Clive Benson won his fight against his former employers, Shorewood Bakeries, recently and received a £3,000 compensation payout for injuries sustained whilst working in one of their major processing plants in Nottingham.

The court heard that Mr Benson, who worked for the company for 12 years, lost all sensation in his right hand as a direct result of nerve damage caused by, “excessive contact with vibrating machinery without the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.”

Mr Benson, who worked as a mixer at the plant, developed the injury after working with the machine without wearing specialist safety gloves. The condition, known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) can cause injury to the blood vessels, nerves and joints and is described by the Health and Safety Executive as being, “serious and disabling.”

Shorewood Bakeries, which employs over 170 people, expected staff to purchase their own equipment, such as aprons, hair nets and specialist gloves.

The Judge, Hillary Barker-Joyce, declared that Shorewood Bakeries plc was in breach of Health and Safety Law in their failure to supply their employees with suitable protective equipment. She went on to state that:

“The practice of expecting employers to purchase their own safety equipment is not only illegal but also extremely dangerous, and puts all their staff at risk of having an accident at work.”

On leaving court, Mr Benson described his relief at having his compensation claim upheld by the courts but also of the sadness that an injury such as his could have been so easily prevented.