24th May, 2012

Ian Denham acts for family of worker killed in an industrial accident

Ian Denham has represented the family of a young man from Eccles, Manchester who was killed after being struck by a metal pressing machine, weighing around half a tonne, which fell from a fork-lift truck.

A two-week jury inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard how Bruce Dempsey, a 25-year-old welding engineer, died as he helped to move a steel pressing machine at a workplace in Eccles, Manchester.

At the inquest, concerns were raised about the level of training Bruce had received, along with a lack of procedures regarding the safe use of fork lift trucks. These concerns prompted Coroner Jennifer Leeming to say she would report the verdict to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to seek a formal review of the training given to forklift truck drivers, banksmen and others who could come into contact with them.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death with a narrative verdict.

This case emphasises the critical importance of careful risk assessment and diligent health and safety planning, along with the dangers of making broad assumptions and relying on the ‘common-sense’ of untrained employees.

Ian Denham was instructed by Irwin Mitchell’s serious injury team in Manchester.

The case has been reported by the following:

Manchester Evening News (http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1486552_family-of-factory-death-man-from-eccles-call-for-better-staff-training)

BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-17867973).



Latest News...

The judgment of the Supreme Court in TUI v Griffiths regarding 'uncontroverted' expert evidence: nuclear bomb or damp squib?

29th November, 2023
William Hamilton and Beth Caunce review this Supreme Court decision which concerns the correct approach to "uncontroverted" expert evidence, here in the context of a travel sickness claim, but with broader ramifications regarding the procedural fairness of refraining from cross-examining an expert or relying on one’s own expert and waiting instead to criticise that expert’s opinion in closing submissions.

"Don't discuss the case with anyone until your evidence has finished" (we really mean it!)

28th November, 2023
Rachael Levene and Louise Quigley successfully got a multi-day claim of race discrimination struck out after the Claimant failed to heed the warning of not discussing the case until her evidence was complete.

Pupillage Gateway, open to view adverts

27th November, 2023
Today we launch our adverts for pupillage in the Criminal, Family, Employment and Personal Injury teams.