Firefighters Injured at Work Claims
Being a firefighter is one of the most dangerous professions to be in. The nature of the job is to put yourselves in often life-threatening situations to help save the lives of others, which means the likelihood of sustaining an injury while working can be high, even if safety gear is worn and operated correctly.
However, injuries and fatalities are more likely if a firefighter is not provided with the right safety equipment, if the equipment they do have is not up to standard, and/or health and safety protocol has not been followed correctly (including the training of staff by their employer).
Common Firefighter Injuries
As firefighters often aren’t aware of the environment that they will find when turning up to a job, the incidence rate of injuries can be high. However, there are a variety of injuries that a firefighter can sustain during their service.
Routine Activity
Firefighters don’t constantly attend fire call outs, and many accidents occur during their everyday duties and training exercises, often not even leaving the fire station.
Due to the equipment that firefighters are expected to use, these incidents can include slips, trips and falls due to poor maintenance or lack of thought for firefighter work safety. As firefighters work with water, slips are one of the main injuries sustained while conducting routine activity or training.
Training is a huge part of a firefighter’s role, and it is essential that it is undertaken thoroughly and in-line with health and safety policy. It is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that all employees have undertaken the correct training and to the required standard.
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Tackling fires is a risky business for all involved, but obviously, it is more likely that a firefighter is going to sustain an injury while in the line of duty.
From smoke inhalation, burns, and breathing in dangerous dust, to working inside structurally unsafe buildings and working with dangerous chemicals and sometimes coming into contact with bio-hazardous material; there are many potential injuries and conditions which can affect the life of a firefighter if the risks have not been managed adequately.
As their employees are expected to perform duties under these conditions, it is the responsibility of the employer to provide all employees with the correct personal protective equipment for them to be able to carry out their duties with a reduced risk of injury.
For firefighters, the standard personal protective equipment kit includes
- A mask and respiratory equipment to protect the employee from inhaling harmful substances and protect the face from any flames or sparks.
- A hard hat to protect the employee from falling objects, especially in structurally unsafe conditions.
- Sturdy protective boots to protect the employee’s feet from intense heat and falling objects.
- Heat-resistant gloves to protect the employee’s hands from extreme heat, flames and chemical contact.
If you are a firefighter who has sustained an injury while in the line of duty, you may be able to claim compensation if you feel firefighter work safety was not adequately complied with.
To find out how to start your firefighter injury claim process today, get in touch with our team of experts today by calling us on 01772562084 or complete our firefighters injury at work compensation claim form below.