referred for physiotherapy. Mr Lee continued to use crutches for a period of 13 weeks before he was discharged from further treatment in October 2002.

He said: "During this period, I was reliant on my wife to carry out all the domestic duties and found it very frustrating that I was not able to work. We had to cancel a family holiday to Rhodes and a roof conversion I was in the middle of had to be put on hold. Even more upsetting was the fact I wasn't able go for walks with my daughter, which I would otherwise have done on a regular basis."

After a seven-month absence, Mr Lee was considered fit to return to work at Hadfield Roofing to carry out light duties. However, as soon as he resumed his normal job, he found it physically demanding to climb over rooftops and was told by his employer that he was not safe to continue with this type of work. Mr Lee was subsequently made redundant.

Fortunately, Mr Lee was able to gain alternative work. He has since been able to carry out domestic activities, but has a fear of returning to play football in case he injures his ankle.

Commenting on the payout, Lynne Parker said: "This was not the first incident of this kind to happen on this site. A few weeks prior to Mr Lees accident, a colleague was also involved in a similar accident after falling over timber that had been left in an unsuitable place.

"This accident shows the importance of keeping building sites as tidy as possible. This timber was not being used at the time of Mr Lees accident and should have been moved from the area. This case highlights the need to carry out health and safety measures promptly in the workplace.

Have you got a claim? If we can help you or someone you know with a similar case, please visit our Accidents at work pages.

Our serious injury solicitors could help you claim compensation if you have suffered a fracture or broken bone as the result of an accident. See our Broken Bone Or Fracture Claims page for more information.