Accidents can be an unwanted part of life in some workplaces. Whether it is heavy machinery to blame, a fall at a building site, or even a simple trip in an office environment, suffering an injury at work can result in physical or psychological trauma.
In an ideal world, everyone would be completely safe while at work; however, accidents can and do happen, and it is important to know who is responsible if an accident takes place.
A duty of care
Since the passing of the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, employers have a duty of care to all employees and visitors to do their utmost to keep them safe from harm in the workplace.
Of course, even the most health and safety conscious employer cannot guarantee that no accidents will take place, but there are a number of reasonable steps that employers can take to minimise the risk of accidents.
First and foremost, employers should provide a safe working environment as much as possible. This can include things such as warning signs, safe ladders, and hard hats. Additionally, employers must provide training on how to avoid accidents to all staff. There should also be adequate welfare and reporting facilities.
Shared responsibility
Even though employers must adhere to the Health and Safety Act, employees must, of course, take joint responsibility. They must comply with health and safety measures and engage fully with the training offered. Damaged equipment should be reported immediately.
What if an accident does happen?
Should an accident occur despite the above advice being followed, it is important to follow a reporting process to document the event. Legal advice can be sought in the event of an accident at work from a company such as specialist London law firm forsters.co.uk/.
Medical advice should be sought for any injuries. If there is any possibility that compensation will be sought, it is best to take photographs of what took place and ask witnesses to provide a written record of what they saw.
