Thrown in at the deep end and Injury on the job? [Updated]

Jlawson118

Fluffybunny80 wrote: »

I'm not currently working because of bringing up my son and various disabilities. but last job I had I was treated appallingly too
I think to get anywhere these days you've got to kiss !!!! I really do
and it's people like us who just get on with it to the best of our abilities and get ignored

good luck in any future job hunt and I hope you find somewhere that treats you fairly ��

I emailed the overall manager this morning and he was quick to get back to me, he said he'd have words with them without them knowing we'd discussed anything, all of a sudden they left me alone tonight. One colleague said that all the management stick to this manager like a fly sticks to sh*t. His exact words :rotfl: Hopefully tomorrow will be better now. There is a particular job I'd like to work at, but there's 9 weeks full time training shifts which at the moment I can't do due to university, but perhaps I could do over the summer? So if things aren't better, I'll perhaps try to join that around April/May time

Jlawson118

After two days being thrown in the deep end and being told I wasn't performing well enough, on the Wednesday all I had to do for my entire shift was to watch some other guy do it who's been there a while, to show it can be done single handedly. And I will admit that I did it my myself on the Thursday but I was being praised by the management for performing better. I thought this was the start of something good after this. Friday was super busy so help was automatically at hand.

But then I started the week again on Monday, where I was working with a conveyer belt, doing the same job as I was before, just stacking the back of a truck pretty much, when these big boilers were just coming down and falling off as well as pilling up. I got stuck, my hand got stuck and I also later bent my little finger backwards, the emergency stop doesn't work on the belt either (I was told about this when I started my first shift but I thought they'd fix it) and before I knew it, I was kind of stuck at the back of this trailer about to be crushed when one of the managers walked in and he actually had the nerve to ask me what was wrong!

I snapped at him saying "What does it look like?" And tried to then explain I'd hurt my hand, I then spoke to another manager who is the first aider and he just shrugged his shoulders at me.

The next morning, it was no better and I went to A&E. The lady at the reception asked me where I worked, I told her and she said she's had a few in from there. I'm not sure if it's the same depo as mine though. Luckily my hand wasn't broken but there's soft tissue damage. It's still hurting quite a lot. I went in to speak to the main boss in charge of the depo yesterday after A&E, my fingers strapped together and an attendance slip from the hospital and explained to him that all the management did were shrug their shoulders at me. He turned around and said "well in all fairness, I'd have done the same"

I explained to him that the emergency stop button doesn't work, and he was like "Well you should have tried another button" for one I couldn't reach another button and two, all of the buttons doesn't work on it! This is a breach of health and safety regulations, even I know this. But I went home fuming. I've been off on the sick two days running now, and I only started last week! I sent him an email informing him it's not working out, and later explained I won't press charges over the conveyer belt if he just understands my reasonings for leaving and actually fixes it. I wasn't planning to sue them or anything, I haven't broken anything and I've not really been there long. But I am being convinced by my family and friends to actually try and claim something.

This really is a reputable company across the world! I can't believe they are operating like this. But two days later and my hand is no better. Unfortunately I have no proof of the conveyer belt not working, I tried to get a video the other night but the management were up my backside and the workload just wasn't quieting down..
What are my rights here?

SuzieSue

I think you should go and see a personal injury lawyer to stop this happening to anyone else. You can also report the company to the H&S Executive, but do your research before you do this so that there are no repercussions.

You should also amend your first post to say that you have updated the thread with a new issue.

Jlawson118

SuzieSue wrote: »

I think you should go and see a personal injury lawyer to stop this happening to anyone else. You can also report the company to the H&S Executive, but do your research before you do this so that there are no repercussions.

You should also amend your first post to say that you have updated the thread with a new issue.

I'll have a look into that! Thanks, and I've updated it

Malthusian

I don't see the point of adding the new issue to the first post, it makes me (for one) look like a tit for saying "if I were you I'd stick with it" after you've changed the story to one where any sane person would be saying "run a mile".

I realise some people read the first post, ignore the rest and post an irrelevant reply but they are easily ignored. You could edit it to say "please read update in post #23".

You're unlikely to get much in damages for a sprained finger so if you're going to sue them (pressing charges for criminal negligence sounds a bit unlikely) it has to be out of pure altruism. Personally I wouldn't, they can deny all knowledge that the emergency stop button was broken and say it was your own fault. Since they have access to the "scene of the crime" (well, scene of the civil tort) and you don't, you're in a poor position to prove otherwise.

The people working there know about the H&S failings and the poor management and for whatever reason they are happy to keep taking the money. If I was in your position I wouldn't see it as my job to save them from themselves. But you may have a bigger heart than me. And a personal injury lawyer will be able to give you better advice than someone on the Internet.

SuzieSue

Malthusian wrote: »

I don't see the point of adding the new issue to the first post, it makes me (for one) look like a tit for saying "if I were you I'd stick with it" after you've changed the story to one where any sane person would be saying "run a mile".

Why? It is obvious that you were replying to the original post and most people would realise that you are not a soothsayer and therefore could not have predicted the update.

Jlawson118

Malthusian wrote: »

I don't see the point of adding the new issue to the first post, it makes me (for one) look like a tit for saying "if I were you I'd stick with it" after you've changed the story to one where any sane person would be saying "run a mile".

I realise some people read the first post, ignore the rest and post an irrelevant reply but they are easily ignored. You could edit it to say "please read update in post #23".

You're unlikely to get much in damages for a sprained finger so if you're going to sue them (pressing charges for criminal negligence sounds a bit unlikely) it has to be out of pure altruism. Personally I wouldn't, they can deny all knowledge that the emergency stop button was broken and say it was your own fault. Since they have access to the "scene of the crime" (well, scene of the civil tort) and you don't, you're in a poor position to prove otherwise.

The people working there know about the H&S failings and the poor management and for whatever reason they are happy to keep taking the money. If I was in your position I wouldn't see it as my job to save them from themselves. But you may have a bigger heart than me. And a personal injury lawyer will be able to give you better advice than someone on the Internet.

Well I was about to quit the job but then I spoke to the main manager who made things a easier for a few days and actually arranged for things to be a bit smoother for my first few days. It just wasn't until Monday where it got worse again. So it's not that I purposely made you look like a tit, I just don't really know how to update these threads properly. It wouldn't let me extend the title anymore

I also thought myself that I wouldn't claim anything back, I wish I could have got footage of that emergency stop button failing