It is a simple fact that employers are responsible for the safety of their employees. In the UK the Health and Safety Executive has been set up to ensure that employers know exactly what their responsibilities are. As the workplace can be a dangerous place and accidents can and do happen, it is very important to ensure that employers are doing their utmost to minimise the risks. If they are failing to meet their Health and Safety directives and an accident occurs then you as an employee are fully within your rights to make a claim against your employer. Accidents can be slight but unfortunately they can also be extremely serious and have lasting consequences. The money rewarded through a workplace compensation claim can make your life more bearable if something unfortunate happens.
Under the HSE legislation, it is the employer s responsibility to ensure that their workplace is a safe one, that risk assessments are carried out and that staff are suitably trained. If there is machinery present then it is also the employer s responsibility to ensure that that machinery is as safe as possible and that safety equipment such as goggles and gloves are readily available. Dangerous chemicals and materials must also be identified and stored in a safe place. Workers also need to be consulted on health and safety issues and made fully aware of the risks relevant to their specific workstation.
One of the most important factors in helping to avoid accidents is through staff training. Employees must be trained so that they are aware of the risks and that they can take responsibility for their own health and safety and the safety of those around them. They must be made aware that it is vital for them to co operate with their employer in all matters of health and safety. They must also be trained in the proper use of safety equipment. It is also important for employers to assign certain health and safety roles such as first aiders and people who can carry out risk assessments in their local working environment.
Unfortunately some employers are still not meeting all the criteria when it comes to health and safety issues and some work places can be extremely hazardous. Other employers carry out all of the necessary checks and safety measures and an accident still happens. Any working environment can be unsafe and have its own specific risks. Some of the most common accidents that occur are slips and trips, falls, back injures, repetitive strain injures and injuries caused through the incorrect use of equipment through lack of proper training. If you suffer from any of these at work, then you are fully within your rights to report the incident.
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 states that employers must report any specified workplace incidents. This can be done over the phone or even online through the HSE website. If you suffer an accident at work you should report it at once. If it is serious and could have been avoided then you may also wish to seek legal representation. It is important that you approach a specialist solicitor who is well versed in health and safety law and aware of the issues surrounding such claims.
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