Maintenance of Health and Safety at Work Can Help in the Prevention of the Accidents at Work

A Safe and Risk-free Work Location Can Increase Productivity and Lead to Business Success

A safe and secure atmosphere at work often contributes to the success of a business. A comfortable and risk-free work environment instills the confidence in the workers and allows them to work fearlessly and enhance their productivity. The employers, thus, should make reasonable efforts to turn the workplace into a safer place, free of the accident risks.  A failure to undertake adequate health and safety measures can turn a workplace into an accident-prone zone. In order to avoid an accident at work, the employers should introduce risk assessment programs and undertake other necessary measures to provide the workers with a calm and comfortable workplace.

Health and Safety is Important for All Types of Jobs

Health and safety is needed for all sorts of jobs. No industries in the United Kingdom are free of accident risks. The construction industry specifically sees some of the other type of work accidents every single day. The accidents are also common in manufacturing industry and the agricultural industry. The food industry is also not free from the accident at work risks. One of the biggest industries in the United Kingdom, the food and drink industry is basically labor-intensive. The workers employed in this industry often become subjected to slip or trip accidents. Out of all the work accidents in the food industry, about 38% of the mishaps are caused by slips or trips.

The Employers Should Be Accountable To Provide a Safe and Healthy Work Atmosphere

The laws of the United Kingdom prompt all the business owners of the nation to provide their employees with a secure working ambiance. The work location needs to be smoke-free. The employers need to frame smoke free policy at work. This policy can be included in the employment agreement at the time of recruitment. The workers should be notified about such a policy by printing and putting up smoke free signs at various locations within the work premises.

Jobs that compel the workers to seat or stand for long hours can be quite stressful. The employers should make necessary arrangements so that his workers can take rest during the work intervals to get back the lost energy needed for improving their productivity.

An employee can also feel stressed and tired while exposed to low temperatures. The workers who need to work in an open place in the wintry months are mostly likely to suffer from such stress. It is the responsibility of the business owners to provide their employees with necessary clothing to protect their body from being directly exposed to the low temperatures. If proper precautions are not taken, cold stress can lead to stiff joints, lower muscle strength and result in loss of dexterity. The women workers are more vulnerable to the cold stress.

The employers need to take necessary initiatives to prepare a health and safety plan and work according to the plan to provide the employees with a safe and secure worksite.

Reporting of Accidents at Work is a Must

No matter how small or big is an accident at work is, the accident victim must report the accident to the employer. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) rule, all the accidents should be reported to the HSE under the RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations). It is the employers’ duty to notify the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) of any work-related accidents that put the employees out of work for seven consecutive days.

Accidents should be Included in the Accidents Record Book

The employees should have the appropriate knowledge of how to report a workplace mishap. Reporting of an accident at work will help the employer to tackle the circumstance appropriately from internal as well as external perspective. An accident registered in the Accident Record book of the workplace will serve as the basis of a potential work accident compensation case. It is important to keep in mind that a business entrepreneur possesses a duty of care over his workers. If a mishap takes place due to the poor safety standards in a workplace, the employer can be held liable for the incident and a work accident case can be filed against him. Intervention of a professional personal injury solicitor can lead the case to a successful end. Thus, it is always advisable to get help from an experienced personal injury lawyer who would assess the case and take the right direction to help his client win lump sum compensation.

Why Should You Register the Injuries with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)?

Even if you have small injuries after a work accident, you need to register the incident with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The Department for Work and Pensions will provide you with a form to enter the details of the mishap. Including the accident details in the DWP form will assist you with the future occupational injuries benefit claims if you suffer from a medical problem later on due to the workplace injury.

The Work Accident Victims Can Receive Statutory Sick Pay If They Are Put out of Work

If a workplace accident victim needs time off from work because of the work accident injury, you can apply for Statutory Sick Pay. He is entitled to receive more pay if it is in his employment contract. Based on the severity of the wounds, the work accident victim can claim benefits to improve his income while he will be off work.

Getting Legal Help for Earning Work Accident Compensation

A legal help is extremely important if your want to boost up your chances of gaining higher amount of compensation following a work accident. Be it a slip or trip claim or a burn injury, a fall from height or any other serious injury, you can seek the help of an expert law professional who will try to prove your claims and win a good amount of work accident compensation for you.