Man is seeking £100,000 for injuries suffered

Connor Watson was 17 years old when he was struck by a concrete wall while working on flood prevention scheme

A Dundee workman is seeking more than £100,000 in compensation after being left permanently disfigured while working on the Arbroath Flood Prevention Scheme.

Connor Watson, 20, was hit by a section of a concrete retaining wall during works in September 2013.

Carnoustie-based DJ Laing (Contracts) Ltd, has already been fined £32,000 for failing to take reasonable steps to prevent his injury.

And Mr Watson is now raising his own legal action against the company seeking damages.

Then aged 17, Mr Watson was left permanently disfigured following the accident, and it is thought he may have arthritis by the time he is 30 due to the 0.46 tonne weight falling on his legs in the incident.

A spokesman for Digby Brown Solicitors’ office in Dundee confirmed proceedings were under way in Mr Watson’s case.

He said: “We have raised a court action in relation to this incident.

“Situations like this show the effect that workplace accidents can have on individuals.

“Robust workplace health and safety matters in every sector and needs to be monitored and enforced to protect people from harm.”

Mr Watson is still employed by DJ Laing and is currently undergoing a “return to work” rehabilitation programme.

However, it is understood his court action is based on the injuries he suffered, past and future loss of income, loss of future pension income, disadvantage in the labour market and services his family has had to provide since the accident.

David J Laing, managing director of DJ Laing Group Ltd, said: “I confirm that Connor is currently employed by DJ Laing (Contracts) Limited and was involved in a serious accident on one of our civil engineering sites in September 2013.

“Connor is currently undertaking a return to work rehabilitation programme and the matter of compensation is being dealt with by our insurance company.”

He added: “DJ Laing Group is a family-owned company established in 1975 with some 41 years’ trading. We are a caring employer and value all of our staff and personnel.”