Injuries in the Workplace Explained

If you have been injured in an accident in the workplace or have contracted an illness due to conditions at your job, you may be able to make a compensation claim. 

Employer’s Legal Responsibility

All employers have a duty of care towards their staff. If it can be proven that a duty of care was breached by the employer which caused injury, then you are likely to be successful in a personal injury claim. Therefore, it is important to be able to prove that your employer is at fault for the injuries you have sustained. 

An employer’s legal responsibility is to provide employees with a safe and secure workplace where they are free from health and safety risks. This includes providing adequate training about how to complete the job role and use equipment. Training should also be given on how to handle potentially hazardous materials or heavy items if necessary, as well as providing personal protective equipment like masks if necessary. 

Causes of Accidents in the Workplace

Unsafe Premises

One of the main aspects of your employer’s responsibility to ensure your safety is to create a safe working environment. For example, floors should not be left wet without adequate sign placement to highlight that the floor is wet after cleaning. Similarly, raised titles, steps or other surfaces can also raise the potential for a slip, trip and fall accident which means it is important that your employer safeguards against these factors. 

An Unsafe System of Work or Lack of Proper Training

As an employee, you deserve to be able to carry out your work duties with the knowledge that you are safe. If you can’t and this causes injury, you should be able to make a claim. For example, if your work involves a lot of heavy lifting then you should have been fully trained by your employer so that you know how to safely conduct such tasks. If this sort of training has not been provided by your employer and you are injured while completing your job role, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Unsuitable or Faulty Equipment

If you use equipment to complete your job role then it is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that this equipment is working properly. If you suffer an accident due to your employer’s failure to safely do this, then this negligence could form the basis of a compensation claim. Even if the equipment has been supplied by a third party, it is still the responsibility of your employer to make sure that the equipment is working properly. In addition, they should also ensure that you have the correct equipment to carry out your job role. For example, if you are required to move heavy objects as part of your job in a workplace, they should provide a trolley or a similar form of transport for objects that are too heavy for humans to safely carry.

Incompetent Staff

Your employer must make sure that they employ staff who are competent and able to do the required job role as failure to do so could place others in danger. Therefore, even if the accident was caused by the behaviour of your colleague, you could be able to make a claim against your employer.

Making a Claim

There is a three-year time limit for most personal injury cases, beginning on the date of your accident, and so it is important that you contact a personal injury solicitor as soon as you feel able. Compensation is calculated by assessing the pain and suffering caused by an injury, as well as understanding the loss of amenity or function that this accident has caused. Compensation also takes into account financial loss, such as a loss of income due to being unable to work.

For a better understanding of the amount of compensation that is usually awarded for certain injury types, visit our compensation calculator. 

Making Personal Injury Claims

If you have suffered an injury at work due to someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury solicitors are available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve. 

First Personal Injury works with both families and individuals across England and Wales, leading them on their legal journey and helping them claim compensation after an accident or injury. 

To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0800 808 9740 or contact us online. 

Explore: Personal Injury Resources