Beauty therapists secure compensation for repetitive strain injury

Posted 11/03/2011

Two Virgin Atlantic beauty therapists have received a combined £300,000 personal injury compensation payout after suffering strain injuries while giving massages.

Jayne Evans received £230,972, while Michelle Hindmarsh was awarded £69,458 after the pair made compensation claims against the firm.

Both women were forced to quit their jobs with the airline after developing repetitive strain injuries caused by issuing massages to business passengers.

Judge Martin McKenna refuted claims from Virgin Atlantic that Ms Hindmarsh had exaggerated her problems, with Virgin accepting responsibility for the injuries.

“She is clearly a woman of fortitude and determination making the best of her situation,” the judge remarked.

Ms Evans claimed that she was unable to complete rudimentary tasks due to her strained thumbs and was once sent home from Heathrow Airport after becoming “distressed” while massaging a businessman.

According to the NHS, repetitive strain injury is a common limb and muscle complaint among workers who complete the same task over and over again.