A SCOTTISH lady is taking authorized motion towards Nando’s, claiming she was left completely scarred whereas working in certainly one of their eating places.
The South African chain – which has disputed all of the allegations concerned – is being sued by Mairi Espie, from Dundee, who stated her pores and skin was melted by industrial cleansing fluid.
Espie stated the liquid was so corrosive it burned via her denims and melted the pores and skin on each her legs, together with a three-inch wound on her proper thigh.
The 21-year-old, who stated she was not supplied with any protecting gear, wanted specialist therapy at A&E.
Espie stated: “It was completely agony – it felt like my leg was on hearth. I’m now left with a everlasting scar in a very distinguished place on my physique.”
Although the entire being sought in damages has not been disclosed, Espie’s attorneys instructed it was a “five-figure sum”.
The damage is claimed to have occurred in December 2019 on the Nando’s restaurant in Nethergate, Dundee, the place was tasked with altering the detergent for the dishwasher.
Espie stated when she eliminated the outdated bottle from the equipment it splashed her and burned via her denims.
She stated she went to Ninewells Hospital the place medics supplied a specialist washing therapy to take away the detergent earlier than being bandaged being despatched dwelling to get better for greater than every week.
Espie, who graduated from Abertay College in July with a level in criminology, stated: “I wasn’t given any particular apron or gloves or something – we had been simply type of anticipated to crack on.
“The burn was so painful. It took months to heal correctly but it surely’s the scarring that upset me probably the most. I’ve bought scars on each my legs as a result of splash going in all places but it surely’s the correct thigh that’s the worst. It makes me really feel so nervous to put on shorts or skirts.
“A authorized motion isn’t one thing I wished to do however I felt I didn’t have a alternative as a result of after all of it occurred I felt like Nando’s simply fobbed me off prefer it was nothing. But it surely’s not – how may the pores and skin melting off your leg be nothing?
“If nothing else, I simply hope it makes issues safer for different individuals as there should be individuals all around the nation who work in hospitality and see accidents like this on a regular basis and suppose it’s a part of the job, but it surely’s not.”
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Espie is taking authorized motion towards Nando’s via an employer’s legal responsibility declare with assist from Digby Brown Solicitors.
The case, which known as in court docket earlier this week, units out that Nando’s was accountable because it failed to hold out a danger evaluation, failed to supply Espie with PPE, and failed to supply correct coaching.
Simon Hammond, a companion at Digby Brown in Edinburgh, stated: “Office accidents are sadly a quite common incidence however what’s actually unlucky is simply how avoidable they’re.
“If Nando’s adopted easy protecting measures then Mairi wouldn’t have suffered like she has and also you solely want to have a look at the photograph of her burn to think about the ache she should have felt.”
A spokesperson for Nando’s stated: “We strongly dispute these allegations. We can not present any additional remark given that is an ongoing case.”
