Case Highlights Long-Term Impact Of Workplace Injury

A foundry in Stoke-on-Trent has been fined after a 28-year-old worker suffered serious burns to his arms and legs after falling into an unfenced pit.

Copper Alloys Ltd was ordered to pay £8,000 plus costs in relation to the incident in May last year, when the unnamed employee tripped and fell into a gap between a molten metal mould and the pit in which it was sited.

He needed skin grafts following the fall, particularly as when he tried to stop himself from dropping down his arm was immersed in molten metal. An investigation revealed there was no guard railing around the pit and no one at the firm had recognised the risks.

Stephen Nye, a workplace injury specialist at Irwin Mitchell’s Birmingham office, said: “Safety should always be a priority for any employer and this terrible case demonstrates why we continue to campaign for businesses to recognise their responsibilities when it comes to protecting workers from risks.

“This was undoubtedly a serious industrial accident and it is absolutely vital that lessons are learnt to ensure that no one else faces the same problems in the future.

“The victim in this case is still suffering long-term physical effects from this incident and has not been able to return to work due to the psychological trauma he faced.

“So many of the clients we help have faced similar problems and simply want answers over what happened, with a view to ensuring mistakes are not made again.”

If you have suffered a burn, laceration or scarring due to a workplace accident, our accident at work lawyers could help you to secure compensation. See our Burns, Scars & Lacerations At Work Claims page for more information.