Paul Collins is an experienced fitter who suffered head injuries whilst trying to recover an abandoned 17 tonne excavator.
Having worked for Tannington Transport for only three months, Mr Collins suffered a fractured skull when a heavy duty vehicle jack ‘popped’ out of position and struck him on his head.
The incident happened in September last year and prompted an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which have brought a prosecution against the Suffolk based haulage company for a serious breach of Health and Safety.
Ipswich Magistrates’ Court was told that Mr Collins and two other employees were ordered by the firm to recover an old excavator that had been lying in hedgerows for years. It was located by the three employees but they soon realised that it would be impossible to tow with the telescopic handler they had taken with them. Most of the tyres on the excavator were flat and sunken into the ground, stuck in place.
The men decided to raise it with bottle jacks and place metal sheets under the wheels to make it easier to tow.
During this lifting operation Mr Collins was struck by a jack that popped out of place and he suffered head injuries. He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with a fractured skull, having to take 10 weeks out of work to recover.
HSE found the company had failed to consider the potential risks or provide a plan for the safe recovery of the exacavator.
Swain & Co.’s specialist personal injury solicitors say that this accident could have been avoided if the company had acted on their duty of care towards the employees as they set off to carry out a non-routine and hazardous task.
The company had a responsibility and they failed resulting in Mr Collins receiving serious head injuries, and he could have been killed.
Injuries at work or from accidents that are not your fault can lead to serious injury, lost earnings and in very serious cases even death.
If you have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident that was not your/their fault, speak to Swain & Co. to discuss the possibility of bringing a claim in a free initial consultation.
We can act on a no win no fee basis and our contact number is free too!
Call us on 0800 0351 999
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