Preventing Accidents at Work

Health knocked out in the workplace? Here’s what to do

You’ve scoffed all the vitamins, minerals, 15-minute-a-day workouts and nutritious goodness you can pack into your day. You’ve taken every precaution – but if you slip, trip or fall in your workplace, all that healthy living won’t mean a thing.

Just picture the scene – you’re wandering blithely through your office when, all of a sudden, BANG! You trip over a long snaking electrical cord and, in the impact of the fall, you feel the sharp, bristling pain of your shinbone snapping.

It’d be nice to think that this was an isolated incident, a grim flight of fancy from an imaginary workplace. But it isn’t – in 2012/13 there were more than 78,000 accidents in the workplace, according to government figures.

If your health has been compromised, you need to seek reparations pronto. This is where the hard part comes in. As you sit at home in a plaster cast, you’ll probably see a slew of adverts on the telly asking, “HAVE YOU HAD AN ACCIDENT IN YOUR WORKPLACE?”

While they might seem like dodgy lo-fi commercials, these are the people you need to ask if you want to seek a claim against your employer.

The process

So phone a personal injury claim lawyer and let them know about your accident. Once you’ve given them the details, they’ll decide if your case has a leg to stand on.

After this, it’s time for your solicitor and yourself to do some sleuthing. You’ll both have to collect as much evidence as possible. CCTV footage, doctor’s reports, witness statements, the emotional and monetary impact of the accident – every minute piece of evidence could prove crucial.

You’ve seen those crime shows like Johnathan Creek and Law and Order. It’s always the smallest slither of proof that acts as the linchpin for a case, so leave no stone unturned.

Once you’ve got enough of a case, your representation will go through the courts and send your employer a letter informing them of the case. If your boss want to settle out of court, then you’re set. If not, then it’s a trip to the gavels with you all.

Realistically, your best bet at this stage is to put your trust fully in your solicitor. They know the system in and out, and could make or break your case.

It can be a tense affair, but the important thing to remember is that unsafe workplaces can’t be tolerated. For the sake of the 78,000 people injured last year, make your claim count.