Rotherham man battles for compensation

A RETIRED miner battling for compensation is appealing for pitmen with wrist injuries to come forward to help him fight for justice.

Howard Douglas (58), is campaigning for osteoarthritis of the wrist to be recognised as an industrial injury after being told that there was insufficient evidence to prove it was linked to mining.

The blow was dealt in a letter from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council to Rotherham MP John Healey, whom Mr Douglas contacted for help.

Now, the former coal face mechanic, who worked at New Stubbin Colliery in Rawmarsh for 12 years and a further 12 years at Silverwood pit, has vowed to take on the council to prove his condition is work-related by sending a list of names to them.

He said: “I believe that there are hundreds if not thousands of ex-miners suffering with this condition and I would like to hear from them.

“We were like little rabbits crawling around down the pit but when you are in your 20s and 30s you don’t realise what it is doing to you.

“To accept that osteoarthritis of the knee is industrial but say that the wrist isn't just doesn't make sense.

“We put equal pressure on out hands and knees and I think they are just trying to sweep it under the carpet so they don’t have to pay us.”

The Government now officially recognises osteoarthritis of the knees in coal miners as an industrial disease. In July this year they introduced a benefit through the industrial injuries disability benefit scheme.

But in order to claim industrial-related benefits, individuals must prove a percentage of disability which is currently set at 14 per cent.

Mr Douglas, of Dale Road, Rawmarsh, was recently awarded an assessment of three per cent for his knee injury, and five per cent for vibration white finger and described himself as “one of the lucky ones.”

He said: “Most of the ex-miners I know have been turned down flat. Most have been given a zero rating and I know of only one who had a zero per cent rating and got 16 per cent on appeal.”

And he fears that other related-injuries are being down-played so that Government is not hit with a large number of pay outs.

“I think it's disgusting," he said. “Of course my wrist injury is industrial. Like many others, I have to live with pain shooting through my wrists and arms 24 hours a day.

“These are genuine claims from working class people who worked hard all those years to keep this country running.”

Mr Douglas has asked any miners suffering from osteoarthritis of the wrist to contact him on 01709 525346.

Mr Healey said: "I contacted IIAC on Mr Douglas's behalf to ask for them to consider whether osteoarthritis of the wrist should be added to the list of prescribed diseases.

“The IIAC's scientific advisor has conducted a preliminary search of published research which found no evidence of an increased risk of osteoarthritis of the wrist in miners or any other occupations.

“However, the council has said it is always keen to receive evidence about occupational diseases and is happy to consider any new research related to osteoarthritis of the wrist in miners.”

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