While every employee should be safe when they go to work, unfortunately accidents do happen in the workplace. Employers have a legal obligation to take reasonable care to ensure that all machinery and working environments are safe and secure, and that employees can carry out their jobs with confidence. But sometimes accidents occur – and if these accidents are not the employees’ fault, they can result in personal injury claims. Here are a few examples of workplace accidents that often end up at the solicitor’s office.
- Slips and Trips
Slips and trips are the most common accidents at work, causing minor and major injuries to people every year. Slips and trips may be caused by walkways stacked with boxes, cables running across passageways, water or other fluid spills, poorly designed offices, and equipment left out of place. Accidents can also happen when a workplace is badly lit. Employers can protect against these kinds of accidents by putting procedures in place to keep the workspace tidy and organised, and by cleaning up any spills or leaks when they occur.
- Falls
Falls are also common and may be related to trips and slips, or could be serious falls from height. Falls from height can be particularly serious and may result in death or serious spine or head injuries. If you work at height in your profession, such as on a building site or as a window cleaner, your employer must put reasonable safeguards in place to protect you such as barriers and harnesses. You also have a responsibility to use safety equipment correctly and make sure you carry out your job in a safe manner.
- Manual Handling and Lifting Injuries
Back injuries are very common in the workplace and can lead to weeks or months off work. Everyone in the workplace that needs to lift boxes or objects should be trained how to do this correctly without putting undue strain on the back. Heavy lifting should not be carried out without equipment.
- Accidents Involving Vehicles
Vehicles could be delivery lorries, cars, forklift trucks, trolleys or motor bikes. If vehicles are used on site or in the course of someone’s job they should be well-maintained and operated in a responsible manner. An accident involving a vehicle can result in serious injuries.
- Burn Injuries
Burns and scalds occur with chemicals and machinery that operates with heat, but also from common equipment like kettles or ovens that can burn when not used properly or when faulty. Chemical burns are also a problem in hairdressing salons and beauty parlours.
If you are involved in an accident at work that was not your fault, you could be entitled to compensation through an injury at work claim. The amount of money you could receive from a work injury claim depends on the severity of the injuries and the seriousness of the incident. If you think that you have a claim to make, contact a specialist personal injury solicitor such as to talk through your potential claim.