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A man who had to give up endurance sport after injuring his leg at work has received £5,250 in compensation.
The 48-year-old, from St Neots in Cambridgeshire was a keen marathon runner and established duathlete - a race where participants run and cycle - before he damaged his leg.
The former senior machine minder for Scandstick UK, based in Sawtry Cambridgeshire, was off work for three months and unable to exercise for eight months when a piece of machinery stabbed his leg and then fell on his foot causing multiple soft tissue injuries and tendon damage.
He was unable to bear weight on his foot and has now been forced to give up his sport because of the pain it causes when running or cycling.
Injured whilst trying to fix machine
The accident happened after a piece of machinery at the label factory got jammed. As he tried to fix the problem the part became dislodged, shot out and cut his leg. The heavy part then fell onto his foot.
He was left with an eight-inch scar and damaged tendons and ligaments.
The client, who now works for a different company, said he decided to claim compensation because he was devastated at being forced to give up running and cycling.
He said: “I was a keen marathon runner and competed in the duathlon but now I can’t do either. The accident left me unable to exercise for eight months and I still suffer from some pain intermittently. This accident has forced me to give up the sports I love.”
Following the accident he contacted his title="Trade Unions">union, Unite, which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors to pursue a claim for accident compensation.
Machines should be well maintained and inspected to avoid accidents
Steve Hart regional secretary at target="_blank" title="Unite">Unite said: “Our members are entitled to free legal services, which can, as this case shows, cover any workplace accident.”
Jyothi Bhurjee from Thompsons Solicitors added: “Our client was left with a scar due to a workplace accident which wasn’t his fault. Scandstick UK should have ensured that its machines were well maintained and inspected to avoid this type of accident.”