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