Man Suffers Hand Injuries In Work Accident

A tractor shipping company has been forced to payout £25,000 after an employee was injured at work due to a tool being unavailable.

Tom Offer from Essex severed a tendon in his hand when an accident happened at DSV Road Ltd.

The 57-year-old was taking a tractor apart and required a particular type of hammer, but despite complaining the correct tool wasn't supplied.

Instead he was told to carry on and was forced to use a piece of metal for the job which unbeknown to him had a serrated edge.

It was this unsuitable tool that damaged his right hand despite the safety gloves he was wearing.

He was forced to take three months off work and received intensive physiotherapy after undergoing surgery.

He has lost grip in his hand due to permanent nerve damage and he also suffers permanent numbness and intolerance to the cold.

He has now returned to work as a driver, but fears in the current climate if he was made redundant he would be unable to find alternative work.

DSV Road Ltd admitted liability and settled the claim out of court.

Copyright © Press Association 2009

David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “This is yet another example of an accident at work which has arisen due to an employer failing to heed the safety needs of an employee. 

I regularly had to help workers pursue their compensation claim following injuries caused in a work accident.  All too often, such injuries could have been avoided had the employer placed greater emphasis upon workers safety.”