Prison Officer Awarded £500k After Slipping on Ice

The following story demonstrates that slipping on ice and snow can happen to anyone at any time. Typically, workplace injuries happen because people are focusing on meeting their targets and achieving completion of their work tasks...

'An ex-prison officer, who can no longer walk after slipping on ice while on dog patrol, has been awarded a £500,000 payout. Simon Butler, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire suffered a nasty blow to his right ankle when he fell at HMP Woodhill, near Milton Keynes in December 2009. Since then, he has been plagued by constant pain and has a 25 per cent chance of it being amputated, London’s High Court heard.

The 47-year-old has been medically retired from the prison service and is now forced to rely on his son and wife. The once super-fit sportsman and his wife were close to tears as the judge told the court how he could no longer play cricket with his son because of his injuries.

Mr Butler sued over an alleged negligent failure to grit the area where he fell and the Ministry of Justice accepted that he should be compensated. Judge Rosalind Coe QC, who awarded him £496,717, told the court: ‘His quality of life was critically dependent on the ability to walk. ‘He and his son used to go to training and would spend time together going to matches, playing cricket or kicking a ball around. ‘None of that has been happening since the accident.’ Mr Butler was granted the right to return for more compensation if his condition deteriorates.'

ICEGRIPPER works with organisations requiring ice grips for their staff. But as can be seen in this case, in many situations slippery underfoot conditions caused by ice and compacted snow are not dealt with and not even considered, or thought about. This case also highlights a potential danger which ICEGRIPPER has covered in previous blog posts - the danger of dog owners being pulled over by their pets when walking in snowy and icy conditions.

Credits:The Metro, Thursday 8 Oct 2015
https://metro.co.uk/2015/10/08/prison-officer-awarded-500k-after-slipping-on-ice-5430045/

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