| If you are injured at work then you may well be eligible | | | | failed to meet the standards of the Health and Safety |
| for accident at work compensation. If your employer is | | | | at Work Act. |
| at fault - if its due to dangerous working conditions, | | | | To make a claim for compensation, you need to |
| faulty equipment or other unsafe situations caused by | | | | establish that the accident or injury was due to a |
| your employer's inattention - then under the health and | | | | failure by your employer to meet their obligations under |
| safety at work act, you could receive compensation | | | | the law. You also need to make this claim within three |
| beyond simple statutory sick pay. | | | | years of the accident - and in honesty, sooner is often |
| Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, an | | | | better as if your claim is disputed you'll need to build a |
| employer has a "duty of care" to look after their | | | | body of evidence to substantiate your case. |
| employees wellbeing as far as possible. No matter | | | | It's important to note that as an employee, you too |
| what the size of a business, regular risk assessments | | | | have responsibilities under the same act which requires |
| should take place to spot possible health and safety | | | | employers to take due care over your safety in the |
| hazards and someone in the organisation should be | | | | workplace. |
| given responsibility for overseeing this. | | | | As an employee, you are required to take "reasonable |
| All employers no matter the size and scale of their | | | | care" of your own health and safety. This means that |
| operation have a responsibility to make the workplace | | | | if you operate machinery, you should make sure to |
| safe for their employees. They should take steps to | | | | avoid wearing loose clothing or hairstyles that could put |
| prevent risks to health and they should ensure that | | | | you at risk. If you suffer any injuries, strains or illnesses |
| plant and machinery located in their premises or used | | | | as a result of your job you should inform your |
| by employees off-premises are safe to use. | | | | employer - and if you are affected by anything that |
| Additionally they should set up plans for what actions | | | | could impede your ability to work, you should tell them |
| should be taken in case of an emergency, take care | | | | so that a solution can be found without putting your |
| to minimise the risks of hazardous or flammable | | | | health at risk. |
| explosive materials and ensure that all of the facilities | | | | Above all though, you should make sure that you |
| meed the standards for ventilation, temperature, lighting | | | | follow the safety practises established by your |
| and hygiene that health and safety laws stipulate. | | | | employer - for example if you've been provided with |
| If the business where you work employs more than | | | | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as a |
| five people then there must also be an official record | | | | helmet, gloves or breathing guard, you need to wear it |
| of each of these assessments, as well as a | | | | in the course of your duties or the accident will most |
| formalised health and safety policy that details the | | | | definitely be your fault. |
| arrangements made to protect your health and safety. | | | | If your employer forces you to break these standards |
| If your business doesn't have these then you will most | | | | though, the situation is rather different and you could |
| likely have the right to accident at work compensation | | | | have a solid case for accident at work compensation. |
| for any workplace injury, as the employer has already | | | | |