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