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WORKPLACE AND INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

Workplace and industrial accidents are an everyday occurrence in this country, despite legislative attempts to ensure that employers take all necessary steps to ensure their employees' safety during the course of their work.

Accidents at work can occur for various reasons and the following are the more common causes of workplace accidents:-

  • Trips on uneven ground or articles abandoned in the workplace
  • Slips on spilt or leaking substances
  • Defective machinery
  • Defective or a lack of protective clothing
  • Lack of suitable equipment
  • Injuries to the back from heavy lifting
  • Injuries sustained through a lack of appropriate training
  • Injuries caused by the negligence of fellow employees

If you have had an accident at work, you may have a claim provided the accident was not your fault.

The law places onerous obligations on employers to ensure that, amongst other things, they:-

  • Carry out appropriate risk assessments in relation to the tasks performed by their employees;
  • Provide suitable equipment that is in a good state of repair;
  • Provide appropriate training to its employees;
  • Provide appropriate protective equipment;
  • Do not expose their employees to a foreseeable risk of injury.

The types of injuries sustained in industrial accidents are too numerous and varied to detail here. They range from the most minor injury involving bumps and bruises, to the more serious injuries involving broken bones or loss of limbs and indeed, catastrophic injuries which may result in either brain damage or a fatality.

If you have suffered an injury at work that was not your fault, you may have a claim for damages for any of the following:-

  • Personal injuries, for which medical evidence will be required
  • Loss of earnings
  • Physiotherapy or other rehabilitation costs
  • Medication expenses
  • Travelling expenses
  • Damage to clothing and/or other personal effects
  • Being rendered at a disadvantage on the open labour market
  • Loss of congenial employment
  • Care costs

If you consider that you have a potential claim for compensation arising as a result of an accident at work, then do not hesitate to contact our offices for free legal advice.