Description | Date of birth: Marital status: Married Address: 48 Albion Street, Ripley Type of benefit claimed: Special Hardship Allowance Type of injury: Eye injury Further information: According to the summary of facts on the Appeal referral, the claimant had an accident on 17 February 1956 which resulted in his left retina becoming detached. This left him without the use of his left eye. On the Medical Board examination report, there is a not that there is an injury to the left foot from 1953. An award was made of disablement pension of 25s 6 d from 19 February 1958 for life. A decision dated 15 January 1958 refused an award for Special Hardship Allowance on the grounds that 'he is not incapable of following his regular occupation.' On the Appeal referral there is a breakdown of the various benefits paid. The claimant's grounds of appeal dated 27 January 1958 states 'It is not a practical proposition for anyone to work in the mine, on the coal face, without the sight of one eye.' Doctor's advice was not to work on the coal face again. The tribunal was held on 26 February 1958 and found in favour of the claimant on the basis that 'claimant is physically capable of working as a Packer, but his decision not to do so, based on medical advice and the risks to his and others safety[...]is a reasonable one...' The Chairman's evidence on the Tribunal Report states 'Packing is one of the most hazardous occupations in the pit[...]packers are members of a team and I doubt whether other men would work with a one-eyed packer, or that the National Coal Board would allow a one-eyed man to work as a packer.' |