Young dad blinded in works horror is awarded £100,000
JON MACPHERSON
AYOUNG father who was left blinded in one eye and needing surgery to reconstruct his face after a workplace incident has received a £100,000 compensation payout.
Duane Scholes, 28, of from Accrington, was working as a trainee engineer on a hydraulic pipe when it sheered off and struck him in the head at Lodematic Components in Clitheroe in January 2014. He rushed to Royal Preston Hospital and underwent a six-hour operation to reconstruct the right side of his face after suffering a broken jaw, multiple facial lacerations and total blindness in his right eye.
Farley Solicitors said the father-of-one has since returned to work in alternative employment, but has now been awarded ‘substantial damages’ following a legal battle with his previous employers.
Duane said: “Thanks to the support from my legal team at Farleys, I can finally put this ordeal behind me.
“I am just glad that justice has been achieved and now that Lodematic have admitted their mistakes.
“I just hope they take note and improve their procedures in future.”
Lodematic Components were fined £35,000 and ordered to pay nearly £8,000 costs after a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) last year.
“The HSE investigation found that the test zone was not segregated or safeguarded and that the test equipment was not maintained and suitable for the task.
Lodematic Components had also failed to carry out a risk assessment, the court heard.
The Clitheroe firm pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at Preston Crown Court in October.
Nick Molyneux, a partner and specialist in accidents at work claims at Farleys Solicitors, represented Mr Scholes and said: “Incidents of this kind demonstrate just how devastating work accidents can be for those involved, often leaving victims with injuries which impact on them for the rest of their lives.
“We continue to be contacted by workers from [other firms in] the manufacturing sector who have been injured, through no fault of their own, due to insufficient safety checks by employers.”
A spokesman from Lodematic said: “All the procedures have been resolved and we are doing everything we can to maintain a safe working environment for our employees.”