NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 02/09/2009 00:00 -
Updated: 17/09/2009 12:48
A warehouse worker who has endured 18 operations after suffering a lifting injury has received compensation from Tesco.
Wayne Wellard, 40, of Chesnut Crescent, Bletchley, is now registered disabled, unable to work and still has an open wound almost four years after suffering a serious hernia at the Tesco Distribution Centre at Fenny Lock, Milton Keynes.
Mr Wellard, who has two sons aged 10 and 12, had worked at the distribution centre for three months when he was asked to retrieve a box from a pallet that was incorrectly raised from the ground and therefore too high.
He felt an instant pain in his groin and, although he consulted the first aiders, was advised to continue working as best he could.
After being unable to complete his next shift due to the pain he was experiencing he visited his GP and hospital where a hernia was diagnosed and he underwent surgery.
He then developed a severe infection in the wound resulting in numerous further operations.
Mr Wellard said: "This has devastated my life. I can't work, I can't play with my children, I struggle to even help my wife around the house. I've almost lost my house twice and had to rely on family and friends financially, which is horrendous.
"I've still got a long way to go to regain my health; I've had ongoing infections and am now waiting for a referral to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to try to get it sorted.
"I'm so angry with Tesco. The compensation will help but it won't last forever." Mr Wellard did not want to reveal howmuch he recieved, but a settlement was made just before the case got to court.
Virginia Kerridge, solicitor at law firm Russell Jones & Walker who represented Mr Wellard, said: "Tesco didn't appear to investigate Mr Wellard's injury properly at the time but it is imperative that employers take responsibility for the health and safety of their workforce.
"Mr Wellard lost his job and his life has changed beyond recognition. It's a tragic story.
"One of the medical experts in the case commented that Mr Wellard's wound was one of the most unpleasant chronically infected wounds he had seen. He is missing out on a normal active life with his family."
Wayne Wellard, 40, of Chesnut Crescent, Bletchley, is now registered disabled, unable to work and still has an open wound almost four years after suffering a serious hernia at the Tesco Distribution Centre at Fenny Lock, Milton Keynes.
Mr Wellard, who has two sons aged 10 and 12, had worked at the distribution centre for three months when he was asked to retrieve a box from a pallet that was incorrectly raised from the ground and therefore too high.
He felt an instant pain in his groin and, although he consulted the first aiders, was advised to continue working as best he could.
After being unable to complete his next shift due to the pain he was experiencing he visited his GP and hospital where a hernia was diagnosed and he underwent surgery.
He then developed a severe infection in the wound resulting in numerous further operations.
Mr Wellard said: "This has devastated my life. I can't work, I can't play with my children, I struggle to even help my wife around the house. I've almost lost my house twice and had to rely on family and friends financially, which is horrendous.
"I've still got a long way to go to regain my health; I've had ongoing infections and am now waiting for a referral to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to try to get it sorted.
"I'm so angry with Tesco. The compensation will help but it won't last forever." Mr Wellard did not want to reveal howmuch he recieved, but a settlement was made just before the case got to court.
Virginia Kerridge, solicitor at law firm Russell Jones & Walker who represented Mr Wellard, said: "Tesco didn't appear to investigate Mr Wellard's injury properly at the time but it is imperative that employers take responsibility for the health and safety of their workforce.
"Mr Wellard lost his job and his life has changed beyond recognition. It's a tragic story.
"One of the medical experts in the case commented that Mr Wellard's wound was one of the most unpleasant chronically infected wounds he had seen. He is missing out on a normal active life with his family."
