Train Company Asked to Pay Damages to Employees
Arriva Trains Wales was asked to pay £22,000 as damages to be shared by three of its train drivers working at Carmarthen Depot. The drivers had asked for compensation as they had developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) while working for the company.
Trade union ASLEF supported the claim of the train drivers and pointed out many problems in the working conditions. One of the problems was that the seats had negligible scope for adjustment and lacked armed rests. Further, the work involved repetitive tasks, working with breaks and power controls in confined spaces and making weird wrist poses. These working conditions eventually led to the problems of CTS among the drivers, claimed ASLEF.
The employer however claimed that the health problems of the drivers were not due to work and added that it had no liability in this regard.
The case was heard by Honourable Justice Vosper for five days, after which he declared that all three drivers had developed CTS during their work. He added that the employer had not evaluated the risk of injury nor put in place any safety mechanisms to protect the workers from developing health complications.
Keith Norman, general secretary of ASLEF, commended this decision of the court and added that the decision will encourage all those train drivers in the
Mr Bill Gasson of Thompsons Solicitors was the lawyer of ASLEF in the case. He agreed with
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