Firefighter wins compensation
It has been revealed that a 33-year-old firefighter has won his compensation claim after a work accident.
The employee crashed into a wall whilst attempting to drive a fire engine out of the fire station. As a result he suffered whiplash personal injury.
The fire station had recently installed automatic gates to prevent firemen from getting in and out of their vehicles to open gates manually.
However, the gates continuously malfunctioned, a problem which was reported to the captain from the very start. The accident therefore occurred when the driver tried to avoid hitting the closing gates.
A witness at the scene said the worker: “swerved at the last minute to avoid crashing into the gates which began to close when they should have been opening.”
Holly Oak Court judge Sir Gerald Fellows, noted that the victim had every right to access an accident claim, stating he: “is perfectly justified in making a claim for compensation. Authorities were aware of the problem and did nothing about it. When we need firemen in a hurry, what good are they to us if they are stuck in the garage?”
The fire station is now facing a large fine from the Health and Safety Executive.Updated on 31/05/2010