Suffering a life-threatening personal injury or losing a loved one is a hard thing to experience, but, sadly, it’s something many of us will experience at some point in our lives.

Fortunately, all UK industries are required to give anyone in this scenario adequate compassionate leave, a period of paid leave for you to come to terms with what’s happened and spend time with family.

In the UK, the standard length of compassionate leave is three paid days annually, though this can differ depending on your circumstances and industry, with some sectors undoubtedly better for offering leave than others.

To help inform you which UK industries offer the best and worst compassionate leave, we surveyed 1,500 UK employees across a variety of occupations and ranked each sector from best to worst.

With this in mind, here are the top five best and worst UK industries for compassionate leave.

The best UK industries for compassionate leave

While many might assume that fast-paced and intense roles could be less accommodating with their compassionate leave policy, our results show that this is clearly not the case.

Without a doubt, the best UK industry for compassionate leave is healthcare, providing, on average, five paid days of compassionate leave.

Given their profession, this makes sense, as they no doubt fully understand the emotional and physical trauma you might be experiencing.

In fact, 77% of those we spoke with within the healthcare industry feel that they’re supported by their employer, with 78.4% feeling that their workplace is compassionate.

That being said, only 49.5% actually feel comfortable telling their employer that they need time off, perhaps evidencing the responsibility they feel towards their role.

Property is also an excellent UK industry for compassionate leave, again offering five days. But while 71.4% feel their workplace is compassionate, as little as 28.6% feel comfortable telling employers they need time off.

The remaining three brilliant UK industries for compassionate leave also offer five days total, with those we spoke to in the Information and communication, education, and data industries all holding similar opinions to those in the healthcare and property industries.

The worst UK industries for compassionate leave

An important thing to note when looking at compassionate leave is that, while three days is considered the standard, it is not the legal minimum. Given this caveat, it’s unsurprising that some industries fall short of this number.

Without a doubt, the worst UK industry for compassionate leave is agriculture, offering just two days, with a mere 54% of those we spoke to actually feeling supported by their employer.

To put this into perspective, this is the lowest rate of employer support felt by employees in any industry. In fact, just 45% of those in the agricultural industry feel comfortable telling employers they need time off, but 79% do at least feel that their workplace is compassionate overall.

Surprisingly, the next worst UK industry for compassionate leave is tourism, again offering just two days. Interestingly, however, 90% of the people we surveyed feel supported by their employer, with 89% feeling their workplace is compassionate and 70% feeling comfortable telling their employer that they need time off.

Other bad UK industries for compassionate leave include the creative arts, retail, and finance. While all of these industries offer three days as standard, large portions of those we spoke to feel uncomfortable asking for time off from their employers, with those in the creative arts finding it particularly difficult – only 38.1% feeling comfortable asking for time off.

How do UK industries view compassionate leave overall?

Even though there’s a clear variation in the length of compassionate leave offered by different UK industries, feedback from our survey shows that compassion is generally at the forefront of everyone’s minds regardless of where you work.

A full 79% of those we asked feel supported by their employer, with a further 78.7% saying that their employer is usually flexible in ensuring that they have suitable time off when needed. Additionally, a further 78.5% say that their colleagues have always been understanding and supportive.

Interestingly, however, just 27.3% of those surveyed are unaware of what their workplace compassionate leave policy is, and 46.6% still wouldn’t feel comfortable telling their employer that they need time off even if they did.

In general, though, it seems we’re pretty accommodating in the UK, with 80% of Brits feeling their workplace is compassionate, 70% feeling open to talking about personal matters with their manager, and 80% saying that their workplace policies provide all the guidance they need to support someone with a serious illness or who is grieving at work.

Some accidents in life are unavoidable. But if you’ve been the victim of an accident at work due to someone else’s negligence, then you could be entitled to compensation.

According to recent reports, a recycling company had to pay a fine after an 18-year-old employee suffered injuries at work whilst clearing a blockage in a waste metal chute. The court found that the company were guilty of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. They had to pay fines of £17,500. 

The employee suffered injuries at work when he fell through a chute that was approximately four meters above a concrete yard. The accident occurred when the employee was clearing a blockage. Another employee, who was waiting in a telescopic handler to collect the waste metal in the machine bucket, saw him fall and moved the machine to try and catch him. The employee was hit by the bucket and sustained injuries including several broken bones. 

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there was no risk assessment or safe system of work in place for clearing blockages. The company had not considered the risk of employees falling through the chute from that height. 

Speaking after the hearing, the HSE inspector said: “This significant injury to an 18-year-old employee in his first employment could have been easily prevented. The remedial action taken to prevent future blockages implemented after the incident had no cost implication for the company. Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise risks from clearing blockages.” 

Injuries at Work Caused by An Unsafe Working Environment 

There are several responsibilities an employer must uphold to make the work environment injury free, including: 

• Maintaining and using machinery in a proper manner, and upgrading defective machinery 
• Ensuring you undertake proper training 
• Proper installation of risk involvement procedures 
• Conducting risk assessments and notifying employees of the results 
• Providing adequate PPE and safety equipment 

If the employer doesn’t provide the above, the workplace environment is deemed unsafe. As a consequence, the employer becomes negligent. Similarly, if any workplace is unsafe and an accident occurs, your employer may be liable for a workplace injury claim. 

Your Employer’s Responsibility 

Your employer is responsible for making sure you are safe at work. They must follow rules and regulations set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to keep you safe. They must also make sure they carry out risk assessments to make sure any work you do is safe. This is the same for any machinery you use at work.  

If the recycling company had carried out a risk assessment of the equipment and the work that their 18-year-old employee was doing, then he may not have had an accident. Similarly, if you have an accident at work and your employer did not adequately risk assess the work, and you have an accident, then you may be able to make a 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 injuries at work. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts. 

When accidents at work are mentioned, many people naturally think of building sites, warehouses, and factories. Whilst it’s true that these sectors have a lot of accidents at work, a person can have an accident in any profession. Therefore, accidents in retail work may be more common than people realise. 

Causes of Accidents in Retail Work 

There are two main causes of accidents in retail work. These are: slips, trips, and falls and manual handling. 

Slips trips and falls are the most common cause of any accident at work. According to the Health and Safety Executive, these accidents account for around 40% of all reported accidents in the retail industry. They can happen because of spillages, wet floors, uneven flooring, equipment or stock on the floor, damaged flooring, and much more. 

There are a number of health and safety guidelines that your employer must follow to stop accidents like this happening. 

Manual handling accidents often happen due to inaccurate or inadequate training. If someone does not have the proper training to lift stock or deliveries and they injure themselves whilst doing so, then their employer may be responsible. There are health and safety rules which employers must follow to minimise the risk of these accidents happening. 

Your Employer’s Responsibility 

Employers must make sure that they do everything in their power to make sure their employees do not have any accidents whilst working. There are health and safety guidelines that they must follow to do this. These guidelines include the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

Employers must also ensure that they conduct regular risk assessments. These risk assessments cover both working practices and working environment. For example, risk assessments must be carried out on any carpeted areas at work to ensure that they are not damaged and safe to walk on. They must also carry out risk assessments for how the employees work, such as safe lifting and handling. This ensures that employees are trained safely on how to do their jobs. 

If employers fail to carry out these risk assessments and an employee has an accident, then they may be to blame for the accident. 

Claiming Against Your Employer 

When you make a claim against your employer for an accident at work, the claim is made against an insurance policy. This is known as Employer’s Liability Insurance. All employers in the United Kingdom must have this insurance. It protects them when accidents happen, as the compensation comes from the insurance. Therefore, it is the insurance company that pays the compensation; it does not come directly out of your employer’s pocket. 

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 accidents in retail work. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts. 

A contractor and a water management company have been fined after a worker was injured when he was hit by a 1.5 tonne water valve. The worker suffered leg injuries at work, and the two companies have been found to be at fault for the injury.

One company had contracted another to connect a 1.5 tonne water valve in a confined chamber at Kielder Reservoir, Northumberland. The valve was suspended from a lorry mounted crane when it swung across the chamber and struck the worker. His injuries include an open compound fracture of his tibia and fibula.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that both companies had failed to risk assess the work and the additional hazards introduced by a change in the scope of work. They failed to implement suitable safety measures and safe systems of work; and provide adequate supervision to the workers.

Speaking after the hearing, the HSE inspector said: “Companies must understand that work activities involving confined spaces, work at height and lifting operations must be subject to a robust risk assessment. Furthermore, risk assessments should be reviewed if the scope of work changes and additional hazards are introduced.

“Companies must also ensure that they have suitable safety control measures and safe systems of work in place to address the identified risks. Appropriate arrangements should be in place to supervise and monitor work.”

Leg Injuries at Work

When it comes to leg injuries, there are many different types, of varying severity. Any kind of leg injury has the ability to negatively impact your daily life, no matter how serious. You may find that you are in pain, unable to walk or struggling to perform your usual activities.

If the incident that caused the injury wasn’t your fault, you may be able to make a leg injury claim. Claim types include:

• Strains
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Leg amputations

If you suffer leg injuries at work, then your employer may be at fault. Employers must ensure that they keep their employees safe from accidents at work. They must conduct risk assessments on any work that their employees undertake to ensure the employees can carry out their work safely.

Employers must also make sure they follow the correct guidance on health and safety in the workplace. They must follow the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to keep their employees safe from accidents at work.

If you have an accident at work and it is the fault of your employer, because they did not conduct thorough risk assessments or did not follow the correct health and safety guidelines, then you may be able to make an accident 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 leg injuries at work. Contact us by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

According to recent reports, the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has issued its advice to the industry on the importance of following correct procedures relating to tyre wear and inflation. This follows a court case in which the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) successfully prosecuted a concrete company after an agency worker had a fatal work accident when a tyre he was inflating exploded.

The contractor suffered fatal injuries while using an air hose/compressed air to inflate the tyre of an articulated wheel loader.

An investigation by the HSE into the incident, on 28 March 2019, found that the company did not have a safe system of work for inflation of the multi-piece split rim assembly wheels on the articulated wheel loader in place. The compressed air system had not been subject to regular and thorough examination and testing by a competent person.

UKMHA’s recommendation is a CFTS-accredited Competent Person should complete thorough examinations on lift trucks. The CFTS mark is a guarantee that a lift truck will be examined carefully, and that key components such as brakes and steering will also be checked along with the lifting mechanism.

“All MHE must receive a Thorough Examination at least once a year. However, trucks could require examinations more often depending on the type of truck and the application,” added Mr Goss.

“The process is governed by regulations enforced by the HSE. These state that Thorough Examination of industrial lift trucks is required under LOLER 1998, which covers lifting equipment. Additionally, employers must carry out safety inspections of other safety-related items, such as brakes, steering and tyres.”

Fatal Accident at Work Claims

Suffering a fatal accident 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.

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.

If the business you are working for fails in their duty to keep you safe, then they may be responsible for the fatal accident at work.

Claiming on Behalf of Someone Else

If a loved one has suffered a fatal accident at work, you may be able to make a claim on their behalf. In these cases, it is usually the next of kin of the person who has suffered a fatal accident at work who can make the claim on their behalf. Those who represent the deceased’s estate can also make a claim.

We understand that when you lose a loved one, making a claim may be the last thing on your mind. The solicitors we work with are trained to deal with matters such as these. Therefore, they show the utmost compassion and understanding when it comes to making difficult claims.

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 fatal accident at work claims. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to our friendly experts.

As the festive season continues, the amount of work in warehouses also ramps up. Warehouses are busier than ever during the Christmas period, especially since the rise in popularity of online shopping. However, with the extra work comes extra risk; therefore, Christmas season accidents at work in warehouses may increase.

Accidents at Work in Warehouses

Accidents at work in warehouses are very common. In the warehousing industry, there were over 23,000 injuries at work in 2019/20 according to the Health and Safety Executive. There are some injuries that are more common than others, with lifting and handling accidents being the most common.

The main causes of accidents at work in warehouses are:

• Slips and trips
• Manual handling
• Work at height
• Vehicles in and around the warehouse
• Moving or falling objects

Lifting and handling accounted for the most accidents to warehouse staff. This is especially true at Christmas when the workload is higher. When you are lifting and handling at work, your manager must make sure that they are following the manual handling safety rules. This is to minimise the risks of accidents at work and keep employees safe.

The other main areas of accident at work that are common in the warehouse industry are being hit by a moving vehicle, being hit by falling objects, slips and trips and falling from height. Your employer can help prevent these types of accidents by following correct procedures and policies.

Your Employers Responsibility

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure you are safe at work. This means that they must follow correct health and safety guidelines to minimise the risk of accidents and to keep all their employees safe. They must carry out adequate and frequent risk assessments on the machinery and equipment, and make sure that staff training is always up to date.

During the Christmas period, employers can also prevent accidents at work happening by ensuring that they have enough staff to manage the increase in workload effectively.

If you are a temporary or agency worker, your employer has as much of a duty to protect you as a full time, permanent employee. This means they must also ensure that your training is adequate and correct before you do the job. They must also ensure they maintain this training.

If your employer does not follow the correct health and safety guidelines, such as the Manual Handling Regulations and the Health and Safety at work regulations, and you have an accident whilst at work, then you may be able to make a claim. All employers must have Employer’s Liability insurance. This covers the business in case accidents at work happen. If you have had an accident and make a claim, then it is the insurance that pays the compensation.

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 accidents at work in warehouses. Contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly experts.

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.

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.

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.

A company has been fined after a worker suffered a fatal electrocution at work whilst operating a lorry mounted crane. The worker was fatally electrocuted when the crane he was operating struck an overhead powerline whilst he was unloading materials in a field at Cowbridge, South Glamorgan.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the employer had not done a risk assessment in the field where the incident happened. There were also no control measures in place to prevent contact with the overhead powerlines.

The company paid a fine of £160,000 and costs of £45,000.

Speaking after the hearing, a HSE inspector said: “This death was easily preventable, and the risk should have been identified.  Employers should make sure they properly assess and apply effective control measures to minimise the risk from striking overhead powerlines. This death would have been preventable had an effective system for managing unloading materials been in place.”

Electrocution at Work

Electric shock accidents can occur when somebody comes into contact with an electrical current. This electrical energy flows through the body, causing a shock, which can result in burns, nerve damage, or even death. Some victims of electric shock have permanent scarring and limited mobility.

Electric shocks can also contribute to secondary injuries such as lacerations, fractures, and dislocations. This is because electric shocks can generate such a large amount of force that they can throw a victim off the ground.

Types of Electrocution at Work

There are a variety of different reasons that electrocution at work can occur, with some of the most common claims including:

• Faulty wiring in a building or an office
• Failure to provide adequate training or equipment when working with electrics
• Not undertaking maintenance of electrical equipment
• Instructing employees without the necessary training or qualifications to carry out electrical work
• Faulty electrical products

In the case of the worker who suffered an electrocution at work, there was nothing to avoid contact with the powerlines, which is why the court found the employer responsible for the accident.

Fatal Electrocution at Work Claims

Following a fatal injury, dependents of the deceased can make a fatal accident compensation claim. Dependents are:

• Spouses
• Partners (must have cohabited for at least 2 years before the accident)
• Civil Partners
• Parents (including step-parents and adoptive parents)
• Children (including step-children)
• Siblings
• Grandparents

Those who represent the deceased’s estate can also make fatal accident claims.

When a loved one has a fatal accident at work, claiming compensation may be the last thing on your mind. However, the solicitors we work with can help to ease any financial burdens that these accidents may cause.

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 electrocution at work claims. So contact us today by filling in our contact form. Or call us on 01614138765 to speak to one of our friendly knowledgeable agents.

There are many different types of accident at work that you may suffer from, and they all come with their own types of injury. However, there are some common injuries at work that happen in a variety of workplaces.

These injuries happen in workplaces ranging from construction to office work. However, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) the most common industries where accidents happen are agriculture, forestry and fishing, and construction.

Most Common Injuries at Work

There are various ways you can be injured at work. The most common accidents are slips, trips, and falls, manual handling and carrying, being struck by a moving vehicle or falling object, and falls from height. Similarly, there are many injuries that you can have in these accidents. Some of the most common injuries at work include:

• Musculoskeletal injuries
• Fractures and breaks
• Strains and sprains
• Burns
• Lacerations/open wounds

Musculoskeletal Injuries

The most common injuries at work are musculoskeletal disorders. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 480,000 Workers suffering from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (new or longstanding) in 2019/20.

Employers must protect workers from the risks of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) being caused or made worse by work. Musculoskeletal injuries include injuries and conditions that can affect the back, joints, and limbs.

The parts of the body most likely to be affected by musculoskeletal injuries are the lower back, shoulders, forearms, wrists and hands, neck, hips, legs, knees, ankles, and feet.

Workers can have different kinds of musculoskeletal conditions at the same time, and because of the same accident.

Claiming for Common Injuries at Work

It is your employer’s responsibility to keep you safe from a work accident. This means that they must make sure you have the correct training and equipment to be able to do your job correctly. They must also carry out risk assessments. This is to ensure it is safe to do the job.

If your employer has not followed the guidelines to keep you safe at work, or has done so incorrectly, you may be able to claim compensation. We understand that you may feel uneasy about claiming against your employer, however all employers must have employer’s liability insurance. This covers the costs of accidents at work. It is the insurance company who would pay the compensation, so your employer would not be directly out of pocket.

If you have had an accident at work, and your employer did not take precautions to keep you safe at work, then you may be able to make a compensation claim.

How we Can Help

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