After one parcel delivery company worker was injured in an incident involving a heavy goods vehicle, the employee may be considering bringing a work accident claim against his employer.
Romford, Essex native Simon Mason, aged twenty two, had been working at West Horndon’s Tufnells Parcels Express warehouse at the time of the incident when an articulated HGV had pinned him against the wall of a loading bay and crushed his skull, personal injury claims experts said. The Government’s Health and Safety Executive conducted an investigation shortly after the incident, discovering that Mr Mason, who had been working the night shift at the warehouse, had been preparing to unload the vehicle when it backed up into the loading bay.
Once the trailer ceased its movement, the warehouse porter found that it was in need of straightening up. However, as Mr Mason leaned behind the HGV to relay instructions to its driver, it continued its reverse path and crushed the twenty two year old’s skull.
Mr Mason sustained serious head injuries in the incident, requiring several surgical procedures and months of care to repair the damage. The warehouse porter has since returned to his duties but is still suffering from long term affects of his grievous injuries.
Tufnells Parcels Express Ltd, with head offices in Sheffield’s Shepcote Lane, was called before a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, where the firm admitted to being in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act. As a result the company was ordered to pay a £150,000 fine with an additional £19,000 in court costs for their role in the young man’s injuries.
530 workers suffered serious personal injuries in 2010 alone after some involvement with a moving vehicle whilst on the job, official figures say. Many of these employees have gone on to make personal injury compensation claims against their employers.