Following our blog last week on the changes to RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations), one of the responses we received asked; “How do I report an accident at work?" whilst another prompted "Just how many accidents at work are there anyway?" - so, we thought we'd answer these and some other questions around the reporting of accidents at work.
It’s important to remember that while you’re at work your employer has a legal duty to protect you (this is called “duty of care”) and to make you aware of any health and safety issues that may affect you. Under RIDDOR they also have a legal responsibility to report certain accidents and incidents.
Unfortunately accidents at work are not rare, the most recent HSE (Health and Safety Executive) figures for 2011/2012 showed:
- 1.1 million working people suffering from a work-related illness
- 172 workers killed at work
- 111 000 other injuries at work were reported under RIDDOR
- 212 000 over-3-day absence injuries occurred (LFS)
- 27 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury
- Workplace injuries and ill health (excluding cancer) cost society an estimated £13.4 billion in 2010/11
All injuries sustained at work should be recording in the company’s accident book, regardless of how minor how they may seem. An accident book provides a useful record of what happened for both the employer and employee; it helps the employer see if there are reoccurring injuries where action needs to be taken and ensures there’s a record for the employee if they need time off work or to make a claim for compensation.
Under RIDDOR an employer has a duty to report certain work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous incidents to Health and Safety department at the local authority. These include deaths, major injuries (for example broken bones), dangerous incidents (like a scaffolding collapse), people overcome by gas and any other injury that stops an employee from doing their normal work for more than three days. If you were involved in an incident, it's a good idea to make sure that it’s been reported correctly.
What to do if You Have an Accident at Work?
- Ensure you record any injury in the 'accident book'
- Ensure your employer has reported it to the Health and Safety Executive (if appropriate)
- Take pictures of the incident
- Seak Medical Attention
It’s a good idea to visit your GP (or A&E depending on the severity of the injury) to ensure there is a medical record of your injuries. This is particularly important if you are considering making a claim for work accident compensation.
If an employer has failed to carry out proper risk assessments, or follow correct health and safety protocol and someone is injured as a result of negligence then that person has the right to make a claim for compensation. A claim must usually be made within three years of the date of the accident; although there are some exceptions such as late diagnosis of an illness (see post on valid claims checklist).
We Can Help
If you, a friend or a member of your family, have suffered due to an accident at work then you may be entitled to make a personal injury compensation claim. Our friendly specialist advisors can talk to you about your situation and see if you have a valid compensation claim. There is no charge for this service and you are under no obligation to claim with us.
If you Have a Genuine Claim, Contact a Genuine Company
May I Claim, is a trading name of R Costings Limited and our CRM number is 25770
If you’ve had an accident that wasn’t your fault and suffered an injury - you can trust us to handle your claim professionally.
Call us now on 0800 756 7774 and talk to us to find out if you have a claim - or fill in our Quick Claim form (on the right of this page).
http://info.mayiclaim.co.uk/personal_injury_compensation_claim_news/bid/317828/How-Many-Accidents-at-Work-are-There-The-Numbers-May-Surprise-You
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