There’s no escaping from the fact that accidents can and do happen at work. Every year thousands of people suffer workplace accidents and while many of these are fortunately minor, some people are left severely injured.
Every employer has a legal duty to ensure that your workplace is safe but they can’t predict every eventuality and sometimes things go wrong. Many work accidents are avoidable and it is worth identifying the causes of the most common accidents and what can be done to prevent them.
5. Machinery Accidents
Many people are injured whilst operating or being hit by workplace machinery. This may involve an accident whilst using a power tool, being struck by a forklift truck or being involved in a road traffic accident when driving as part of your job. Many of these accidents could be avoided with the correct training for the use of machinery and tools. With regard to moving vehicles, the Health and Safety Executive advise that every workplace should be well organised so that both pedestrians and vehicles can circulate safely and without the risk of coming into contact with each other.
Our Head of Department, Jonathan Stittle is currently acting for a local man who was lucky not to lose all the fingers on one of his hands following an accident involving a cutting machine. We recently settled a claim for a woman who was electrocuted as a result of her employers providing her with a defective lead for a laptop that she was required to use.
4. Over- Extension/ Repetitive Strain Injury
Anything from typing and staring at a screen all day to heavy lifting can cause muscle strain or tendon damage. With these injuries symptoms often take some time to materialise and can be long lasting. It is therefore vital that you don’t ignore any aches and pains. Report your symptoms to your employers straight away so that action can be taken to reduce the risk of injury.
One of our clients from West Yorkshire received compensation running to six figures after she suffered severe injuries to both hands as a result of her assembling small machinery parts for many years.
3. Falls From Height
The majority of deaths that occur in the workplace are the result of someone falling from height. They are among the most serious work accidents. It is therefore essential that anybody who has to climb ladders, scaffolding or any other equipment receives the proper training in how to do so safely. Jonathan Stittle is currently representing a man who is likely to be permanently disabled after a fall from defective scaffolding.
2. Slips, Trips and Falls
These are the second most common type of workplace accident. Usually slip, trip and fall accidents are the result of someone’s negligence, such as an object being left in the way or a wet floor. Such accidents can often be avoided by keeping walkways clear and the use of wet floor signs when necessary. Our Associate Solicitor, John Green, is currently acting for a lady who works for a large, well-known restaurant chain. She tripped over a carelessly placed sweeping brush at the end of her shift and dislocated her elbow.
1. Lifting
Lifting heavy objects is by far the most common cause of accidents at work. Back pain is the most common injury caused by lifting and can range from minor to severe. These injuries are often the result of inadequate manual handling training and people attempting to lift an item that is too heavy. John Green is acting for a man who was left to move a shipping container full of fire doors and who fractured vertebrae in his spine when he twisted whilst lifting.
If you have any type of accident at work it is important to notify your employer as soon as possible and to ensure that the accident is formally recorded in the Accident Book. You should also consult your GP or attend your local hospital in order to get timely medical advice. The record of your attendance together with the Accident Book entry will also provide evidence to back up any claim you may need to make.
If you believe your employer is at fault for your accident you may be entitled to claim compensation. If you would like advice about this, please call us on 0114 218 4000 or email info@tayloremmet.co.uk.
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