It is estimated that one million people in the UK suffer injury in their workplace and the majority of those could have been avoided. Here are only a few types of accidents that commonly occur in the workplace:
Slips and Falls
One slip or trip occurs every 3 minutes!
The most common type of accidents at work involve slip and fall situations. In fact, studies conclude that it could be as high as one third of incidents overall. In a vast number of these the accident has occurred in wet or contaminated conditions and most trips are put down to bad housekeeping where substances are left on a floor, there are obstructions or the flooring has been poor.
You may have slipped or fallen recently and thought that it was minor, but this may result in head injuries, broken bones and major fractures to limbs.
Your employer has a duty to ensure that the flooring where you work is suitable and that any worn flooring is replaced, if there is any ice outside, it must be cleared and the area gritted. Cables should not be lying on the ground so to cause an obstruction and tripping hazard, floors should be cleaned regularly using appropriate cleaning materials and areas that are temporarily wet or slippery must be clearly marked and hazard signs displayed. These are only a few of your employer’s duties of which you should be aware.
Lifting and Carrying – Manual Handling
Yet again, around one third of all accidents in the workplace arise as a result of manual handling!
Manual handling relates to any job where you are lifting, lowering, pushing, pulling, carrying, moving, holding or restraining an object, animal or person. The majority of injuries are muscular disorders to backs, although strains to hands, arms, feet, tendons and also the heart are reported each year.
The most common injury associated with lifting injuries is back pain. It is said that up to 5 million working days are lost due to back pain every year!
Manual handling is a skill that you should have been trained in prior to starting your job. If you have not received training you are at risk of causing yourself an injury to your neck, back, arms or legs.
Incorrect manual handling can occur across a number of occupations including shop workers, warehouse operatives, construction sites and even in offices and on farms.
You need to ensure that if you are carrying anything it should not be carried over long distances, your job should not require extensive twisting, stooping or reaching upwards, your job should not require any strenuous pushing or pulling.
Electrical Accidents
Every year workers lose their lives as a result of suffering from an electric shock in the workplace!
This is not only electricians or employees who work with electrical equipment in general, electrical burns are also a common cause of injury. Your employer should ensure that any electrical equipment you use is well designed, appropriate for your job and well maintained, you should be fully trained and given proper warnings of any electrical hazards that may exist. Your employer must provide you with equipment that has safety cut out devices.
Fallen from a height?
Falling from height holds the highest fatality rate within work injuries.
Window cleaners, construction workers, roofers – basically anyone who has a job that involves working up ladders, on platforms or on scaffolding all face increased risk.
Injured whilst working on a building site?
Building sites are undoubtedly one of the most dangerous places to work.
Your employer must comply with many workplace regulations to protect you but unfortunately many employers don’t and cutting costs or a lack of understanding could result in you being injured.
Working in a restaurant?
Many restaurants have issues with employees being burned in the kitchens or slipping. This occurs frequently because the people who work in the kitchens of most restaurants, especially fast food, are not professionals and are not thinking initially about safety.
Have you had an Accident at Work?
Your employer has a duty to you to ensure that you do not work in an environment that is unsafe. If you have been involved in an accident at work, contact one of our specialist personal injury solicitors who will be able to offer advice.
