Dundee waitress sues Nando’s after skin melted by detergent
Mairi Espie, 21, has been left permanently scarred
Last updated 22nd Nov 2022
A Dundee waitress has launched a legal action against Nando’s after her skin was melted by industrial cleaning fluid.
Mairi Espie, was left permanently scarred after being splashed while emptying a container of cleaning detergent at the restaurant in the Nethergate in December 2019.
The liquid was so corrosive it burned through her jeans and melted the skin on her right thigh - putting the 21-year-old in Ninewells hospital.
She is now seeking a five-figure sum from the chicken chain.
'Absolutely agony'
She said: “It was absolutely agony – it felt like my leg was on fire.
“I’m now left with a permanent scar in a really prominent place on my body.”
Lack of PPE
Mairi, who graduated from Abertay University in July with a degree in criminology, added: “I wasn’t given any special apron or gloves or anything – we were just kind of expected to crack on.
“The burn was so painful. It took months to heal properly but it’s the scarring that upset me the most.
“I’ve got scars on both my legs due to the splash going everywhere but it’s the right thigh that’s the worst. It makes me feel so nervous to wear shorts or skirts.
“A legal action is not something I wanted to do but I felt I didn’t have a choice because after it all happened I felt like Nando’s just fobbed me off like it was nothing.
“But it’s not – how could the skin melting off your leg be nothing?
“If nothing else, I just hope it makes things safer for other people as there must be people all over the country who work in hospitality and see injuries like this all the time and think it’s part of the job, but it’s not.”
'Work place injuries common, but are avoidable'
Digby Brown Solicitors is now helping Mairi with an employer’s liability claim.
The case, which called in court earlier this week, sets out that Nando’s was responsible as it failed to carry out a risk assessment, failed to provide Mairi with PPE and failed to provide proper training.
Simon Hammond, Partner at Digby Brown in Edinburgh, said: “Workplace injuries are sadly a very common occurrence but what’s really unfortunate is just how avoidable they are.
“If Nando’s followed simple protective measures then Mairi would not have suffered like she has and you only need to look at the photo of her burn to imagine the pain she must have felt.”
Nando's response
We have approached Nando's for a response.