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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
Carpal tunnel syndrome or hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) which can be caused by regular use of hand-held powered tools whose internal vibrations can be transmitted to the hands of the operative.
It is one of the work-related conditions which come within the scope of the Government's official industrial injuries benefit, entitling a claimant to a specific regular payment to compensate him for the fact that he has been harmed by his working environment.
HAVS and its related conditions, such as vibration white finger, are reportable to RIDDOR and the Health and Safety Executive.
It is preventable and reputable employers who have a problem brought to their attention should find other methods of completing a job which will not put their employees' long-term health at risk. Those who ignore the risks could be prosecuted for health and safety offences for failing to prevent the industrial injury.
Although HAVS is a recognised hazard of certain types of working methods, it is up to the claimant to prove that his employer has failed to take reasonable care to safeguard employees from a foreseeable risk of harm.
To succeed in a compensation claim, evidence will be needed from medical experts about the extent of the condition and disability caused as well as information about the type of work, its frequency and duration, whether adequate breaks were provided and protective equipment supplied and if other workers were affected.
Proof will also be required of management and supervisors' failure to give suitable instruction and training or if problems brought to their attention were ignored. Claimants should also show that they had not been reckless in their own behaviour.
As with other personal injury compensation actions, a case must be brought within three years of the injury taking place or the victim becoming aware of the symptoms.
The disabling nature of long-term HAVS means that victims who have worked for many years with power tools could find they have lost full use of their hands as well as suffering from circulation problems, coldness and pain.
YouClaim and HAVS compensation
Although some sufferers from HAVS may qualify for the Government's Industrial Injury Benefit, not all will do so and they may then have to seek recompense through the civil courts. Others who do receive the benefit may be eligible for an additional lump sum payment, depending on the circumstances of their disablement.
In both cases, a free consultation with the industrial injury experts at YouClaim is the first step to establishing whether you, or a loved one, have justified grounds in making a claim for a work-related illness.
Having helped hundreds of people throughout the UK, we are well placed to offer professional expertise across all fields of personal injury. What's more, the work of all our lawyers is scrutinised through the Law Society's Solicitors Regulation Authority.
By using the no win no fee system, we offer 100% compensation for all cases won and even on the rare occasions when we lose, you will not have to pay a penny of our legal fees.
To find out about our special services for sufferers of HAVS and other industrial illness, call our information line today on 0800 10 757 95 or check the webpage for other means of contacting us.
