Incident ‘Highlights Impact Workplace Injuries Can Have On Victims’

By Rob Dixon

Rare Butchers of Distinction Ltd has been fined £2,750 and ordered to pay costs in relation to a work accident in 2011, in which an employee suffered an arm injury due to a safety issues with his gloves.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Lewisham firm also failed to report the incident, which happened as the worker was deboning a lamb shoulder, at Chiltonian Industrial Estate in July 2011 within the required ten-day time period.

The investigation by the safety body found that the employee was only wearing a wrist-length chain mail glove when he should have had a gauntlet as far as his elbow.

Sally Rissbrook, a specialist at Irwin Mitchell with expertise in workplace injury claims, said: “This worrying incident highlights the dangers that workers can face when they are not given equipment which allows them to do their job in the safest possible manner.

“It also reflects the impact that such incidents can have on the lives of victims, as the HSE states that the worker was off work for more than three months and need physiotherapy to rebuild strength in the affected hand and wrist.

“Unfortunately, such consequences are often forgotten. However, the work we do allows people to not only gain justice over such accidents, but also access vital funds which can go towards a person’s rehabilitation and recovery.

“The safety of workers should always come first and we would urge butchery firms to ensure lessons are learned from this incident.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in relation to Burns, Scars and Laceration Claims