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Whiplash injuries caused by slips and trips at work

Whiplash usually occurs when a sudden impact causes a person's head to move backwards, forwards or sideways abruptly. This action damages the ligaments and tendons in the neck, causing pain, stiffness or a loss of movement around the affected area.

Fortunately, whiplash is often a self-limiting condition. This means it will often improve following basic or minimal treatment. However, in some cases, sufferers may take months to recover.

Whiplash often occurs during vehicle collisions, but employees may also suffer from this form of personal injury when they slip or trip in the workplace.

Whiplash in the workplace

Slips and trips account for approximately a third of all reported major workplace accidents. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), they are the most common hazard at work; affecting nearly 1,000 employees every month.

These dangers can occur in just about every occupation. For example, a construction worker might fall off a roof, a secretary may trip over a cable or a caterer could slip on a wet floor.

In all professions, employers, managers, or those who control the labour of others, must take appropriate steps to guarantee the safety of their staff members.

According to the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 duty-holders have a legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the wellbeing of their employees within the workplace.

To prevent workers from suffering whiplash or neck injuries, managers should carry out a risk assessment to uncover potential dangers and take appropriate measures to reduce or eliminate these hazards.

Employers can decide whether or not there is a risk by:

  • Examining the condition of floors and deciding whether or not they need maintenance;

  • Discussing work processes with staff and identifying potential dangers;

  • Determining whether or not existing health and safety procedures are adequate;

  • Looking for build-up of waste materials, objects or contaminates; and

  • Analysing the effectiveness of personal protective equipment.

According to a study printed in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery in 2001, of 586 employees with whiplash; 40 did not return to work due to their injuries.

Providing the accident which caused their injuries was non-fault, YouClaim may have been able to help them claim whiplash compensation.

Claiming compensation with a YouClaim personal injury solicitor

If you have suffered whiplash at work and it was not your fault, you may be entitled to receive compensation.

Any funds awarded could go towards covering medical treatment costs, improving your quality of life, or recouping lost earnings.

To find out if you are entitled to 100% compensation, please call YouClaim on 0800 10 757 95 to speak to one of our experienced legal advisors.

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