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Although fewer employees nowadays are members of trades unions, there are other bodies of employee representatives which can help if there are health and safety issues in the workplace or someone suffers an accident at work for which they may be entitled to make a compensation claim.
The Tolpuddle Martyrs of the 19th Century, whose formation of a group to present grievances to their employer were one of the forerunners of the present UK union movement, would, no doubt, be amazed at the vast improvement in working conditions for all employees today, but there still can be areas where hazards crop up and employers need to take action.
All businesses over a certain size are obliged to organise regular meetings of a health and safety committee which will comprise representatives from different departments and members of management throughout the company. They will discuss problems brought to their attention by workers, safety procedures and how accidents can be avoided.
In an industrial setting, the representatives are likely to be chosen from trades unions and, if there are no recognised unions or an insufficient number of members, elected members will be chosen from the workforce. They may also be part of a staff consultation committee.
The employer is obliged to take notice of its health and safety committee's work and recommendations. If it fails to do so and an accident occurs, the victim of such an accident is likely to have a better case for making a compensation claim for a personal injury than if the company has made efforts to reduce the likelihood of a problem occurring.
Health and safety officers have legal duties on behalf of the business and they need to be made aware of dangerous situations, either those which have just become apparent or ones which have been ongoing, at the earliest opportunity. Workers should use their usual chain of management to pass on any concerns.
The Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has information on the responsibilities and work of employee representatives on its website.
It is important that all employees can understand the health and safety information available to them, especially if they do not understand English very well. This includes emergency procedures, safety data sheets for materials being used and notices about risks such as machinery shields.
Safety representatives are entitled to know about risk assessments carried out by employers and to see the accident book which must be kept to log all incidents on and off the premises where employees have come to harm.
Accident at work and YouClaim's professional team
If you have suffered an accident at work and there is a relevant health and safety representative, it is a good idea to consult him or her as a first step to making a compensation claim because he or she may help with evidence of the employer's safety record and measures which have been taken to avoid similar accidents.
Further advice from a lawyer can then be obtained and the professional legal team at YouClaim will be happy to consider all the information about any workplace accident, which is not your fault but which has caused you personal injury, and suggest how the case for justified recompense should be pursued.
The highest standards of professional work are maintained by YouClaim's solicitors, who have an excellent record of success in gaining damages payments for people who have been injured in workplace accidents and suffered consequent pain and loss of earnings.
If you want to find out how YouClaim can help in representing you after an accident at work, why not call one of our friendly legal advisers on our freephone number 0800 10 757 95 today or complete an online claim form.
