Figures released recently by the Health and Safety Executive recently have highlighted the fact too many workers are still suffering injuries in the workplace that could have been avoided. Even though the UK is one of the safest places to work in Europe, there is still a significant amount that can be done to improve working conditions and safety within the workplace.

Employers in the UK are governed by both regulation and the common law duty of care, there is heavy emphasis on risk assessment. In general terms, an employer is responsible for ensuring that its employees can carry out their work safely – whether this be by providing adequate safety equipment on a construction site or providing competent fellow employees.

In recent weeks, a Cheshire building firm has been fined after a plasterer fell three metres on a construction site and broke his back – an investigation by the HSE found that they had failed to make sure adequate guard rails were in place on the first floor of the six bedroomed house to prevent an accident of this kind occurring.

Further statistics released by the HSE show that in 2013/14, over 28 million working days were lost in the UK as a result of a workplace injury or work related illness – this in turn costs the economy an estimated £14.2 billion. This surely begs the question…..why aren’t employers being proactive instead of reactive? These statistics are sure to act as a glaring reminder to employers about what health and safety in the workplace is really about and will push for a dramatic change to prevent catastrophic accidents of this kind occurring in the future.

What do I do if I have been involved in an Accident at Work?

If you have had an accident in the workplace, it is vital that you report the accident and make sure that the accident is reported to your manager and that it is recorded in the accident book. It is then vital that you seek medical attention for your injuries and contact one our experienced team who will provide you with a free claim assessment.

If you have suffered an accident and require legal advice please don’t hesitate to contact Farleys’ personal injury team on 0845 050 1958 or email us today.