Preventing & Compensating Injury At Work

By Author: Jamie Hanson
Total Articles: 3534
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Whether fulltime or part-time, agency staff or contractual, workers have a right to work in a safe environment. Though the employer is primarily responsible for the safety and health of the workers, the employees too have an obligation to take care of their health and safety. Those workers who are concerned about safety and health issues at workplaces generally stay safer and healthy than those who don't.

It is the duty of the employer to provide a safe and healthy environment at the workplace to the workers. The employer should carry out a risk assessment of the workplace along with the type of work to be done, and also maintain an official record of the assessment detailing the risks of health and safety. Further, it should also be recorded as to how the employer plans to deal with the risks of health and safety as assessed.

There are employers who are not so meticulous in dealing with matters of safety and health at workplaces and allow dangerous practices and procedures to be followed. The most common dangerous practices followed at workplaces resulting in injury at work are enumerated below:

- Instead ...
... of a pair of ladders using tables, chairs or other objects to reach height
- Not securing ladders and step ladders, thereby allowing slippage
- Being forced to use ladder due to non availability of scaffolding and platforms
- Adopting unsuitable methods and tools for the job on hand
- Untrained or partially trained workers handling dangerous machinery
- Carrying or moving heavy objects without proper equipment or training
- Workers operating dangerous machinery without suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Workers in unclean workplace are susceptible to slipping and tripping hazards
- Failing to properly illuminate working areas and separation of traffic areas
- Exposure of workers to dangerous chemicals and substances
- Failure to carry out fresh risk assessments after accidents or receipt of complaints

If any worker suffers a personal injury at work due to any of the above-mentioned unsafe practices, then the worker is entitled to make an injury at work compensation claim.

To claim compensation for personal injury at work you need certain evidence to prove that the injuries are the consequence of an accident or faulty working practice at the workplace. This evidence can be the accident record book, previous instances of similar accidents, ambulance attendance at the accident site, witnesses present at the time of occurrence, and any other proof. These evidences will help you prove that the injuries suffered were due to the negligence of the employer.

These days, the soaring levels of compensation for injury at work have added pressure on the employees. They are compelled to ensure the working environment is safe, as insurance costs have increased. An employer should not take the compensation claim by a worker, personally. An injury at work compensation is not a punitive action against the employer. The employee receives compensation, for the physical and mental pain, lost wages, time of work, future health problems arising out of the injury.

Injury at work is very critical and claim has to be according to Injury at work and the best advice is available at first4lawyers.com