Compensation for Work Boots Injury Awarded in Court

A police cadet, who broke his leg in an off-road motorbike training exercise and claimed that he should have been provided with more appropriate personal protective equipment, has been awarded 10,000 pounds in compensation for work boots injury by the Court of Appeal.

Robert Blair, now a fully qualified police officer with the Sussex Police, was attempting the second part of the police advanced motorcycle course in May 2009 when the accident occurred. While driving over particularly rutted ground with potholes full of water, Robert lost control of his bike while trying to change gear and fell.

The motorbike landed on top of Robert´s right leg – breaking his ankle and tibia. Robert claimed in his claim for work boots injury compensation that had he been supplied with the more suitable motocross boots rather than tourer boots, the enhanced protection would have prevented the injury.

Lord Justice Longmore at the Court of Appeal heard expert testimony from an orthopaedic surgeon which supported Robert´s claim and, ruling that the work boots that were provided were contrary to the Personal protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, Lord Longmore said “It was possible to prevent significant injury to trainees by proving them with stronger boots than the Alt-berg boots and the chief constable is therefore liable.”

Awarding Robert compensation for work boots injury of 10,000 pounds, Lord Longmore added, “I emphasise that this is not to say that the chief constable was in any way negligent at common law.”