Nestle UK Ltd has paid compensation to four workers at the coffee making giant's site at Burton on Trent, Staffs, after each of them developed tennis elbow. Mr Steven Davis, has secured £11,000 compensation, and Mr Ball received £4,000. Leading trade union Unite (T&G section) secured the compensation for their members via their free legal help scheme with personal injury specialists Thompsons Solicitors.

Tennis elbow is the common name for a painful condition affecting the outside part of the elbow. It is an extremely debilitating condition caused by repetitive strain and manual occupations that involve repetitive twisting and lifting of the wrist.

Based at the Tutbury plant, Mr Ball, Mr Davis and two colleagues were involved in digging out blocked coffee cyclones – a heavy and prolonged process which often took 3-4 days to sort out. All four men developed tennis elbow as a result.

Health and Safety Issues

Steven Davis, from Hatton, Derbyshire is employed as a Process Operative in the Egron Department, and has been with the company about 16 years. The Egron Department is where coffee liquor is turned into coffee granules. This process involves making sure that the granules are the correct consistency, correct colour and correct texture. Mr Davis’ job is to ensure that the Egron machine works correctly and that the coffee is of the right quality. This involves constant manipulation of steam pressure to ensure that the coffee has the correct amount of moisture in it.

Mr Davis explains: “Over the years that I have worked on the Egron there have been numerous occasions when the consistency has been incorrect which in turn causes blockages in the machine which have to be unblocked to get the machine running again. To give an indication of how big the blockages can be, we have to use a steel bar, a crow bar and even a jack hammer to break them up. I believe that Nestle are to blame for my injuries as the effort needed to carry out these unblocking processes is excessive and one where you have to constantly hack away to get the blockages free.”

Maurice Swindell, from Unite (T&G section), comments: “Clearly there have been serious health and safety issues at Nestle UK Ltd, so we’re pleased with the successful outcome of these cases for our four members. All employers have a duty of care to their employees and Nestle is no exception.”

Representing all four men, Shelley Artingstall from Thompsons Solicitors in Nottingham, said: “Nestle UK Limited has clearly breached Workplace Regulations which has led to the injuries suffered by these four employees.”