Home / Crime and Justice / Morgue Workers Win £30K Over Body Splashback Fears
Morgue Workers Win £30K Over Body Splashback Fears
29 Sep
Summary
- Two morgue workers won nearly £30,000 in compensation.
- The payout was for lack of PPE against dead body splashback.
- A manager retaliated against a worker for raising hygiene concerns.
Two mortuary porters, John Crayton and Thomas Jones, have successfully claimed nearly £30,000 from the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The compensation addresses their concerns about lacking adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to shield them from fluid splashback from deceased bodies.
Both men worked as porters, transporting bodies to the hospital's mortuary. Mr. Crayton reported experiencing splashback without adequate forearm protection due to the hospital's policy requiring bare elbows. He also noted that bodies were not always in body bags, unlike his previous experience.
Further complicating matters, a manager allegedly retaliated against Mr. Crayton for his grievance, revoking his mortuary access. This action was reportedly taken under suspicion that the complaints about DNA transference meant the porters had 'something to hide.' Both men subsequently took sick leave.
The employment tribunal in Manchester ordered the hospital trust to pay Mr. Crayton £2,121 for wage loss and £15,000 for injury to feelings. Mr. Jones was awarded £1,439 for wage loss and £11,000 for injury to feelings.
