Accident has man struggling to walk

Safety failings at a steel fabrication company in South Lanarkshire almost three years ago left a worker in constant pain and still needing sticks to help him walk.

Steel erector Alexander Struthers, 36, was inside a cherry picker which was hit by an overhead crane in a paint workshop owned by BHC in Carnwath.

The collision caused the basket to fall around five-and-a-half metres to the ground in April 2008.

Mr Struthers ended up breaking his hip, pelvis, thigh bone, knee, ankle and nose and had to stay in hospital for six days, which included a nine-hour operation.

He now has an 18-inch pin holding his thigh bone together, is in constant pain, still attends physiotherapy and cannot walk without sticks.

BHC Ltd pleaded guilty to breaking regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 at Lanark Sheriff Court. The firm admitted failing to ensure the work at height was properly planned, appropriately supervised and carried out in a safe manner and was fined £20,000.

IBB Solicitors has built a reputation for quality of service in pursuing compensation in cases involving accident, illness or death. If you would like advice on personal injury issues, you can contact a member of IBB's Personal Injury team, call us on 08456 381 381 or email enquiries@ibblaw.co.uk.