The cost of cutting corners with workplace safety
By Emma Beazley
On a July morning in 2021, Julian Moore was carrying out a routine task in Conisbrough, delivering an empty skip and collecting a full one. What should have been a straightforward job turned into a very painful incident.
From his years in the industry, Julian knew the safe process. Two chains should be secured to the back of the empty skip before it’s lifted into place, allowing the full skip to be removed without the driver ever having to touch it. But when Julian arrived, he discovered only one chain was available.
To make the lift possible, he had to climb onto the skip loader and manually pull the chain into position. As he held the empty skip to attach it, it suddenly slipped, trapping his hand.
The incident only happened because Julian’s employer had failed to ensure the correct equipment was provided. Despite Julian raising concerns about the missing chain on several occasions, no action had been taken. The lack of a second chain fundamentally changed the work process, creating an avoidable hazard.
The employer also neglected their legal duty to provide adequate training, supervision, and refresher courses, instead relying solely on Julian’s past experience.
As a result, Julian sustained a crush injury to his left middle finger, along with multiple deep lacerations to his palm. His injuries forced him to take time off work, leading to a financial strain on top of the pain and recovery process.
When Julian came to Switalskis for help, it was clear there had been multiple breaches of health and safety law. We worked with him to pursue a claim and were able to secure an out-of-court settlement. While no compensation can undo the impact of his injuries, the settlement has eased some of the financial pressure and allowed Julian to focus on his recovery.
This case is a reminder of the importance of employers fulfilling their duty of care. Workplace safety is not optional, it’s essential.
If you've been injured in a workplace accident and would like to speak to one of our personal injury experts, please call us on 01302 320621 or email help@switalskis.com
Emma has over 21 years’ experience in the legal sector. She is an Associate Solicitor in the Serious Injury department.
