Another compensation case in the food industry after slip in factory

A food production worker has received just less than £13,000 in damages after suffering an injury at work.

She was a production operative for a food manufacturing company. She broke her leg when another worker slipped on an oil spill and collided with her.

She spent four days in hospital, 6 months in plaster and could not work for 10 months. Despite heavy physiotherapy, it took 18 months for the worker to recover. She still cant stand for long periods without discomfort or walk long distances.

Every day Katsouris Fresh Food in Wembley, Middlesex produce about 110,000 ready meals, 150,000 dip pots and 30,000 snack foods that are sold in many supermarkets, especially Tesco.

In 2004 it was measured that the companys 3 sites averaged at least three recorded accidents per day, according to the GMB Branch Secretary Hiten Vaidya. Last year, the GMB, Britains general union, wrote to the Health and Safety Executive demanding action. The company has been served with 7 HSE improvement notices since the time that accident rate was starting to be observed. The union claims they have seen no improvement as a result of these. The company denies this.

They were criticised by the GMB over the issues of pay rates, sick leave provision and particularly its failure to provide a safe workplace for the 2,500 employees.

Following the unions publicity, Tesco inspected the site in May 2007, saying, 'As part of our regular programme of checks we identified a number of areas for improvement at a Katsouris-owned site this week'.

23/01/2008 15:09:50