Accidents In The Office.
You might think that an office is a relatively safe place to work. It doesn’t have many of the same hazards associated with factories, construction sites and other workplaces that use machinery, however accidents can still occur. In fact, every year there are a significant number of office injuries and compensation claims arising from accidents occurring in offices.
Most office injuries are avoidable if the relevant health and safety regulations are adhered to. Many office claims arise as a result of inadequate workstations and seating arrangements. As many office workers are seated for the majority of the day it is essential that they are comfortable and sat in a safe position. Other office injuries include trips over trailing cables and other obstacles on the floor, slipping on worm or broken steps or muscle injuries from lifting heavy objects.
As with all personal injury claims if another party, in this case the employer, can be proved negligent then compensation may well be recoverable for an office-based work injury claim. If the accident was a result of the employer’s failure to identify a risk and protect his/her staff then it is the injured party’s right to receive compensation.
Any working environment is subject to health and safety legislations to protect the staff working there. Even though you might not think that an office has a great deal of risks there are still rules that an employer must abide by. It is the employer’s duty to look after his/her staff whilst they are on the premises.
Every employer must carry out a risk assessment in order to identify any potential risks and put in place preventative methods. These methods could include ensuring leads and wires are tidy and not obstructing any walkways or making sure that employers desks are arranged in such a way that they won’t be under any strain whilst using a computer keyboard. They are also responsible for providing staff with adequate training on the risks that exist in the workplace, as well as how to behave in order to avoid injury.
Common injuries in the office workplace include repetitive strain injury due to bad ergonomic planning in the office. This can lead to long-term injury and be very serious. Trips in the office are common, especially when wires are allowed to trail or obstruct walkways. Slips and falls on wet floors or icy car parks are common accidents and can result in broken bones or worse, as well as electric shocks caused by faulty equipment or untested electronics in the office work place. Carbon monoxide poisoning is another common accident in the workplace and can occur if there are broken appliances in the vicinity such as gas boilers. If a job involves heavy lifting then back injuries are very common, especially if the employer has not been educated on how to lift items safely.
If you have been injured in an office-based injury that was not your fault then you could be entitled to compensation for your sufferings. If it can be proved that your employer has been negligent in some way then you should be able to file a workplace accident claim. Proving a person’s negligence can often be quite complex and requires a knowledge a legal legislation so it is always advisable to seek professional help.
This is where Accident Consult steps in. They can guide and support you through the often complicated process of claiming and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
Tags: compensation claims, construction sites, factories, health and safety, lifting heavy objects, office workers, personal injury claims, risk assessment, safe place, safety regulations, walkways, working environment, workplaces |
