Tata Steel woes continue following fines

This article was published on: 08/2/16

Tata Steel is now a well known brand in the UK, following extensive media coverage earlier this year. The company, which has been in turmoil for some time and subject to pleas to be bought out by the government, now faces further problems after being fined £2 million.

Health & Safety breaches

The Corby site. which produces 250,000 tonnes of product a year and employs over 500 staff. was subject to two counts of health and safety breaches following incidents in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The first accident, in 2013, involved a 26 year old employee losing both his middle and ring finger on his left hand after trying to clear a blockage in the machinery at the Corby plant. The following year another employee (aged 52) lost a portion of his little finger following his hand being caught in a lathe. Both cases were heard at Northampton crown court.

After investigation, it was decided that the guarding on both machines involved was sub par and Tata was made to pay just over £2 million including fines and costs. Both incidents were deemed avoidable and the company pledged to avoid further incident. A spokesman for Tata said “The health and safety of our employees and contractors is our most important priority. Tata Steel constantly places a great deal of emphasis on creating a strong and ever-improving safety culture in the organisation – and in improving our processes and procedures. We want to ensure everyone working on our sites is safe.”

Insult to injury

While the incident is yet another blow to a company which has struggled this year already, the protection of employees should always be top priority and no company is exempt from that objective. Accidents at work, particularly in high risk environments like steel plants with heavy machinery and vehicles involved in day to day life, can change lives. The two workers who have lost fingers may possibly have to retrain or use special equipment from now until the end of their lives to continue their work or face retraining.

The damages you see in injury cases such as these are usually higher due to the extended period of recovery associated with the injury. An amputation/ loss of a limb such as a finger is a lifelong change. While prosthetics can help make up for lost limbs, it is still only a synthetic replacement and will never be the original the person grew up with. It can cause a great deal of stress and affect the confidence of the person (and even their family involved).

What do to if I’m injured at work?

If you suffer an injury while at work, you can claim back the damage caused as a result of the negligence from your employer for allowing the injury to happen.

Scott Rees & Co are dedicated personal injury specialists who have a history of successful results. We always strive to get the best outcome for all of our clients and try to make the process as pain free and simple as possible. If you, a family member or friend has been injured at work, whether it is a minor injury or more serious, call one of our advisors today for hassle free, no obligation advice on 0808 278 8907. Alternatively, you can get in touch using our make a claim form. We operate on a no win no fee basis; meaning you won’t have to pay a penny if your claim is unsuccessful.

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