After falling from a height of eight feet from a scaffolding plank whilst engaging in steam cleaning a horse stable, one young stablehand filed a work accident claim that has led to a payout of £127,500 in personal injury compensation.
Former stable worker Kevin Parker, who had been employed by horse trainer Amanda Perrett prior to the incident that led to the accident claim, received the record payout from the National Association of Stable Staff after filing a personal injury claim with the horse racing organisation.
Mr Parker was seriously injured from the fall, including fractures to both his heels. After being rushed to hospital immediately following the incident, doctors informed him that his injuries were severe enough to require an extended stay and surgical procedure, making it impossible for him to return to his stable employee position.
NASS chief executive, Jim Cornelius, commented on Mr Parker’s considerably large sum of injury compensation, stating that the former worker contacted the organisation in early 2009. The NASS made the decision to underwrite Mr Parker’s negligence and Work at Height regulation breach claim, which meant he had no costs in obtaining the settlement.
The horse racing sport has been coming under increased pressure from many different sources in the UK’s current cultural landscape. Race-horses are directly harmed by the sport, according to those involved in animal rights activism, as many of the horses have fallen fatally during races and whilst training for races. Animal rights activists also make the claim that a percentage of trainers feed steroids to their horses to enhance and improve performance on race day, which can be deleterious to a race-horse’s health.