Tesco Worker Receives Five Figure Payout After Contracting Weil’s Disease At Work

A Tesco delivery driver has won a five-figure compensation pay-out after contracting Weil’s disease through his job based at the company’s Harlow depot, in Essex.

The 42-year-old was fortunate to survive the disease after developing jaundice which turned his skin to a deep yellow. Describing his situation, he explained: “After two weeks of battling extreme flu-like symptoms my eyes and skin both turned a violent shade of yellow and I could barely walk. By the time I arrived at hospital it felt like every part of my body was bruised and my head was going to explode with the pain. If I had waited another day to go to hospital the disease would have spread to my heart and lungs. I gave a urine sample to the doctors when I got there, and it was the same colour as Coca-Cola!”

Doctors who treated him believe that he contracted the disease through a minor cut near his eye. His job had involved handing empty packaging and food waste that had been contaminated with rat urine at Tesco’s now-closed depot. It took five days for doctors to identify what was causing his body to go into an almost fatal shutdown.

Weil’s Disease is a secondary form of the bacterial infection Leptospirosis which, while in some cases can be fairly minor, can develop into a potentially fatal disease if the bacteria attack the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys. It is spread by a variety of different animals, with rats and rodents being the most prevalent.

The victim said that: “Around four years before this happened we were asked to start picking up food waste and damaged items which were being stored in the warehouse. We started handling damaged products which were kept in thin bags that often ripped. As you can imagine, rotting food waste was a hub for rats and our gloves would get soaked in urine. Once your gloves are wet they harbour disease and they would stay that way for a while. The same cages which were used to transport food waste were then used to transport fresh products to all the stores without being cleaned.”

If you or someone you care for has suffered as a result of contracting Leptospirosis or Weil’s Disease and you believe that it occurred as a result of your or their employment, it is likely that you will be eligible to make a claim for compensation. Contact one of our friendly solicitors today for a no-obligation discussion about your case and let us see how we can help you and your family get the pay-out that you deserve.