Damages for fall down stairs

A former harbour master who had to take early retirement after falling on the stairs at his place of work has been awarded £6,000 compensation for his injuries. He had complained several times to his employers about the state of the stairs. They were slippery as a result of exposure to the sea, had no tread and the handrail had been removed after a colleague fell onto it. He was descending the stairs when he fell and badly injured his back. He was forced to take six weeks off work and when he was able to return, his back was giving him so much pain that he felt he had no option but to retire.