Croftons Injury Claims

Employers who fail to assess risk fail their employees.

Wheeling a trolley of drinks cans across a school campus worried catering assistant Mrs C.  The trolley was unsafe, the three shelves were heavily loaded and the ground was uneven.  Numerous complaints about the trolley had been made by Mrs C and other staff but nothing was done.

“When the trolley jammed in a small gulley in the ground, Mrs C had to lift and drag it to free the wheel, while trying to keep it straight so that nearly 300 drinks cans stayed on it,” explains Vicky Slater, Personal Injury Specialist at Croftons.

“Unfortunately, the weight of the trolley caused a severe injury to Mrs C’s neck, shoulder and arm which continued for several years after the accident.  She struggled to hold her newborn baby two years later because his weight increased her symptoms”, added Vicky.

“An accident such as this could have been avoided,” says Vicky. “Here, Mrs C’s employer had not adequately risk assessed the tasks required or the equipment being used.  An appropriate risk assessment would have revealed the danger of pushing a heavily loaded trolley, particularly on an uneven surface.  Mrs C’s employers had not trained her properly nor provided any appropriate mechanical assistance.”

Anyone injured at work should record the circumstances, take photographs and obtain details of witnesses (The Accident App can help do this).  Any accident should also be reported formally at the accident site.

Victoria Slater, Associate

Posted on 22.07.11

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