Compensation
10/02/2011

Work accident injury as potatoes crate hits woman

A woman working at a vegetable packing factory in Lincolnshire, near Nottingham, who suffered a work accident in 2009, may now claim accident at work compensation.

The 43-year-old employee was labelling vegetable boxes in the factory's yard, when a crate of potatoes fell from a forklift truck and struck her as it was being tipped into a skip.

As a result, the worker suffered a fracture to her right knee, and back injury in the form of severe bruising. She was taken to hospital for her injuries and had to remain home from work for several months to recover.

The food packaging company pleaded guilty to breaching Health and Safety at Work regulations by failing to look after the health, safety and welfare of its employee. Subsequently, the firm was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £4.606 in court costs.

An inspector for the Health and Safety Executive said of the accident, "This was an entirely preventable incident, but the company failed to make sure work stations were a safe distance from moving vehicles and materials being handled that might fall".

Now that the company has accepted liability, the injured woman may choose to claim work accident compensation for pain, suffering and any loss of earnings.