A man who was working as a contractor at a factory in Yorkshire has received compensation for injuries he sustained when an articulated lorry reversed into him, crushing him under its wheel.
He was freed from underneath the lorry by the emergency services and taken to hospital in an air ambulance. He had suffered serious internal damage as well as fractures to his pelvis, shoulders, arms and ribs. He had to undergo several operations and was in hospital for six months.
When he was discharged from hospital, his mobility was severely restricted and his wife took time off work in order to care for him. At first, he had to sleep on the ground floor of the house as he was unable to climb the stairs. His injuries also resulted in infections in his bones, which required further surgery, and he still has to attend hospital on a regular basis.
After bringing a personal injury claim against the factory owner, he received a settlement in compensation that has enabled him to make adaptations to his house and pay for ongoing treatment to help alleviate the pain he still suffers from.
Cases such as this illustrate how important it is for employers to comply with their duty to carry out risk assessments and put in place ways of working that minimise the risks identified. Failure to do so is especially irresponsible with regard to workplace transport. In this case, the lorry was not fitted with a reversing warning alarm.
Simple forethought and planning to ensure vehicles and on-site workers and other pedestrians were segregated could have avoided the accident. Workers must also be given training in how to work safely, which is especially important when vehicles and other moving machinery are nearby.