Mystic Toad Press Blog

DSV Road Ltd., a company engaged in the business of shipping tractors all over the world, failed in supplying appropriate tools to its worker, which resulted in his permanent injury. Admitting its fault, the firm paid a compensation of 25,000 pounds to the victim in an out-of-court settlement.

57-year-old Tom Offer, an employee with DSV Road, was forced to use inappropriate tools at work, as his request to provide him a type of hammer was not accepted. He was engaged in the task of taking a tractor apart for shipping, for which he needed the hammer. However, in the absence of the tool, he carried out his work with a metallic piece that had developed a serrated edge after another worker had used it to dismantle the axle of a tractor.

Offer was unaware of it and even though he was wearing protective gloves, he injured his right hand. The injury was so serious that he had to take a three months’ rest from work. He has suffered permanent nerve damage and in spite of intensive physiotherapy, he has lost his grip and can no longer bear cold.

Offer is now working as a driver but fears losing his job due to his incapacity. The dismal scene in the job market has made him more insecure.

Offer had decided to pursue a compensation claim through his union’s lawyer Thompsons Solicitors, but his employers decided to pay up and settle the issue out of court.

A lawyer said in this regard that this accident should serve as a warning to other organisations and added that companies should not take recourse to shortcuts even if money or time is less.

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