Leading trade union Unite (Amicus section) has secured £15,000 in compensation from Royal Mail for a member who sustained multiple injuries and scarring following an accident on the loading bay. Mr Michael Cleary, aged 48, from Cardiff, secured the compensation through the union’s free legal help scheme with leading personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.

Mr Cleary is employed by the Royal Mail at The Cardiff Mail Centre in Penarth Road. At the time of the accident in June 2005, he was standing on a scissor lift in order to pass empty containers from a loading bay onto the back of a TNT lorry when he slipped into a gap between the bridge flap and the TNT lorry sustaining injuries to his knee, back, chest and groin.

Mr Cleary explains: “As a result of my accident I injured my knee, my torso, as well as my chest and ribs. The pain inside my left knee has not really eased since my accident and I’ve had to have physiotherapy. A few days after my accident I had to go to my GP as I had pains in my groin; he confirmed that I had a hernia and I eventually had an operation in February 2006.”

“Swimming is my favourite hobby and I’m really frustrated that I can’t swim competitively at the moment. Also, the scar I have is likely to be permanent and I’m very self conscious when people point it out when I’m swimming for example.”

Compensation for Multiple Injuries

Regional Secretary for Unite (Amicus section), Cath Speight comments: “Royal Mail is a large local employer and it has a duty of care to all of its employees. The compensation Michael Cleary has secured covers not only the multiple injures he sustained, but also the loss of overtime and other earnings. Prior to the accident, he was a very active and fit man.”

Representing Michael Cleary, Clare Nash from Thompsons Solicitors in Cardiff explains: “We’re very pleased with the damages secured for Michael Cleary; the amount is wholly justified given the pain he has suffered and the ongoing impact to his life. The engineering evidence we obtained concluded that such accidents could have been avoided if Royal Mail had put adequate fencing in place.”