Making an accident at work claim if you are a care worker
Residential care workers provide services for the elderly, sick children and other people who require special needs and full time care. In this environment, care workers can be exposed to a number of hazardous which could ultimately result in personal injuries and subsequent accident at work claims.
Workplace injuries account for a number of compensation claims made every year by people who have been failed by their employer. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that the workplace is a safe environment and free from any risk of danger. They should ensure that they are able to provide the correct training for members of staff and provide all the necessary equipment needed for carrying out the work. This planning could reduce the chance of accidents from occurring and could limit the risk of employees having to make accident at work claims for their injuries.
Activities that could cause personal injuries
Care work involves a great deal of manual handling and the following activities could expose employees to sustaining workplace injuries:
- lifting
- lowering
- pushing
- pulling
- carrying
- moving
- bending
- twisting
- holding
- reaching
Personal injuries caused by the repetition of the above could be reduced if workers receive the correct training and equipment. If these two things have not been provided and you have suffered an injury, you could be able to make an accident at work claim.
Causes of personal injuries
There are a number of ways that care workers can sustain personal injuries, they include:
Slips and trips
A study published on the Health and Safety Executive's website (www.hse.gov.uk) states that one third of all major accidents account for slips and trips sustained by care workers. These accidents can occur because a floor surface may be wet, damaged or littered with obstructions, for which no warning sign has been provided.
Dermatitis
Accident at work claims are sometimes made by care workers who develop dermatitis. Dermatitis is a condition that causes the skin to swell, become red and itchy and can be caused by exposure to chemicals, regular work in wet conditions and latex gloves.
Asthma
Disinfectants can result in care workers suffering occupational asthma and symptoms may include coughing, wheezing, breathing and chest tightness.
Chemicals
Employers should ensure that there are suitable methods in place for working clinical waste, soiled laundry and other hazardous chemicals. Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, employers are obliged to identify and asses risks carried by biological chemicals; this procedure could well reduce the risk of an accident at work claim.
Violence at work
Employers have a duty to make sure that members of staff are protected in the workplace from violence and this can be ensured through risk assessments as underlined in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. If clear procedures are not put in place for the safety of workers, they may well be able to contact a personal injury solicitor and make accident at work claims.
How to make an accident at work claim
If you have been involved in workplace accident you may be eligible to make an accident at work compensation claim.
Here at YouClaim, we can guarantee that when you make a no win, no fee claim with us, you will be awarded 100% of the damages given to you for you personal injury.
We work with a panel of personal injury solicitors who specialise in work accident claims and we're proud to boast an exceptional success rate.
Your personal injury claim won't cost a single penny and if your claim is successful we can assure you that we will not take any cut of the compensation.
To start the claims process there are a number of ways of contacting us. You can complete a call back form and one of our friendly claims advisors will get into contact with you or you can even chat to an advisor online.
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss your accident at work claim straight away, you can telephone us for free legal advice on 0800 10 757 95.
