Health and safety in the workplace are always important, but especially so in hazardous industries, to help prevent an accident at work. All employees are owed a duty of care from their employers to ensure their health and safety, including anyone who conducts work on the premises controlled or owned by the employer.
Employers’ duty towards health and safety is delineated in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Additional regulations were added in the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1992 and in The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Accidents at work, unfortunately, still occur and can result in injuries with long-term or lifelong consequences. Suffering an accident at work can be distressing, especially if it was caused due to your employer’s negligence.
Accident at Work: Employers’ Responsibilities
Your employer has the duty of providing a safe and healthy work environment, which includes:
- Adequate facilities for the welfare of employees at work.
- Providing a safe system of work.
- Informing employees about all potential safety hazards within work processes, activities, or chemical substances.
- Providing supervision, instruction, and training to all employees.
- Providing a safe place of work.
- Having a ‘competent person’ appointed to oversee safety risks.
- Carrying out regular risk assessments according to regulations and taking the proper steps to eliminate risks.
- Providing safe machinery, equipment, and facilities.
- Consulting with safety representatives in the workplace.
- Providing PPE and adequate equipment for works at height.
Accident at Work: What Should You Do?
If you were involved in an accident at work, there are a few steps you should take. You should make sure to report your accident by informing either your line manager or your supervisor, requesting that the accident is recorded in the Accident at Work book.
The description of the accident needs to be written down with your version of the accident and what happened, not your Line Manager’s or Supervisor’s. In addition, make sure to take photos of the scene of the accident, including any broken flooring or equipment, spillages, tripping hazards, or other relevant element.
Keep contact details of work colleagues; they can help to explain what happened to cause the accident and potentially serve as your witness. Should you have suffered a serious injury or if it lasts for more than just a few days, make sure to seek medical help and to keep all medical records.
Making a Compensation Claim for an Accident at Work
At The Claims Partnership, our team approaches every case with professionalism and compassion. We understand how damaging and distressing it can be to suffer an injury due to negligence and we’re here to help. Making a compensation claim may not be something you initially consider, but it can help you to cover any medical and treatment expenses.
We operate on a No Win, No Fee policy, guaranteeing that you don’t incur further expenses should you decide to make a claim and should you happen to not be awarded compensation. Contact us by giving our expert team a call on 01772 562084 or request a callback and we’ll be in touch.