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Work Accident And Industrial Injury

Despite everyone’s best intentions a work accident can always happen but, by law, employers have to protect your health and safety in the workplace.

If they are negligent in doing that and you suffer an injury because of that negligence then you may be entitled to make a claim for workers compensation.

You also have some responsibilities in the workplace which is basically to take ‘reasonable care’ of your own and your fellow workmates health. Naturally, this also includes complying with the employers health and safety procedures.

Your employer however must meet more specific guidelines.

work accident and industrial injury

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.

In reality of course, with job security paramount amongst our concerns, an employee is highly unlikely to take any such action.

Which is possibly why, even in this age of health and safety legislation, why so many us still suffer injury from a work accident. 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 workmans 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