Legal Question in Personal Injury in United Kingdom
Injury claim
In January 2004 I suffered face injury when I was working on a machine at the factory where I work. I have been employed by the company since June1991. Although I have worked as a machine operator, I had never been trained to operate the Heppenstall machine on which the accident occurred. On the day of accident, the company was under great pressure to complete a job of work that was overdue for an important customer, and two men were off sick. I was asked by the foreman to take over the work on the Heppenstall machine. I agreed as he did not think he would have any difficulty using it. In order to operate the machine, I set the metal piece in the jaws of the machine and tightened the butterfly knob. As I did that, I did not use the security cover, since I was never trained to operate that particular machine (which is old and unique in the factory and was NOT MAINTAINED regularly. There is NO MAINTAINENCE RECORD either). Also I had never work on that machine in the past. When the machine reached full speed, the metal piece weighing approximately 0.8 kg came loose from the jaws of the machine and flew out at high speed and stuck me in my face and caused me a serious injury.
Is there any chance that I can make a claim?
Thanks
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Injury claim
It would appear from what you say that you have a most definite claim against these employers which they would have the greatest difficulty in resisting due to their clear breach of Health and Safety Regulations.
What I do not understand however is why this has been left so long. A claim of this type must be brought within three years and may well have become statute barred at January 2007.
I feel therefore that this will need some discussion but I will be pleased to assist if you care to contact me directly.
Andrew Dutton
www.legal-zone.co.uk