Compensation for Warrington Hut Group worker over permanent eye damage

Nikolajs Lavrovs was injured in the workplace in his former role as a quality control officer at The Hut Group’s Omega warehouse.

As part of his job, Nikolajs was responsible for checking stock levels, and during a shift in December 2020, he had been working in an area with damaged or open stock on the shelves, causing the contents to spill over.

While looking for certain stock and checking the location, a substance believed to be a form of vegan protein powder splashed into his left eye, resulting in permanent scarring of his cornea.

Nikolajs, who was 26 when the incident occurred, was initially treated on-site by first aiders, before attending hospital a few days later when his symptoms continued to worsen.

Following his ordeal, he instructed workplace injury lawyers at Thompsons Solicitors, through his union membership with Unite, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, and to bring a claim for compensation against his employer.

The Hut Group in Warrington. Picture: Google Maps

His legal team, led by Joanne Hankey, alleged that The Hut Group had failed to provide a safe working environment, and that despite the area containing damaged or open stock on the shelves, there were inadequate safety measures in place to protect workers like Nikolajs from potential hazards.

His lawyers were also able to prove that the powder he had been exposed to caused a chemical injury to his eye, resulting in permanent damage and significantly impacting his sight.

The Hut Group later admitted liability for the incident and acknowledged that it had failed in its duty of care.

Nikolajs also received a £5,650 compensation payout that reflects the significance of his injuries and the impact of the incident on his earnings.

Joanne said: “This highlights just how important it is for employers to maintain stringent health and safety protocols to protect their employees.

Nikolajs Lavrovs has received compensation

“We are pleased to have secured a compensation package that reflects what our client experienced, and we hope that the outcome will act as an important reminder to other businesses of the consequences of neglecting employee safety.”

Nikolajs added: “I am appalled by how the issue of health and safety was managed in such a large corporation in favour of bigger profits.

“It should be a priority, not an afterthought.

“Equally, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the NHS as a whole, and specifically the nurses, eye doctors and other staff at the St Paul's Eye Unit, and its A&E extension at Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

“They managed to significantly reduce the damage to my eye while they were overstretched, and they did their very best to provide the care a patient would want and expect.”