£8,500 Compensation for Care Home Worker Burned by Bucket of Hot Water
Thompsons secured £8,500 in compensation for a healthcare assistant who suffered a burn injury to his foot after stepping into a bucket of scalding hot water while working in the kitchen of a care home. The claim was pursued against his employer after the workplace accident resulted in significant pain, time off work and permanent scarring.
What happened
In April 2023, the claimant was working as a healthcare assistant at Ardencraig Care Home, operated by Thistle Healthcare.
The accident occurred when the claimant entered the kitchen area to refill condiment jars. A brush had been propped diagonally between a workbench and a cooker, and beneath it was a bucket of scalding hot water that had been emptied from an urn.
As the claimant attempted to step over the brush, his foot caught on it and he lost his balance. His left foot plunged directly into the bucket of hot water.
The claimant immediately experienced severe pain and his trainer began to steam due to the heat. A colleague quickly alerted the nurse on duty, who administered first aid by cooling the injury.
Injuries and Impact
The claimant was taken to hospital where the burn injury was assessed and treated. He continued to receive medical care in the following weeks, including dressing changes and monitoring of the wound.
The injury later became infected, requiring antibiotics and additional treatment.
Medical examination confirmed that the claimant had sustained mixed-depth burns to the dorsum of his left foot, ranging from superficial to deep partial-thickness burns. The injury affected approximately 1.5% of his total body surface area.
The burns caused significant pain and hypersensitivity. Recovery was expected to take between six and twelve months, and the injury left permanent scarring.
Due to the injury, the claimant was unable to work for three months and suffered a loss of earnings during that period.
What went wrong
The claim was brought against the employer on the basis that the working environment had not been kept safe.
The brush positioned across the floor and the bucket of scalding hot water created a hazardous situation in a busy workplace area. It was argued that this risk should have been identified and addressed by kitchen staff.
Legal Approach
Thompsons Solicitors Scotland pursued a workplace injury claim against the claimant’s employer, Thistle Healthcare.
Liability for the accident was admitted during pre-litigation discussions.
Thompsons gathered medical evidence confirming the severity of the burn injury, the recovery period and the permanent scarring that would remain.
Outcome:
The claimant’s compensation claim included damages for his injury, loss of earnings, services and travel costs associated with medical treatment.
An initial offer of £7,922.08 was made by the employer. Thompsons advised that a higher settlement should be pursued.
Following negotiations, the defender increased the offer to £8,500.
Thompsons secured £8,500 in compensation for the claimant, which he confirmed he was pleased to accept.
What this case shows
This case highlights the importance of maintaining safe working environments and ensuring that hazards in workplaces are properly managed.
Employees injured due to unsafe working conditions may be able to pursue compensation through accidents at work claims. Thompsons can often support clients through the claims process under a No Win No Fee agreement.
Anyone seeking advice after a workplace accident can contact Thompsons to discuss their circumstances.
