Accident at work brought on disabling disease

We recently settled a claim following an accident at work which resulted in our client being diagnosed with Dupuytren’s contracture. 

Our client worked as press operator for a local firm. The accident happened during the COVID pandemic.

At the start of the COVID pandemic our client’s employer made significant changes to the layout of the workplace to comply with social distancing requirements which resulted in employees working at their own workstation as opposed to in a general factory setting. The workstation our client was required to work in was a very limited space, indeed our Client was only able to turn on the spot.

What is Dupuytren’s contracture?

Dupuytren’s contracture is a painless condition that causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm of the hand. It starts with lumps, dimples or ridges on your palm. The affected fingers are unable straighten completely and knots of tissue form under the skin. They eventually create a thick cord that can pull the fingers into a bent position. It tends to get slowly worse over many months or years. Treatment cannot usually help in the early stages and there is no cure although your fingers can be straightened if it is severe.

Over time our client was informed Dupuytren’s contracture would significantly affect his range of movement in his hand and will undoubtedly affect his employment prospects in the future. Our client made a satisfactory recovery from his injury but has had to change his job role since the accident to accommodate for the ongoing symptoms he now suffers from. Our client hopes to continue in employment but may require surgery to alleviate his symptoms in his hand in the near future.

Claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Dupuytren’s contracture is a disabling disease. Indeed, it has recently been added to the list of prescribed diseases under Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit guidelines enabling awards to be made to Claimants should they satisfy the relevant criteria.  More about IIDB here