Compensation for Power Tool Injury Awarded to Engineer

An undisclosed sum of compensation for a power tool injury has been awarded to an engineer from South Tyneside after his employer admitted failing to protect his employee from the effects of operating power tools for long periods of time.

Legal representatives of Graeme Kelly (57) from Jarrow, Tyne and Wear, negotiated the out-of-court settlement with his former employers – De La Rue Currency of Team Valley, Gateshead – after Graeme was diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome following 34 years of employment with the company.

Having been diagnosed with the twin conditions in 2009 and forced into early retirement, Graeme also had to undergo surgery on both hands for the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. Even though the operation was considered a success, Graeme still suffers a loss of dexterity in his hands due to the negligence of his former employers.

After the surgery, Graeme sought legal advice and made a claim for power tool injury compensation on the basis that there was no policy in place to ensure employees using power tools were not exposed to excessive use and that De La Rue Currency had failed in its duty of care to provide its employees with a safe environment in which to work.

De La Rue Currency admitted their liability for Graeme´s injuries and negotiations concluded with an undisclosed settlement of compensation for power tool injury being paid to the former engineer.