We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
Investigations after a factory accident involving machinery often reveal the equipment has not been used or manufactured according to the highest standards or there has been a poor record of maintenance of it.
Although the CE European safety marking is used on most modern machinery to show it has been designed and built to conform to safety standards, there is no guarantee that it will continue to be perfectly safe in all circumstances.
In some UK factories, particularly smaller ones, there are machines in use which first operated in Victorian times and have continued to do so through the years.
Both old and new workhorses need care to keep them in good order for the efficiency of their operation and for the safety of those who use the apparatus.
Broken guards which have not been replaced, frayed wiring capable of causing a short circuit and damaged components subject to frequent breakdowns are among the scenarios where an equipment failure could lead up to a sub-contractor or employee putting himself at risk of work-related injury when trying to keep it going.
Appropriate regular maintenance is vital but this, too, can throw up its own hazards for those undertaking it and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issues guidelines on how to avoid situations which lead to some of the most common accidents.
Asbestos
Although the dangers of inhaling asbestos dust have been known for nearly 50 years, there are still instances where construction or maintenance workers may inadvertently disturb old ceiling panels, for example, when drilling holes into the building.
Falls from height
Using ladders or lifting platforms to reach roofs, gutters or the tops of machinery can put a worker at risk of a fall. Dropped tools or materials could also pose a danger to anyone below the area of work.
Isolation and permits to work
In some particularly hazardous situations, the area may need to be completely isolated to avoid danger to those not involved in the task and where necessary a formal permit to work should be issued detailing the work, safety checks, communication methods and emergency procedures.
Falls of heavy items
Sometimes during maintenance, heavy objects or parts of machinery may need to be handled and accidents can result if these fall or strike a person, therefore, full precautions, including the use of lifting gear if necessary, should be taken to mitigate risk.
Outside contractors
Large businesses mainly carry out their own maintenance work but some jobs will be too large or require the use of outside specialists. In those circumstances, it is important people with appropriate skills and experience are employed and that they have been fully instructed on safety procedures at the site.
YouClaim's help after a factory accident
Numerous reports of factory accidents refer to employees who have suffered a work-related injury as a result of efforts to clean or maintain a machine and, although some of the blame for the consequences could be laid at the door of the victim himself, it is the employer's responsibility to ensure risks to workers have been minimised.
If this is not the case, and in some other circumstances, a worker probably will be entitled to make a claim for compensation for pain, suffering and loss of earnings which have resulted from the accident.
As soon as you have recovered sufficiently to consider the future, YouClaim's lawyers are here to help with advice and, if you require it, representation to enable you to achieve justified recompense.
For a sympathetic hearing, coupled with the professional back-up which can only be obtained from trained and experienced solicitors such as those we use, you will be in safe hands when making a claim.
Not only that but, with the no win no fee system, you will pay us nothing yet will receive 100% of all compensation won.
To find out more about our special services for people who have suffered a factory accident, call our freephone number 0800 10 757 95.
