As part of his job, Mr Nikolajs Lavrovs, who was working in Warrington at the time of the incident, before moving to Mansfield, was responsible for checking stock levels in the warehouse.  

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.  

Mr Nikolajs Lavrovs, 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. 

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 Mr Lavrovs 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. 

Earlier this year, Mr Lavrovs also received a £5,650 compensation payout that reflects the significance of his injuries and the impact of the incident on his earnings. 

Commenting on the outcome of the case, Joanne Hankey from Thompsons Solicitors said:  "Mr. Lavrovs’ case highlights just how important it is for employers to maintain stringent health and safety protocols to protect their employees.  

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

Mr Lavrovs added: “I'm 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 their A&E extension in Royal Liverpool University Hospital. 

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

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