There is a general website for all such claims, even including railway workers: www.hse.gov.uk/fallsfromvehicles/index.htm.

In this claim the van operator had packed a generator in his own van and attached his tool belt to it before he later tripped out of the back of the van, presumably on one or other of these items.

He had also restricted his walkway by opening only one door of the van.

However, the defendant was in breach of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 as there was a broken light in the back of the van, which meant he had to make his way in the dark.

Great Grimsby CC, 12 December 2008.

Manual Handling Regs

Our client was injured while tapping a block of frozen fish portions against the edge of the line to separate them. She banged her finger against the line.

We alleged the Manual Handling Regs applied; the defendant denied it was a Manual Handling task.

The Judge rejected their argument.

The other side had done no risk assessment and the practice of tapping the blocks of fish against the line was accepted as condoned by the supervisors.

The Judge found that the other side were in breach of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regs and Manual Handling Regs for failing to conduct a risk assessment that would have given rise to some control mechanism, for example instructions that reject bins should be used for such fish instead of operatives attempting to separate the blocks by force.

Great Grimsby CC, 27 November 2008.