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MoD Employee Wins Compensation for Slip at Work

A former Ministry of Defence (MoD) training manager has won compensation for injuries he suffered when he slipped and fell at an army base in Dorset.

Alan Brooks slipped on a wet floor as he entered the instructors' rest room at Blandford Camp. The floor had just been cleaned but there was no clearly visible sign to warn of the danger. He landed in the 'splits' position and was in a lot of pain, having sustained damage to his right leg and knee. Two weeks after the accident, he had to have an operation to drain fluid from his swollen knee.

The fall has had a long-term impact on Mr Brooks' day-to-day life as he can no longer enjoy his hobbies of swimming and running, which he had taken part in regularly before it happened.

Employers have a legal duty to assess health and safety risks in the workplace and take reasonable steps to remove or minimise those risks. Most slips and trips are easily avoidable if straightforward measures, such as ensuring hazard warning signs are in place and clearly visible when floors are wet or there has been a spillage, are taken.

Mr Brooks secured an undisclosed sum in compensation from Elior UK Limited, the company contracted to clean the site, on the ground that it had failed to follow its own operating procedures and was in breach of health and safety law.

The Health and Safety Executive has published a hazard spotting checklist to help employers comply with the law in this regard.

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If you have been injured after tripping or slipping because of the negligence of another person, you could be entitled to compensation. Contact us to discuss your claim.
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