Have you had an accident at work? Statistics from the Health & Safety Executive tell us there were over 600,000 accidents at work in Great Britain in 2023/24.

An employer has a duty to take reasonable care of its employees. An employer must provide:

• A safe place to work
• Safe work equipment
• A safe system of work
• Safe working practices

There are also workplace regulations that place duties on an employer. These include ensuring it has sufficient risk assessments, provides efficient Personal Protective Equipment, implement suitable training, and provides an adequate workplace environment.  A workplace can include shops, warehouses, construction sites, offices and off-site locations.

Accidents can arise due to the following non-exhaustive list of reasons:

• A fall from height (whether a fall from scaffolding, a ladder or equipment)
• Slip or trip on uneven flooring or stairs
• Defective work equipment
• Repetitive strain injury
• Lack of manual handling training and heavy lifting  
• Exposure to Asbestos
• Faulty machinery
• Electric shocks
• Chemical burns

The burden of proving a claim falls with the person claiming, known as the Claimant. Evidence is important in establishing an employer’s negligence. Helpful steps that can be undertaken include:

• Reporting the accident to your employer or site manager
• Signing an accident form once you are happy with the content, and keeping a copy where possible
• Where safe to do so, taking photographs of the cause of the accident, the accident location (this can be off-site), defective work equipment and/or PPE
• Taking the contact information of witnesses

Workplace accidents are often very serious, and it is important that legal advice is sought from the outset. We will seek to implement early rehabilitation to focus on recovery. Thereafter medical evidence is obtained from independent experts to confirm what injuries the accident has caused, and what the long-term implications of those injuries may be. Financial losses are also assessed, taking into consideration any impact on future earning capacity.

We know that accident claims can be stressful, often impacting on family life and finances. If you have been involved in an accident at work, please contact our personal injury team for a no-obligation initial consultation.