Health & safety failing | Worker who had bowel removed after dangerous work trip awarded £800k

Martin Smith, a 62-year-old former employee of Primetals Technologies Ltd, has been awarded £800,000 in compensation after he had to undergo two major surgeries and have a stoma bag following a work trip to India.

Smith, who had previously been diagnosed with Crohn's disease, was asked by his employer to undertake a week-long work trip to India, just three months after returning to work part-time and working from home due to his medical condition.

Despite taking safety precautions during the trip, Smith fell extremely ill with abdominal cramps, sickness and diarrhea. He received no treatment on-site and was compelled to return to the UK due to the severity of his illness.

Upon examination at Poole Hospital, doctors discovered that Smith had been exposed to an infection that triggered a flare-up of his Crohn's disease.