Injury Prevention Week: Preventing Injury at Work
Although the UK is one of the safest places in the world to work, more must be done to prevent avoidable workplace injuries.
Graduate Solicitor Apprentice
We helped a manual worker receive a five-figure settlement for a forklift accident that left him with a fractured foot. Accidents at work are increasingly common, and in total, Britain saw £7.6 billion in annual costs of workplace injury in the year of 2019 until 2020. Our client was at work, adjusting the forks of a forklift, when the right fork fell onto his foot and injured him immediately.
Although he was wearing the correct protective clothing, those being steel toed boots, he suffered from a fracture which caused him significant pain and discomfort – He immediately sought medical help and attended hospital.
Our client experienced moments of immobility after this accident, when his foot was bandaged up, and when he had to wear a boot for the fracture.
A walker boot, or orthopaedic boot as they are referred to in medical terms, are used for injuries to the lower leg, foot or ankle. They are made to repair any damage, and prevent any more damage to the affected area. The amount of time in whichyou are required wear the bootdepends on the severity of your damaged limb.
This meant that he was on crutches for a considerable period of time, which made his quality of life far worse than it was prior to the accident. His parents and partner provided him with care and transport whilst he was unable to work, drive or take care of himself. He was subsequently unable to work for 10 weeks after the accident had occurred,
Our client made several visits to the hospital after his injury, as well as attending physiotherapy appointments. Due to this, he accumulated a significant amount of medical expenses, and other such out of pocket costs.
As well as incurring these costs,, our client was told he needed surgery to his foot, which would leave him unable to work for a further six months. Following the accident, our client also needed regular steroid injections to prevent his foot from deforming, or causing him any potential pain.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (n.d.). Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/legislation/hswa.htm
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (2022). Health and Safety Statistics 2021/22. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/overall/hssh2122.pdf
Health and Safety Executive (HSE). (n.d.). Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). (n.d.). Fractures (Broken Bones). Retrieved from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/fractures-broken-bones/).
HCS Safety. (2022). HSE Health and Safety at Work Stats for 2021-2022. Retrieved from https://hcssafety.co.uk/news/hse-health-and-safety-at-work-stats-for-2021-2022/
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