Ex-worker wins £140,000 pay-out

Former Mirror printer Kenneth Blair.

A FORMER reelman at the Trinity Mirror printing plant in Hollinwood has won £140,000 compensation following a works accident which means he cannot work again.

Kenneth Blair (58), of Nelson Way, Chadderton, has had three operations on his broken right wrist, including a bone graft, pinning and insertion of a metal plate.

The accident happened as he tried to re-thread newsprint on a press and was knocked off a ladder by a robot forklift truck.

He has now had to retire on the advice of his consultant, after working for Trinity Mirror for 18 years.

Mr Blair, who is married with three children aged 11,10 and six, said: “As soon as I went back to work, the pins started popping out.

“It was my right wrist and I am right handed. Now it is fused completely stiff — after they took bone marrow off my hip and put it into my wrist — with steel pins and a steel plate.

“It will never move again.

“Even the Jobcentre would not take me on when I went to look for work.”

He had worked on three presses at the Hollinwood Avenue plant, but on the day of the accident was moved to a fourth press.

He was not given a health and safety briefing, and when he set up a ladder to fix the paper it was knocked over by an automated guided forklift trick.

The robot would have sensed a ladder on the other areas of the press, but it worked differently on the fourth press.

Following the accident, Mr Blair, a former chef for 22 years in the Army Catering Corps, contacted his union, Unite, which instructed lawyers and a barrister.

Trinity Mirror settled the claim for £140,000, accepting 85 per cent liability, and has reviewed its health and safety rules.

Mr Blair said: “I enjoyed my job but I have a new wife and young children to support. I can no longer earn an income and I’m angry that I have been put in this position.

“I should have been warned about the risks.”

His solicitor, Rebecca Clare, from Thompsons in Manchester, added: “Mr Blair had to suffer a very serious injury before proper systems were put in place to ensure the health and safety of employees.

“We are pleased we have been able to settle this claim on his behalf and Unite but it would have been better for everyone if a basic briefing system had been in place.”