Premier Foods awards former employee £17,500

A former employee of Premier Foods has received £17,500 in compensation after sustaining an injury at a bakery over three years ago, according to the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU).

In April 2006 an employee working at a British Bakeries site in Newcastle - which has since been closed down - fell from a ladder after attempting to clean machinery sensors with a broom. The compensation was awarded as he sustained a back injury and was unable to undertake heavy manual work for two years. He is still unemployed.
Following the accident he contacted the union, which instructed its lawyers Thompsons Solicitors. Thompsons argued that: “The bakery was using an unsafe system of work by employees having to climb the ladder with a broom and then having to lean over a conveyor belt to clean the sensors.” The lawyers also reported that: “British Bakeries’ owner Premier Foods admitted liability and Thompsons was able to secure a settlement.”
Jane Gulliford at Thompsons Solicitors added: “Simple and cheap measures could have avoided this accident, such as making sure the appropriate ladder for the job was available. It’s the employers’ responsibility to ensure that ladders are safely used.”

Premier Foods did not comment.