Work injury
Injuries at work are a common problem in the UK. Depending on the place of work, there are certain degrees of risks involved. It is required by the Health and Safety executive (HSE), in the Health and Safety etc Act that an employer has a duty to protect the employees wherever possible and make them aware of any possible risks coupled with health and safety issues. There are however, steps that can be taken to ensure the injury at work is dealt with in the best possible way:
Reporting accidents
If an employee is subjected to an injury at work, no matter how minor, it is vital that the accident is recorded. Some injuries may seem petty to report but there is always a chance that it can become more serious at a later date. Most companies will have an accident book which is where all the relevant details should be recorded. Some smaller companies will not have an accident book. If this is the case then two copies will need to be made comprising of brief details about the accident and also including the resulting injuries. Be sure to send one copy to the employer as soon as possible.
Reporting serious accidents
Some work injuries are of a much more severe nature. In this case it is the employer’s responsibility to report them to the Incident Contact Centre of the HSE. They must report:
- Death
- Major injuries
- Dangerous incidents, i.e. chemical leakage
- Any other injuries that may keep an employee away from work for more than 3 days
- Disease
Responsibility
In order to avoid injury at work, it is best to go about the workplace and complete the tasks at hand with good common sense and in the safest manner possible. The employer does have some responsibility towards health and safety. For example, the employer should have carried out risk assessments wherever needed. If any hazards were discovered and action could be taken to reduce the risk of injury at work, then appropriate action should have been taken by the employer to amend that. It is also the responsibility of the employer to appoint first aiders and also raise any awareness of possible risks or areas of concern within the workplace.
Action to be taken
If an employee has suffered an injury at work and believes it is the fault of another party, they may want to make a claim. It is suggested that they are represented by a solicitor that specialises in work injury compensation. Any claim wanted to be made for work injury must be done so within 3 years of the accident taking place.