Accident at Work

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Can I claim compensation for my workplace injury?

12Aug

Every year, thousands of people are injured during the course of their work. Workers can be injured in any occupation and the nature and extent of the injuries can vary dramatically. If you have suffered an injury at work that wasn’t your fault, you may be able to submit a claim for compensation. You must submit your claim within three years of the accident or within three years of when your injury became “complaint worthy.” The amount of compensation that you may be entitled to will depend on the extent of your injury and the level of negligence of your employer.

HSE fatal work accident statistics indicate employers still have work to do

09Aug

Statistics from the HSE for 2010/11 indicate that the number of fatal work accidents has risen since 2009/10 from 147 to 171. This is lower than the average from the past 5 years, which is 205 but there is still lots to be done. A TUC survey has indicated that safety reps in UK workplaces have stress as their primary concern, followed by bullying and harassment and then other work accidents such as back strain and slips, trips and falls. If you have been involved in a work accident, speak to a solicitor about the possibility of making a claim for compensation.

Case Study: Negligence of an employer – Gillian’s accident

08Aug

Read on for a case study on an accident at work claim arising from the negligence of an employer. In the case, Macks personal injury team were able to secure £5,500 in compensation for our client, Gillian.

Case Study: Negligence of our client’s employers

08Aug

Read on for a case study on a work accident claim arising from the negligence of our client’s employers. In the case Macks Personal Injury Team were able to secure £11,000 in compensation for our client James.

Case Study: Fall at height from a set of ladders

08Aug

Read on for a case study on an accident at work claim arising from a fall at height from a set of ladders. In the case, Macks’ accidents at work claims specialists were able to secure £50,000 in compensation for our client Michael.

Seeking compensation in industrial injury claims

07Aug

Each year, over a million people suffer from work-related injury or illness and in 2009/10, 152 people were killed at work. If you have been injured at work as a result of your employer’s negligence, you may be able to make a claim for compensation. Employers have a legal responsibility to take steps to protect workers from work-related injury and illness. This includes undertaking thorough risk assessments, providing protective equipment and ensuring machinery is safe to use. If you would like advice about claiming compensation, speak to Macks Solicitors. They have many years of experience and are experts in this area.

Risk of industrial injuries higher in first six months

05Aug

Statistics indicate that workers have a doubled risk of industrial injuries in the first six months of employment. In fact, workers are about as likely to have an accident in the first six months as during the whole of the rest of their working life. This additional risk may be because workers are unfamiliar with a new workplace, they may lack experience in that area of work or they may keep quiet about potential hazards because they want to impress new colleagues. Employers need to take steps to protect workers from dangers in the workplace from their very first day.

Does the UK have a work injuries compensation culture?

04Aug

The Association of British Insurers published figures in 2005 which indicated that around 60,000 people receive compensation from their employers every year. Government statistics indicate that a further 20,000 people a year receive Industrial Injuries benefit, which is a ‘no fault’ compensation scheme provided by the government. As a percentage of the total number of illnesses and injuries every year, this figure is quite low. In 2009/10, there were 555,000 cases of new work illnesses and 233,000 reportable work injuries. Concerns that the UK is developing a ‘compensation culture’ where compensation is awarded to undeserving cases seem unfounded.

Injured at work after ladder accident

03Aug

According to HSE figures, there are 12 fatalities a year, on average, as a result of falls from ladders at work. An additional 1,200 workers suffer major injuries. Ladders are the most common agent involved in work injuries and account for more than a quarter of all falls from height. Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injuries at work and also cause a significant number of major injuries and over-three-day injuries. Steps can be taken to make working with ladders safer. Employers need to provide suitable equipment and make sure workers are trained. Employees need to check equipment and work safely.

Government cuts threaten to increase workplace injuries

02Aug

In October 2010, the government announced cuts to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) and to local authorities. These cuts mean that there will be fewer visits to workplaces and a lower capacity to provide guidance to employers. The Young Review, published in 2010, has also been called a “missed opportunity” by the TUC. It focuses on areas where health and safety rules have been used unnecessarily rather than focusing on reducing injuries and fatalities. These two factors have raised concerns that the number of injuries and fatalities occurring in British workplaces will increase rather than decrease in the near future.

Injury or illness at work: Making an accident at work claim for compensation

01Aug

very year, thousands of people are injured at work or suffer an illness as a result of their work. The different types of injury and illness that they suffer vary dramatically. An injury is usually the result of a single incident, such as a fall. An illness may not be attributable to a single cause and may have built up over time, such as stress. In 2009/10, work-related ill health was the cause of more days taken off work than work injuries. The employer may be considered negligent if the injury or illness was ‘foreseeable;’ that is if they should have known the risks and could have done something to reduce them.

Personal injury at work blinds welder

29Jul

The eyes are extremely complicated and delicate. If they are damaged, this can result in partial or complete blindness. Manual occupations such as construction have a higher risk of injury to the eye. Eyes can be damaged by foreign objects, by a blow to the eye or by an explosion. Scratches or grazes to the cornea (also known as corneal abrasions) affect about 3 in 1,000 people every year in the UK. It is important that workers at risk from foreign objects entering their eyes, eg. splinters, are given adequate eye protection. If an employer fails to protect their workers, they may be considered negligent.

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