Young worker suffers severe crush injuries

In the run-up to National Wiseup2work Day it has been reported that a young worker has received an out-of-court settlement of £6,250 after sustaining severe crushing injuries to both his thumbs.

Neil Goodchild, 22, suffered his injuries while working part time at works being undertaken by Carillion Construction Limited based in Wolverhampton.

Work was being done at Tamworth Station where Goodchild was stressing the lines along with a team of six other men. The rail had been cut and jacked up using a duff jack in order that sections could be taken out. Goodchild was trying to dislodge a rubber pad which had stuck to the underside of the rail by pushing the pad with both his thumbs, one under each side of the rail. The duff jack was released without any warning and the rail fell heavily trapping both of his thumbs.

Lisa Fairclough of Irwin Mitchell, commented:

"The injuries sustained by Mr Goodchild came as a direct result of his colleague failing to give any warning of his actions. It is every employer's responsibility to ensure employees are provided with sufficient training and guidance and to ensure safe environment for all workers to work in".

It is because of accidents such as this that the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has designated 30 August as National Wiseup2work Day in a bid to improve the health and safety of young workers.

As Workplace Law previously reported, TUC research has suggested that a young worker is seriously injured at work every 40 minutes and one is killed every month. The TUC’s recent study, ‘Too Young to Die’, shows that over 4,000 16-24 years old are seriously injured at work every year, 12 are killed (2004/5, 16 in 2003/4) and 15,000 are injured badly enough to be off work for more than three days.