A paramedic has won his case against his employer when he injured himself slipping on ice. The County Court at York heard how in freezing conditions a paramedic slipped on ice when providing care and assistance to an elderly patient.

Weather reporting prior to the accident had made it clear that wintry conditions were to be expected, yet his employer did not adequately assess the risks he would face in those conditions and carried on as normal. District Judge Gardner, presiding over the case, accepted that the paramedic’s footwear was unsuitable for snow and ice and that as an alternative, it would have been relatively cheap for the employer to have provided anti-slip devices to go over existing footwear. The paramedic was therefore awarded compensation to reflect his pain, suffering and financial losses.

Tracey Bennett of Thompsons Solicitors, who acted for the paramedic, said: “Emergency First Responders do a tremendous job regularly putting themselves in danger to help others. This case shows the cardinal importance of ensuring employers do all they reasonably can to avoid those dangers where possible.”