Faulty Work Equipment

A care assistant has been awarded £4,000 in damages after she suffered whiplash injuries as a result of faulty work equipment.

On the day of the incident, the employee was bathing a patient using a bath seat at a day centre for Alzheimer's and Dementia sufferers in Leeds.

But as she moved the seat up to help the service user get out of the bath, it caught on a broken bath panel causing a sudden jolt which resulted in whiplash injuries.

As a result of her injuries, the carer was forced to take sick leave for three months and undergo intensive physiotherapy.

Leeds City Council admitted liability and agreed to an out of court settlement of £4,000 after the worker contacted her union, the GMB, which instructed solicitors to pursue a claim for accident compensation.

The authority has also changed the type of baths used at the day centre as a result of the incident.

Copyright © Press Association 2009

David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “This accident at work settlement shows that employers must provide employees with suitable work equipment which is properly maintained.

“I help workers claim compensation following an accident at work. Many such claims are the result of defective work equipment.“