How it works
Ask your question
Enter your details
Response to your question within 60 minutes *
Today our experts have replied to
Work Accidents and Industrial Injury
Despite everyone’s best intentions work accidents can happen but, by law, employers have to protect your health and safety in the workplace.
If you suffer an injury because of employer negligence then you may be entitled to make a claim for workers compensation.
Your responsibilities in the workplace include taking ‘reasonable care’ of your own and your fellow workmates well-being. Naturally, this will include complying with the employers’ health and safety procedures.
Your employer however must meet more specific guidelines.
Employers Responsibilities
• Monitor and maintain work practices (such as operating machinery) and assess risks involved in those work practices.
• Make sure that all equipment including plant and machinery are safe and that the equipment is regularly maintained.
• Provide all employees with adequate protective clothing.
• Keep an accident book and report any injuries to the relevant authority (usually the Health and Safety Executive).
• Provide first aid facilities and equipment.
• Ensure that noise and other pollution such as fumes are kept under control.
• Comply with fire regulations including safety, precautions including escape routes.
If you feel that your employer is failing to meet those guidelines than you are entitled to leave work until the problem is rectified.
Had a work accident?
If you suffer an injury or have any kind of workplace accident than the first thing you must do is report the incident to your employers.
Your employer must, by law, record the incident in the companies accident book but if, for whatever reason, there isn’t an accident book available than make sure you write down the details of the incident and hand a copy to your employer.
Make sure you keep a copy for yourself as a back-up should your employers copy be ‘mislaid.’
You should also see a doctor as soon as possible even if you don’t consider the injury you have suffered to be too serious.
A doctors report is essential if, further down the line, you wish to make a claim for workman’s compensation or sickness / welfare benefit.
Another thing that you should do if you have suffered an injury is to register the incident as an industrial injury with the DWP (Department of Work and Pensions).
Taking this step will be a great help should you need to make any claim in the future for industrial injury benefits.
Should you need more advice or would like to find out how to claim compensation, you can ask us a question in the box provided at the top of this page. We have claim experts waiting to hear from you who will give you free, confidential, no obligation advice within one hour.
No Obligation
100% Privacy Guaranteed
Response Within 60 Minutes
Free Service