£17,500 paid over damaged shoulderA cleaning products company must pay £17,500 in compensation to a worker who was permanently injured by using a vibrating grinder at work.
Barrow-in-Furness man John Sides, 44, had been cleaning paint off a floor with the handheld grinder for two days when he felt pain in his shoulder. Examination revealed that he had badly strained his right shoulder and would suffer long-term symptoms.
Mr Sides, who was working as a team leader for manufacturer Robert McBride Ltd, from Barrow, had not received any training in using the grinder. When he pursued the problem through his union, the GMB, Robert McBride Ltd paid out £17,500 after admitting negligence.
He can no longer lift the affected arm over shoulder height, and has found it difficult to continue tasks like painting and decorating.
Tom Brennan, regional secretary of the GMB, said: "Mr Sides was exposed to dangerous levels of vibration which has resulted in him suffering from a long term injury. Had his employer taken more care to give him training on how to use the tool correctly to minimise vibration this accident could have been avoided."
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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