You have the right to be safe in your place of work. Your employer has a duty of care to ensure that this right is properly observed. However, for one reason or another, accidents in the workplace are still a common occurrence. The most common types of accidents that result in personal injury in the workplace are as follows.

Repetitive strain injuries

This common type of workplace injury affects people in all sorts of professions, from people working on the factory floor and in warehouses etc. to those working in offices. Back injuries are often experienced by those who work in manual-handling positions, while carpal tunnel syndrome is an injury that often afflicts people working with keyboards.

To avoid these types of injuries, employers should issue their staff with ergonomically designed furniture, and anyone in manual-handing jobs should be properly trained in the correct way of lifting things.

Injured by machinery

Any machine that has exposed moving parts or cutting blades, can pose a health hazard. It is the employer’s responsibility to make sure that all such machines are fitted with appropriate guards, and that these guards are in good working order and that workers are properly instructed in the safe use of this type of machinery. Employers may also need to issue staff with appropriate PPE, such as hard hats, safety goggles, and ear protectors.

Injured by on-site vehicles

Depending on the nature of a business, companies may have vehicles of some description on their site. These vehicles include things like delivery lorries and forklift trucks. Collisions with any vehicles can cause serious injury and in some cases can even prove fatal.

As part of the employer’s duty of care to all employees, they must ensure that any vehicles in the workplace are fitted with flashing beacons and audible movement alarms. Wherever possible, vehicles and people should be kept well apart.

Falls from height

Falls from height are one of the most dangerous types of accidents at work. The greater the height from which victims fall, the more serious the injury as a rule, However, even falls from small heights such as three or four feet, can also cause bone fractures.

Once again, correct training is important and employers should ensure that fall arrest equipment and appropriate guard rails are in evidence where appropriate.

Injuries from toxic substances

Any business that uses toxic substances as part of its processing must ensure that COSHH regulations are correctly implemented and maintained. COSHH stands for the Care of Substances Hazardous to Health. As well as labeling and storing such substances safely, employers must make sure that all employees who come into contact with these substances are correctly trained and are fully aware of any risks involved.

Call a specialist helpline for accident claim assistance

If you have been injured in an accident or incident in the workplace and someone else was to blame, you should call a specialist helpline for accident claim assistance, to find out about registering a personal injury compensation claim.