A look at how personal injuries can be sustained in the workplace

Nobody wants to go to work. If I had the choice I'd be lying on a beach sipping a cocktail right now instead of being sat here at my desk. But, with life being as it is, that's not an option that many of us have.

And so into work we go, five days a week, until we finally hit the age of 65.

But until we hit that birthday we expect to be looked after at work. There might be jobs that we don't particularly like and tasks that are somewhat boring, but it's reasonable to expect your employer to ensure your health and wellbeing and protect you from harm.

Sadly, however, throughout history millions of people have suffered personal injuries in the workplace. Unscrupulous bosses have regularly failed to look after their staff and many people's lives have been ruined as a result.

The introduction of machinery into the workplace during the nineteenth century saw regular cases of weavers losing limbs and even being killed in work accidents, while jobs such as chimney sweeping, labouring and fishing also claimed their fair share of casualties.

Today things have improved greatly thanks to the introduction of strict laws controlling what can and can't happen in the workplace. But despite the work of trade unions and legislative bodies such as the HSE (Health & Safety Executive), people are still receiving personal injuries whilst at work.

Anybody who is hurt at work through no fault of their own is well within their rights to make a personal injury compensation claim against whoever was responsible for their accident. More often than not, the liability for the incident lies with the employer for failing to ensure safe working practices and so an accident claim can be made against them.

It matters not if the work accident took place in a factory, on a building site, in an office or in any other place of employment and it should be possible to make a claim for whatever type of personal injury was sustained.

The office
An office may not look like a particularly dangerous place but if adequate safety measures are not taken it can be a potential hotbed for accidents.

As firms become more and more reliant on computers the number of wires in the office increase. Internet cables often trail across the floor, keyboard wires dangle under desks and printer cables adorn the tops of tables. On top of that there seem to be wires and cords for everything from telephones and photocopiers to fans and paper shredders. It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that all these wires are kept out of the way and do not cause staff to trip over and suffer a personal injury.

Boxes, files and folders also need to be properly stored and kept out of the way. Similarly, walkways and access points must be kept free from clutter and other hazards, such as coats and bags.

An employer may ensure that trip hazards are kept to a minimum but it is also their responsibility to make sure that your workstation is suitable and not damaging your health in any way. This includes preventing symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) by providing suitable desks and chairs and also catering to any special needs that employers might have.

Building sites
Despite the huge amount of legislation that exists to prevent workers suffering personal injuries, construction accidents are a regular occurrence in the UK. Working on a building site is dangerous by its very nature and so bosses must take extra care to protect their employees.

The movement of vehicles and plant is particularly dangerous and forklifts, cranes, 360s and dumper trucks can also cause serious personal injuries if care is not taken. The various tools and equipment used on site can also cause harm to anybody not trained in their safe operation and adequate safety gear must be provided at all times.

Ladders and scaffolding are an integral part of most building sites but can be deadly if not secured and maintained properly. Harnesses must also be worn above a certain height and weather conditions must be taken into account.

At the other extreme, care must be taken to avoid suffering potentially fatal personal injuries when working below the surface. Trenches and holes must be properly supported and training must be provided to anybody instructed to work underground.

Working in the construction industry is one of the most dangerous jobs there is and it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that everybody on site has the right tools for the job and is fully trained to work safely. If this is not done and you suffer a personal injury as a result, you could be in a position to make an accident claim for compensation.

Factory work
Making a personal injury compensation claim is also a possibility if you've been hurt whilst working in a factory.

Small children might no longer be sent climbing into weaving machines to collect stray threads but any factory or production plant is still an extremely dangerous place if adequate safety precautions are not exercised. Regular risk assessments should be carried out by safety bosses and any potential risks to the welfare of staff should be reported immediately.

The majority of modern machines are fitted with safety guards and, under no circumstances, should these be removed in order to increase productivity. If gloves are provided they should be worn and emergency stop buttons should be clearly labelled and kept in good working order.

It is not only personal injuries that factory workers are prone to, but long term health problems as well. Industrial deafness can be caused by exposure to excessive noise and lung damage is also a possibility if working with certain chemicals and substances.

Make a personal injury claim with YouClaim
The three different types of workplaces mentioned above are only an example of some of the many working environments that have the potential to cause employees personal injuries. Of course, all places of work have some degree of danger and it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that staff are protected from this.

If you've suffered an accident at work through no fault of your own you could be in a position to make a compensation claim with YouClaim.

We really are the experts at helping to make personal injury claims following work accidents and our fantastic success rate speaks volumes about the excellent level of service we can provide.

Our panel of personal injury solicitors are specialists in work accidents and have helped thousands of people win the compensation that they deserve. And now they can help you too.

And the best bit about it all is that at no point during your claim will you be asked to pay out a single penny. Neither YouClaim nor the personal injury solicitor that pursues your claim will charge you a thing and you can even keep 100% of any compensation that is awarded.

So if you want to make a claim with the personal injury experts, pick up the phone today and give us a call on 0800 10 757 95.