| If you have recently suffered a workplace | | | | much as it is possible, employers should avoid |
| industrial injury then there is a chance that the | | | | employees needing to undertake manual handling |
| accident just put your career on the line. Yet less | | | | operations at work that involve an element of |
| than 1 in 10 people injured in an industrial accident | | | | risk; |
| in the UK will claim for compensation from their | | | | - The Personal Protective Equipment at Work |
| employers or the state. | | | | Regulations (1992): which requires employers to |
| So, is it the case in Britain that we don't like to | | | | provide employees with adequate protective |
| sue our employers or the state for compensation | | | | clothing if they are exposed to any risk (such as |
| following a workplace injury, or is it that we are | | | | protective glasses); and |
| simply not aware of what our rights are? | | | | - The Provision and Use of Work Equipment |
| Employers' Duty | | | | Regulations (1998): under which employers are |
| Although there are protections in place for | | | | required to ensure that equipment used by their |
| employees for many years such as employers | | | | employees is fit for the purpose. |
| should comply with a general duty towards the | | | | Industrial Injury Solicitor |
| level of health and safety standards in a | | | | Having said that there are adequate provisions in |
| workplace. It was only following Britain's entry into | | | | place to protect employees in the case of any |
| the European Union that these laws became more | | | | workplace injury. Unfortunately lots of employers |
| than a toothless tiger and started to bite back. | | | | in the UK are either unaware of their duty of |
| Today, employers have a duty to ensure that | | | | care or simply refuse to comply with it. |
| your overall safety in the workplace is free from | | | | In such circumstances, while there will almost |
| the risk of an accident injury by ensuring: | | | | certainly be a case for industrial injury |
| - that they employ competent co-workers to | | | | compensation, to ensure that your rights as an |
| work with you; | | | | employee are adequately being protected and |
| - that they provide you with adequate materials; | | | | that you receive fair and impartial advice on what |
| - that the equipment you use complies with | | | | your rights are under the relevant laws. You |
| safety requirements; | | | | should seek the advice of an industrial injury |
| - that you are provided with protective clothing (if | | | | solicitor following an industrial accident. |
| needed); and | | | | Even in circumstances where you are on good |
| - that proper training and adequate supervision be | | | | terms with your employer, if you want to make |
| provided to minimise the risk of any workplace | | | | sure that your industrial injury claim will |
| injury. | | | | compensate you to the maximum you are |
| Industrial Accident Claim | | | | allowed under the law, you should ask an industrial |
| Such is the scope of the UK and EU law, it | | | | injury lawyer for his advice and assistance in |
| protects employees from an industrial accident. If | | | | handling your case. |
| you do need to make an industrial injury claim you | | | | Keep in mind that the solicitor will have your best |
| will probably be fighting under one of these | | | | interests at heart, whereas your employer will |
| legislations: | | | | have the company's best interests at heart. |
| - The Management of Health and Safety at Work | | | | Ensure To Pursue With An Accident Claim |
| Regulations (1992): which imposes a requirement | | | | Finally, if you are in an unfortunate position to be |
| that employers make an assessment of any | | | | recovering from a work injury and are considering |
| foreseeable risk of exposure to a workplace | | | | your options as to whether or not to bring a |
| injury and if such a risk exists to take action to | | | | claim against your employer, remember that you |
| prevent such; | | | | owe your employer nothing, whereas your |
| - The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) | | | | employer owed you a duty to ensure you don't |
| Regulations (1992): which imposes a duty on | | | | get injured at work! |
| employers to ensure the safety of their | | | | What's more, if you don't make a claim for |
| employees with respect to the maintenance of | | | | industrial injury compensation, do you really |
| the workplace, its ventilation, temperature, lighting, | | | | believe that 5 years down the road from now |
| etc.; | | | | your employer is going to remember who you |
| - The Manual Handling Operations Regulations | | | | are as you struggle by on benefits? |
| (1992): which imposes a requirement that, in as | | | | |