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