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Christmas Accidents: most common accidents in and around the home over the festive period

Posted on 3rd December 2021 by Jonathon

It’s the most wonderful time of the year once again – the Christmas decorations are going up and everyone’s getting into the festive mood. But from troubles with the turkey to accidents on ice, sadly, the festive period gets its fair share of accidents to go along with the joy.

In order to find out just which accidents are most common over the Christmas period, and which British city is the most accident-prone with the tinsel, we decided to ask the nation what their most common accidents were over Christmas.

We asked 1,000 people of all ages, gender, ethnicity, and jobs across the UK to fill in a questionnaire asking them about the injuries they might have suffered over Christmas. With our data in hand, we were able to calculate the most common accidents that occurred and the percentage of people unlucky enough to experience them.

The most common Christmas accidents across the UK

To anyone who’s out and about on those frosty December mornings, one thing everyone keeps an eye out for is ice. Yet we can’t spot every patch, so it might come as little surprise that the top accident found on our survey was slipping on ice.

In fact, 23% of those we surveyed said that they’d suffered an injury due to icy conditions, especially in Belfast and Sheffield where 35% and 33% of those we asked have had some form of slip.

After ice came the accident that no doubt everyone expected, with 21% of those we asked burnt their hand while cooking the Christmas dinner. According to our survey, Londoners are most guilty of this, with a full 30% of them having to run their hand under a cold tap at some point in the day.

Putting up Christmas decorations is often a highlight for many people, but it’s also an activity that takes the third spot on our list. 15% of Brits we asked have suffered some sort of injury as a result of decking the halls. Manchester is the worst culprit for this with 27% of people suffering a decorating related injury in the home, compared to the 23% of Mancunians who slip on ice.

Moving down our list we find that even decorating the Christmas tree can be hazardous, as 12% of those we asked have found out. It would seem that Londoners are particularly prone to this with 20% of them bashing a bauble or tripping on tinsel.

Finally, the fifth most common UK accident to make the cut is injuring yourself in the kitchen while chopping food for Christmas dinner. 11% of those we asked have injured themselves in some way while prepping the veg, particularly in Newcastle and Nottingham where roughly 13% of residents end up accidentally nicking themselves.

Of course, while these might be the top 5 most common accidents suffered, they’re by no means the only ones. 15% of those we asked in Belfast and Birmingham have hurt themselves while wrapping gifts, while 10% of those in Bristol got caught up in the melee of last-minute Christmas shopping. We also saw injuries relating to dancing, attending Christmas parties, and even lighting candles.

Christmas might be fun, but it can also be incredibly stressful

In a lot of cases, accidents that happen at Christmas are just that – accidents. But accidents themselves can be caused by a variety of factors. While it’s important we relax and spend time with the family over the festive season, it’s also important to understand how stressful it can be.

Shockingly, 50% of those we surveyed said they feel much more stressed over Christmas, and 61% said they found themselves rushing to do things – something that only increases the chance of accidents occurring. People in Edinburgh are the most stressed at 64%, but Liverpool is where people are rushing around for those last-minute finishing touches with a staggering 75% of those we surveyed falling into this category.

Many people also find their house is much messier over Christmas. On the whole, 60% of those we asked said the clutter builds up, with 73% of those in Sheffield struggling to find time to tidy up properly. And no part of Christmas is more stressful than the cooking. 45% of those we asked said they feel the pressure of cooking a Christmas dinner and 22% said they burnt the turkey due to everything else going on around them.

Unfortunately, while many of these accidents might seem minor, sometimes they do lead to a trip to the emergency room. While not overly common, 20% of people have had to take a friend or family member to A&E over the Christmas period and 15% of people have been to A&E for one reason or another, with people in Sheffield finding themselves visiting A&E more than any other city.

Christmas is the time of festive celebration and goodwill to all, but we shouldn’t forget that our rush to get everything done can lead to us and those around us getting injured. So, when you’re getting together with the family this year, consider slowing things down and finding more time to unwind. After all, isn’t spending time with the family more important than rushing to make sure everything’s perfect?

Here at The Compensation Experts, we can help you get the compensation you deserve for any personal injuries you suffer. If you’ve been injured over Christmas, either at work or at home, due to someone else’s negligence, get in touch and we’ll see if you’re eligible to make a claim.

Christmas Shopping Accidents

Posted on 2nd December 2021 by Jonathon

Now that it’s December, there is one event that is on many people’s minds: Christmas. Whilst the festive season makes many people happy, it can also cause stress, which may lead to accidents. One of the main areas where accidents can be common is whilst Christmas shopping. There are several elements which combine to create extra risk at Christmas, including winter weather, stress and rushing about. And now that we can go into shops again, the number of Christmas shopping accidents that happen annually may be on the up.

Common Christmas Shopping Accidents

Two of the most common areas of Christmas shopping accidents are accidents in shops and accidents on the road.

Accidents in Shops

Most accidents that happen during the festive period do so in shops. This can be due to health and safety issues, inadequate staffing, or the fault of other members of the public. Shops have a duty of care, set out in the Occupier’s Liability Act 1984, to ensure that no one is injured whilst on their premises.

This is especially important during the festive period, as the number of shoppers increases. Businesses and shop owners, at this time, must take even more care to make sure no one has an accident. This includes making sure there are adequate members of staff in to deal with the increased footfall and making sure they have the correct training to deal with the numbers.

Accidents on the Road

There can also be accidents during the festive period before you even enter a shop. There are many accidents that happen on the roads and in car parks too. Causes of these accidents can include speeding, driving carelessly, and drivers fighting for parking spaces.

The Christmas period causes many drivers to drive more recklessly on the roads, with drivers speeding and not concentrating. According to Department for Transport statistics, the Christmas period contains some of the days when the most crashes happen on UK roads. This is likely due to the rush of shoppers.

How to Avoid Common Christmas Shopping Accidents

There are certain things you can do to avoid Christmas shopping accidents. These include:

Try to shop at quieter times to avoid the largest crowds
Ensure that you are not straining your back by carrying too much
Stay calm and don’t rush – stress can also contribute to accidents
Stay aware of your surroundings- a major cause of accidents in shops is falling objects

If you are worried about having an accident during the festive period, or if you are feeling stressed, then online shopping may be more beneficial than going to a physical store. If you are in a store and you notice potential hazards, report them to a member of staff in the store. This can help keep everyone safe.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes Christmas shopping accidents. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Employees Sustain Serious Burns at Work in Explosion at Vehicle Servicing Centre

Posted on 29th November 2021 by Jonathon

According to recent reports by the HSE, a company in Birmingham has been fined after two employees sustained serious burns at work. It happened when flammable brake fluid ignited, causing a fire.

In the accident, two employees used brake cleaning fluid to clean the grease from the walls of a vehicle inspection pit in the workshop. Shortly after they had finished cleaning the walls there was a loud bang and the entire wall of the pit where the brake cleaner had been applied became engulfed in flames.

One employee managed to get out of the pit and ran to help his colleague whose clothing had caught fire, pulling him out of the pit and extinguishing the flames. Both employees received burns to their hands and legs. One sustained 60 per cent burns and had to undergo an emergency surgical procedure to relieve the pressure from the swelling which involved cutting either side of his shins on both legs and his left knuckle going down to his wrist. He subsequently underwent five skin graft operations on his left hand and both legs and spent six weeks in hospital.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that the company failed to carry out a risk assessment to consider whether it was possible to eliminate or reduce the risk. They had not considered replacing the dangerous substance with another non-flammable substance or using a different work process. Jet-washing, a safe alternative, was already in use at the company’s other site.

Serious Burns at Work: Your Employer’s Responsibility

Every employer has a responsibility to provide safe working conditions for your long-term wellbeing. If it’s part of your job to work with chemicals and other substances, then your employer must take extra safety precautions to ensure you don’t suffer serious burns at work. This includes:

Storing chemicals in a locked facility.
Strictly controlling access to dangerous substances.
Offering appropriate splatter guards for those working with fluids.
Giving workers the proper protective equipment, such as heat resistant clothing, aprons, gloves, face masks and breathing apparatus.
Providing a safe working environment such as:
Displaying the appropriate warning stickers.
Ventilating the work area properly.
Immediate clean-up of any substance/chemical escapes or spills.
Training staff on the proper handling and use of chemicals.
Providing access to first aid facilities such as eye washing, burn cream and bandages.

Health and safety legislation like The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) address these conditions. You can find other legislation online to see if there are any other conditions linked with a real-life claim. Additionally, speak with The Compensation Experts to get a sense of whether you have a case for a serious burns at work claim.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes serious burns at work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

What Information do you need to make a Financial Claim?

Posted on 25th November 2021 by Jonathon

What Information do you need to make a Financial Claim?

If you think you may be able to make a financial claim, there is a variety of information and identification that will be necessary. This should include any information you can provide from when you made the investment, examples of which can include:

Any or all paperwork from the associated pension or investment
Evidence of when you were first contacted to discuss the pension or investment opportunity
Records of moving your pension or investment
Evidence of what your advisor recommended
A record of those you spoke to while making the pension or investment
A record of how much your pension you invested or moved

What if I don’t have all this information?

If you don’t have all this information to hand, that’s not a problem. Paperwork and detailed information are often not necessary, as we will gather the full details from the provider and assess this for you. We will then communicate the results to you in clear language. Having some evidence and records of the process can also be enough to begin the financial claims process.

Information do you need to make a Financial Claim

How to make a financial claim

If you’re a victim of financial mis-selling, we can help. Start your claim for financial services compensation by getting in touch with our team of expert advisors, who will discuss your case and determine your eligibility.

If your claim does warrant investigation, we will begin to gather information from the relevant investment providers, to assess both the extent of your financial loss and the quality of advice you were dealt at the point of sale.

After conducting our initial research, we will write a bespoke letter of complaint which will be sent on your behalf to the trading business (or Financial Services Compensation Scheme, if they’re no longer active). At this point, your case will follow one of two avenues:

Your complaint will be upheld and you will receive the compensation you deserve for your damages and financial loss.
Your complaint will be refuted, and we will advise you on the next steps. We will also let you know how we plan to escalate the case according to Financial Ombudsman compensation guidelines.

What is the Financial Services Compensation scheme?

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the UK’s statutory insurance body that protects consumers when firms and businesses fail to pay damages for financial malpractice. This is often because the trading firm has gone out of business. In these cases, the FSCS will pay your compensation.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience with financial mis-selling claims. This means that they can help with any questions you have about the information you need to make a financial claim. If you think you may have a potential claim, contact us today by filling in or contact form. Or call us to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Pets At Home Worker Killed in Forklift Accident at Work

Posted on 18th November 2021 by Jonathon

It has been reported recently that a warehouse worker at Pets at Home was killed in a forklift accident at work. The worker died as a result of a brain injury following the accident.

He was injured whilst operating a forklift at the store. He was then rushed to the Royal Stoke University Hospital by air ambulance, but tragically succumbed to his injuries four days later.

An inquest into his death has been formally opened and adjourned for a pre-inquest review. This will take place in February next year.

The forklift driver’s cause of death was given as hypoxic brain injury and accidental mechanical asphyxiation and entrapment.

Area coroner Emma Serrano said: “This gentleman had an accident whilst he was at work while driving a forklift truck which led to the entrapment which led to the accidental mechanical asphyxiation.

“This is not a natural cause of death; it’s a violent or unnatural cause of death. That means an inquest must take place.

“In addition, because he had an accident at work which led to him passing away. This is going to be an inquest which requires a jury.”

Forklift Accident at Work Claims

Forklift accidents at work are common. The Health and Safety Executive estimates that, on average, forklift accidents at work make up about a quarter of those that occur due to workplace transport; forklift injuries often happen due to poor supervision and a lack of training.

Forklift trucks also weigh a lot. This means it is not uncommon for forklift trucks to hit people, or for it to fall over. Forklifts are also different to drive than cars; they steer using the back wheels rather than the front, meaning that thorough training is essential to avoid forklift injuries.

According to The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty of care to their staff. This is to ensure that employees do not have accidents whilst at work.

Employers should carry out regular risk assessments to ensure the safety of the forklift truck for the operator, and everyone else in the workplace. This means that it is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that machinery is safe and in a good working condition. They are also responsible for making sure that everyone who uses the forklift has had the correct training and is wearing the correct clothing (high visibility clothing and head protection are essential to prevent a forklift accident).

Your employer is responsible for ensuring that your workplace meets health and safety needs. This means that they are responsible for protecting employees from forklift injury.

Claiming for A Forklift Accident at Work

Often when people have forklift accidents at work, they are unsure about claiming against their employer. However, every company must have Employer’s Liability Insurance. This insurance covers costs such as forklift accident at work claims. The solicitors that we work with negotiate with the insurance company, rather than directly with your employer.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes forklift accidents at work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Road Safety Week and Children’s Bicycle Accidents

Posted on 15th November 2021 by Jonathon

This week is Road Safety Week. It is run by the road safety charity Brake, and it inspires thousands of schools, organisations, and communities to take action on road safety. It also provides a great opportunity for anyone working in road safety to get more people involved with their work. One of the biggest focuses is on children’s road safety, and, as children’s bicycle accidents can be common, this is an area that needs focus.

The theme of Road Safety Week 2021 is road safety heroes. This celebrates the heroic work of road safety professionals, and explaining how we can all play a part in making journeys safer for everyone.

Children’s Bicycle Accidents

Children’s bicycle accidents can happen for all sorts of reasons. However, in our experience, the most common accidents include:

Hit and run accidents
Faulty bicycle parts
Defects in the road and pavements, for example, potholes
Slippery road or pavement conditions due to ice, snow, or oil spills

If your child has had a bicycle accident due to one of these reasons, then it may be someone else’s fault and you may be able to make a claim on their behalf.

Minimising Risks of Children’s Bicycle Accidents

The nature of children means that they may have accidents that there is no one to blame for. There are certain ways that you can minimise your child’s risk of having an accident by taking certain precautions.

Here are a few tips from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) on how you can maximise enjoyment and minimise risk:

Carry out a regular safety check (tyres at the correct pressure, brakes working and nothing loose like spokes, saddle or handlebars)
Wearing a cycle helmet will help provide protection to the head in the event of a collision or falling off (remember to replace if damaged)
Make sure your child is not wearing any loose clothing or shoelaces, which could become tangled in the chain or wheels
Parents should ride with children to their competence and ability. Get them to demonstrate that they can safely control their bike and deal with other traffic
For older children, if they are riding away from home plan the route with them; use cycle tracks and avoid busy roads and junctions if possible.

Claiming on Behalf of a Child

If a child has an accident, then a parent or guardian may be able to claim on their behalf. Any compensation received is put into a special fund or trust for the child to access when they turn 18. Or managed by trustees to cover the cost of caring for a child with a disability sustained as the result of their injury.

Usually in personal injury cases, there is a three-year time limit to make a claim. However, this is not the case if a child has an accident. In that case, a parent or guardian can make a claim on their behalf until they turn 18, and after that, they have until they turn 21 to make a claim for themselves.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes children’s bicycle accidents. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

Galvanizing Company Prosecuted after Employee Suffers Fatal Injury at Work

Posted on 12th November 2021 by Jonathon

According to recent reports, a company that undertakes hot dip galvanizing for the corrosion protection of steelwork has been fined after an employee suffered a fatal injury at work.

The employee was operating an overhead crane adjacent to the molten zinc bath, when a tubular steel brace exploded during galvanizing. This caused it to ‘rocket’ across the workshop floor, fatally striking the employee who was standing in its path. The steel brace failed due to the absence of vent holes to prevent the build-up of pressure inside the hollow steel brace during the galvanizing process.

A quantity of liquid entered the brace during earlier stages of the galvanizing process; when immersed into the 450°C zinc bath, the trapped liquid turned rapidly into steam generating very high internal pressures sufficient to cause failure of the brace. This resulted in a violent explosion which propelled the steel brace across the workshop floor.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to adequately assess the risk and devise and implement suitable safe systems and methods of work for venting checks. In addition, employees did not receive adequate training or supervision when completing venting checks.

Speaking after the hearing, an HSE inspector said: “This tragic incident led to the avoidable death of a young man. His death could easily have been prevented if his employer had acted to identify and manage the risks involved, put a safe system of work in place and ensured that employees were appropriately trained and supervised.”

Fatal Injuries at Work

Suffering a fatal injury at work can be devastating. According to the Health and Safety Executive’s latest figures, 142 workers suffered a fatal injury at work in 2020/21. These accidents can have a huge impact on loved ones. Employers must do all they can to minimise the risk of fatal injuries at work.

Employer’s Responsibility

Your employer is responsible for keeping you safe at work. Your employer must make sure that they meet the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999). They do this by conducting risk assessments to ensure that they keep everyone safe.

Self-employed staff may also be able to make a claim, as many workers are often self-employed on a contractor basis. This means, importantly, there is still usually a company that they are working for. If the business you are working for fails in their duty to keep you safe, then they may be responsible for the fatal injury at work.

Claiming on Behalf of a Loved One

When a loved one suffers a fatal injury at work, it can be devastating. Compensation will undoubtedly be the last thing on your mind. The solicitors we work with can help with any financial strain that a fatal injury at work may leave you with.

How We Can Help if a Loved One Suffers a Fatal Injury at Work

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes a fatal injury at work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable experts.

Which train stations are the worst in the UK for delays?

Posted on 9th November 2021 by Jonathon

For some workers, nothing is worse than the morning commute. The dragging grind as you go from station to station in a packed metal tube, surrounded by people just as tired as yourself, everyone eager to reach work and make that much needed second morning coffee.

Of course, that’s assuming your train arrives on time or turns up at all. While the UK might have one of the biggest and most complex rail networks in Europe, it’s by no means the most efficient. Not a day goes by where at least one train isn’t delayed: and if you’re in London, it’s more like four or five minimum.

But which UK train station is the worst station for commuter delays? We put our team to the task of discovering this, listing the top stations you should aim to avoid (if possible) during your daily commute.

Using the data available on ontimetrains.co.uk and the government’s statistics for station usage, we were able to work out the busiest stations in the UK, the percentage of trains delayed during peak hours, and the percentage of trains cancelled, for 2019-2020. We then ranked all stations from best to worst based on the data.

With all the data analysed, here are the worst stations to commute from in the UK.

Revealed: the UK’s WORST train station for delays

Unsurprisingly, the worst UK station for delays and cancellations is in London. If you want a quick commute, you should aim to avoid using City Thameslink at all costs. On average, an absolutely staggering 66% of all trains that pass through City Thameslink are delayed between 7am and 9am, with 67% being delayed between 4pm and 6pm.

Fortunately, while its cancellation rates are above average, they’re not overly egregious at 4.5% for both peak times. Still, few other stations on our list compared to such levels of delay, making it somewhat of a miracle that any of the City Thameslink’s 8 million daily users arrive at work on time.

Other UK stations workers should avoid on the daily commute

Of course, while City Thameslink might be the worst offender for delays, it is by no means the only station guilty of poor train services. Willesden Junction sits in the ignominious second spot with 37.5% and 32% of the peak trains being delayed across the year. It’s not delays, however, that rank Willesden so low. Out of all trains that passed through Willesden Junction in 2019-2020, a full 6% were cancelled in the morning and a shocking 9.5% in the evening. This makes Willesden Junction potentially the worst station for cancellations out of all the stations we ranked.

For the third spot, we actually move out of London to Birmingham, specifically Snow Hill. Delays from Birmingham Snow Hill actually sit rather low compared to other stations at 22% and 38% respectively. However, much like Willesden, Birmingham Snow Hill is the other contender for worst UK station for train cancellations. While only 4.5% of trains are cancelled in the morning, 11% were cancelled between 4-6pm.

Interestingly, the number of commuters for the UK’s 3 worst stations for delays sits below 10 million for each. The fourth position, however, has over 25 million users. East Croydon saw 39.5% of its 7-9am trains delayed over the year, made worse by the delays experienced by 54.5% of its 4-6pm services. East Croydon’s only saving grace is that its cancellations sit at a relatively average 4%.

Lasty, we come to Coventry. Much like East Croydon, Coventry’s cancellation rates are relatively low, 2% and 4.5% for the year. Unfortunately, Coventry is an even worse suspect for train delays. 47.5% of morning commuters experienced delays across the year, but this is overshadowed by the horrendous 58.5% of delays occurring in the evening.

Of course, these are only the top five stations to avoid using on your morning commute. Plenty of other stations barely scraped above the top spots, including Birmingham Moor Street, Milton Keynes Central, St Albans City, Shepherd’s Bush, and Gatwick Airport. All these stations had between 20% and 45% of their trains delayed, as well as having a cancellation range of up to 8.5% over 2019-2020.

The UK’s best stations for commuting

So, if City Thameslink is the worst station for delays in the UK, which is the best? Well, given the fact that many of the worst stations for delays sit in and around the London area, you might be surprised to find out that London Fenchurch Street holds the number one position. Across the entire 2019-2020 year, only 5% of their morning and 11.5% of their evening commute trains were delayed. But even better than that, only 1% and 1.5% of their trains were actually cancelled across the year.

Other notable stations for good service include Ilford, London Liverpool Street, London Marylebone, and Romford, which just goes to show how wide an experience commuters receive in and around the capital.

Even though the daily commute can be frustrating, and delays can make you want to rush, you should always be safety aware when in a station or walking to work. For information and expertise on how to stay safe on your commute to work, you can head over to our blog.

When can you make council claims?

Posted on 9th November 2021 by Jonathon

When you have an accident in a public place, there are instances where the council is at fault for your accident. This is why council claims may happen.

Your local council has a duty to keep all roads and pavements safe to use. They also have a duty to keep council buildings like schools and parks, council-owned homes, and street lighting safe.

When people have accidents in these places and the council are at fault, they may be able to make council claims.

When can you make council claims?

There are many instances where the council may be at fault for your accident. The main cause of council claims is potholes in the road or on the pavement. Instances where you can claim against the council for a pothole fall can include tripping in the pothole while walking, cycling into the pothole, and being hurt in a resulting crash, or a pothole causing a car accident in which you are injured, or your car damaged.

Council compensation claims can include:

Damage sustained from a pothole that is more than one inch (2.5 centimetres) deep.
Injuries sustained while tripping on uneven paving or pavement where a stone is sticking up by at least one inch
Being injured at work if you are a council employee, including through not being provided with adequate protective equipment or training
You or your child being hurt by faulty or poorly maintained playground equipment

When can’t you make council claims?

Slips on ice

One of the major reasons people may want to claim against the council is if they slip on ice. Whilst ice is an inconvenience, and councils do grit roads, councils actually have no legal obligation to do this. Therefore, if you slip on ice, then it is unlikely that you will be able to make a claim against the council for the fall.

Weather

Sometimes, when someone has an accident due to weather conditions, they may think that the council is to blame. This is especially true if the weather causes slippery roads and pavements. However, the council cannot be blamed for weather conditions. This includes rain, snow, ice, and fallen leaves. If you slip on leaves or wet ground, unfortunately you can’t claim against the council.

Littering/Fly tipping

If you slip on litter on the street, then you may believe that the council may be to blame for your accident. This is especially true if this litter is near a bin. However, the council are not at fault for litter on the ground. This is the same for fly tipping.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes council claims. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable experts.

COPD at Work

Posted on 4th November 2021 by Jonathon

There is a focus every November on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), with World COPD Day taking place on 17^th November. COPD is a lifelong condition. This means that COPD at work can be an important aspect of your life if you suffer with the disease.

COPD is a major cause of disability and death; thousands of people die each year from work-related lung diseases and in many cases due to exposures that took place many years before. COPD describes a number of breathing problems where there is damage to the breathing tubes and air sacs within the lung. Breathing in certain dusts, fumes, chemicals, or gases in the workplace can cause serious long term lung damage. People who have asbestosis, a lung disease caused by asbestos, may develop COPD as a complication.

COPD at Work: What Your Employer Can Do

According to the Health and Safety Executive, 21.9 million working days are lost due to COPD annually. For employers, preventing dusts, fume and irritant gases from getting into the air is usually more effective, simpler, and cheaper, than controlling dust once it is in the air.

Employers can:

Use water for wet techniques including cutting, grinding, or blasting and for suppression on dusty roadways.
Buy dust-reduced materials. For example pellets, tablets, solutions or pastes, and use pre-weighed material in sealed bags.
Segregate – put dusty machinery in a separate room or automate processes.
Carry out risk assessments
Reduce grinding and sawing and ensure all equipment is maintained to a high standard
Keep machines clean
Use effective Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)
Use respiratory protective equipment (RPE) when required

If your employer fails to do this, you may be able to make a COPD at work claim.

COPD at Work: What You Can Do

Other HSE safety advice states that, as an employee, make it part of your day to:

Vacuum clean – don’t use brushes or compressed air
Handle materials ‘gently’ – reduce the distance they fall or are thrown
Reduce machine speed or power.
Improve your work practices – don’t drop material
Avoid creating draughts.
Control waste – use closed bags or containers
Don’t let wet waste dry out and remove it frequently from your workplace.

COPD Outside of work

Outside of COPD at work, there is more guidance from the NHS on how to look after yourself if you have COPD. Some of the guidance includes taking prescribed medicine, including inhalers, exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy weight, stop smoking if you do smoke, being careful of what you breathe, making sure you are prepared for cold weather, and having regular check-ups and reviews.

The breathing problems that arise with COPD tend to get gradually worse over time and can limit your normal activities, although treatment can help keep the condition under control. This is why it is important to do all you can to control the disease.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury and industrial disease claims. This includes work-related illnesses due to COPD at work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable agents.

Southern and Thameslink Services Suspended After Person Involved in Train Accident

Posted on 4th November 2021 by Jonathon

Recently Southern and Thameslink suspended their services after a train accident. The train hit a person on a Surrey route. Emergency services attended the incident near Sutton station.

The update on traffic and travel website Inrix read: “Services suspended on Southern and Thameslink between Mitcham Junction and Epsom due to emergency services dealing with an incident.”

Thameslink wrote about the incident on Twitter.

The tweet said: “It is with great sadness that we report a person has been hit by a train between Mitcham Junction and Epsom.

“All lines are blocked between these stations whilst the emergency services work to deal with this incident. Service information will follow.”

At just after 6.40pm Thameslink and Southern confirmed that lines had reopened.

Train Accident Claims

There are many different types of accidents which may happen on trains, at train stations or on platforms. Some of the most common causes of train accident claims include:

Train crashes and collisions with other trains
Slips, trips and falls on trains, in train station or on platforms.
Falling objects such as luggage hitting passengers
Pedestrians being hit by trains whilst crossing tracks or at level crossings
Doors closing too early, causing injuries
Train users tripping or falling when entering or exiting the train
Injuries caused by defects in seats and defective equipment on the train

Common Causes of Train Accidents

The train company and train drivers have a duty of care to their passengers. This means that they should take reasonable steps to ensure that all passengers are safe whilst travelling on the train. The most common causes of train accidents and subsequent train accident claims include:

Negligence of the train driver. This can include a driver talking on a phone, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or simply poor concentration of the driver
The train companies’ failure to complete regular checks to ensure that the train is safe a free from defects
Poor housekeeping due to the negligence of the train and train station staff
Poor or inadequate training of staff on the train
Defects on the train tracks or at level crossings

In the vast majority of cases, if a person makes a train accident claim, it is against the train company. This is because they have a duty of care to ensure that train users are safe whilst travelling.

There are some cases where the train company had no control over the accident. In these cases, a person must claim against someone else.

How We Can Help

Here at The Compensation Experts we work with solicitors who have years of experience dealing with personal injury claims. This includes train accident claims. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable agents.

Differences Between Pension Types

Posted on 28th October 2021 by Jonathon

Private pensions have a number of similarities and differences. This guide will explain the differences between pension types, as well as some similarities. There are two main types of private pension:

Defined contribution
Defined benefit

Differences Between Pension Types

Defined Contribution Pensions

Defined contribution pensions (also referred to as money purchase schemes) are a type of personal pension. They can be workplace pensions provided by your employer or private pensions, which you would need to arrange yourself or through a financial advisor.

Money paid into the pension is put into investments (such as stocks and shares) by the chosen pension provider. The value of your pension pot can therefore go up or down depending on how the investments perform.

These pensions offer a variety of funds to invest in, which represent different levels of risk. Some schemes automatically move you into a low-risk fund as you approach retirement, often described as lifestyle switching.

What you receive from the pension at retirement is not guaranteed. This depends on how much was paid in, and how well the investments have performed.

Defined Benefit Pensions

Defined benefit pensions are workplace pension provided by employers. They are also known as final salary pensions.

Unlike defined contribution pensions, how much you receive from your pension at retirement is not dependent on investment performance, or how much you have paid in. Defined benefit pensions are based on your salary and how long you have worked for your employer.

Defined benefit schemes also differ for defined contribution schemes in that the pension provider will guarantee to pay you a certain amount each year when you retire. The amount you receive year on year often increases in line with inflation.

Differences Between Other Pension Types

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs)

Self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) are a pension ‘wrapper’ that allow you to save, invest and build up a pot of money for when you retire. It is a type of defined contribution personal pension and works in a similar way. The main difference is that with a SIPP, you have more flexibility with the investments you can choose, which you manage yourself or with the help of a financial adviser.

As you’re in control, you can make changes and additions to your investments as often as you want. SIPPs can offer much wider investment options than other pension types.

Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS)

Small self-administered pension schemes (SSAS) are generally set up to allow a small number of senior staff in a company to build up a pot of money. They differ from other occupational pension schemes in that they limit the membership to usually no more than 11 members. These are often company directors or senior executives. However, they can be open to other workers and even family members.

The value of a member’s entitlement from a SSAS when they retire depends on:

The amount of money that’s been paid in
The length of time that each contribution has been invested
investment growth over this period and the level of charges (if applicable).

SSAS pensions function like most other workplace pensions, with a few key differences. Like most defined contribution schemes, the employer and/or its members pay contributions, which are all eligible for tax relief. Members can start withdrawing benefits from the age of 55 in the standard way.

However, unlike other schemes, there’s often no pension provider involved. All the members, or trustees, decide what happens with the monies, thus gaining greater flexibility and control. Another key difference is that you can pass down the benefits of the scheme to future generations.

How we Can Help with Differences Between Pension Types

Here at The Compensation Experts, we work with solicitors who have years of experience with financial mis-selling claims. This means that they can help with any questions you have about the differences between pension types when making a claim. If you think you may have a potential claim, contact us today by filling in or contact form. Or call us to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable agents.