Work accident news
05/02/2010

Forklift driver wins claim

Work accident compensation has been awarded to a forklift truck driver from North Wales who suffered a back injury after lifting heavy boxes at his place of employment.

No win, no fee lawyers representing the 49-year-old argued that the Birmingham-born man should never have been lifting the boxes in the first place as heavy-lifting did not form part of his usual job requirements and he had received no relevant training.

While keen to point out its previously "exemplary" health and safety record, the man's employer acknowledged health and safety failings and said that since the work accident compensation claim was initiated steps had been taken to ensure all workers receive appropriate training.

Following the work accident, the claimant had to take more than a month off work and had to undergo extensive physiotherapy. Even now, a full two years on from the 2008 incident he still has to manage his back injury through physiotherapy and the taking of painkillers.

Although "satisfied and relieved" with his four-figure settlement, the 49-year-old said that "he'd much rather... be playing squash".