A Sheffield engineering company was completely to blame for an
accident which left an employee blinded and paralysed down his left
side, the High Court has ruled.
Mark Downs, from Eckington, Derbyshire, was left with serious
brain injuries when he was hit on the head by a five-and-a-half
tonne metal sheet at Hadee Engineering Ltd, in Halfway,
Sheffield.
Mr Downs was crossing the factory floor using a designated
walkway when the sheet, which was being manoeuvred in a tandem
lift, swung out of position and knocked him against a steel
skip.
The 39-year-old has also lost his sense of smell and taste and
will have to undergo extensive rehabilitation to aid his recovery
from the accident. It is expected that he will need lifelong
assistance.
He is being supported by the Headway North Derbyshire
support group in Chesterfield.
At Sheffield High Court, Mr Justice MacDuff QC ruled that the
employers were fully liable for the accident.