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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Some of the most vulnerable workers likely to make a no win, no fee claim after a work accident are teenagers. Young workers are usually the employees who need the most training and supervision, and if they are not given adequate safety advice on their work, particularly in trades such as construction, manufacturing and the food preparation industry, then personal injury accidents which may befall them can be catastrophic.
In 2009, a teenager was left to make sausage filling, by himself, in the meat processing room of a Brighton meat market – a work situation which had grave consequences.
Upon finding the machine had become jammed, the young worker decided he would try to clear the mechanism by putting his arm into the hopper. However, the paddles trapped his arm against the sides of the machine and caused serious personal injury.
The employee's arm was badly hurt; his injuries included significant muscle loss and bone damage. He required surgery and two of his fingers were permanently damaged as a result of the work accident.
A Health and Safety Executive investigation revealed that the 16-year-old had been left to work alone because a number of staff were absent that day. The firm also admitted that it had regularly over-ridden a safety interlock because it slowed up the process of adding ingredients to the machine.
Although reports did not mention whether the teenager had been fully trained in safe use of the meat mincing machine, it would be hoped that, if the young employee had been properly supervised, an older, more experienced operative would have handled the situation differently.
In almost every event of machine blockage or jamming, the first thing to do is to turn off all power to the system. This will prevent any moving parts from being powered during the clearing procedure. In some instances of machine blockage, it is likely that only operatives trained in the particular machine's maintenance should attempt to fix the system.
Many machines have individual safety procedures for their use and these should be displayed in close proximity to the machine so that all operatives are aware of what to do in an emergency.
Young workers, especially teenagers, may be prevented from using some machines, especially cutting machines and industrial guillotines, until they reach a certain age. These regulations must be followed at all times and any company which lets an untrained worker, of whatever age, use dangerous machinery may find themselves liable for prosecution in the event of a work accident.
Teenage no win no fee claims for work accidents
A no win, no fee claim can be made at any age for a work accident (although there is a limiting time between date of accident and claim commencement of three years). Young workers who have suffered personal injury at work, may often feel, or even be made to feel by their employer, that the accident was their fault and that they have no redress.
However, if the employee had not received full training, had not been properly supervised, or had been told to work on a machine that they were not old enough to operate, and an accident occurred, then there is likely to be grounds to make a claim for work accident compensation.
Here at YouClaim we pride ourselves on our high success rate in such claims and all our accident compensation solicitors are accredited by the Solicitors Regulation Authority so their quality of professionalism and representation are assured.
What's more, when you make a no win, no fee claim with YouClaim, you will be guaranteed to receive 100 per cent compensation – we never take a penny.
Call us today on our freephone number 0800 10 757 95. Alternatively, you can contact us online via the Live Help button, for a real-time e-chat, or by clicking on the Call Me Back button, you will be offered a short claim form so that you can stipulate a suitable time for us to contact you over the phone.
