Doncaster, England -- (SBWire) -- 11/30/2015 --A Lancashire firm has been investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following an incident which left an employee with serious facial injuries and blind in one eye.

The employee, Duane Scholes, was assisting the works manager and design engineer in pressure testing a hydraulic cylinder, when he was hit in the face by a pressurised hose after a connector failed.

Mr Scholes was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital, were he received emergency treatment. His injuries included a broken jaw and multiple facial lacerations, which were so severe that a six hour operation was needed to reconstruct the right side of his face.

The case was heard at Preston Crown Court following the incident, which happened in January 2014. The Clitheroe based company, Lodematic Components Ltd was prosecuted by the HSE after admitting a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They were fined £35,000 and were ordered to pay prosecution costs of £7,835.

HSE inspector Bradley Wigglesworth said the company had "…failed to assess the risks or provide a safe system of work for pressure testing hydraulic cylinders." It was found that there was no segregating or safeguarding and the test connectors which failed were not subject to maintenance or inspection. He also said "If these measures had been in place at the time of the incident, then the employee's life changing injuries could have been avoided."

About The Accident Team
The Accident Team provides specialist accident solicitors who deliver legal advice and assistance in instances like this, where people sustain injuries at work. A spokesperson for the company said: "These injuries have had a serious impact on a young mans life, and are entirely due to negligence on the part of the employer. Ignoring health and safety procedures will, no doubt, eventually lead to someone suffering an injury that could have been avoided. In such circumstances, the employee is entitled to pursue compensation for the injuries, even if they return to work for the same employer."

For more information you can visit their website directly at http://www.theaccidentteam.co.uk/accident-claims/health-and-safety/

Company name: The Accident Team
Tel: 0800 999 3738
Website: www.theaccidentteam.co.uk
Contact person: John McQuater
Email: help@theaccidentteam.co.uk
Address: 8 Hall Gate
Doncaster
DN1 3LU