Can self employed workers make a claim?
It can be tricky understanding your work accident cover if you are self-employed. Most self employed workers, or self employed contractors working with a firm have the right to expect that the firm they are with will guard them against work related risks, according to section 3 of the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957.
However, independent contractors or self employed workers are expected to ensure their own safety unless they are working for someone independently where the ‘employer' is expected to safeguard the contractor from any risk that they may not be aware of.
Just imagine you fell over and broke an arm in a supermarket store because the floor was slippery. You would usually make a claim against the store because it was the store that was liable for your fall causing your arm to break, and it would be the store that pays out for your compensation.
But imagine now, that you have your own business, say a newsagent, and you incurred the same incident in your shop. With you being the owner of the shop, making a compensation claim against your-self would be pointless, and therefore it cannot be done as you will not be covered as a self-employed person.
The insurance protects yourself and your business against the loss of income due to ill health or unforeseen accidents.
All businesses should have public liability and employer's liability insurance to ensure coverage in the case of any property damage, injury to a third party, or injury to all staff.
Employers liability insurance is mandatory for limited companies. It provides businesses that employ temporary workers, sub-contractors and trainees and full time staff the cover to pay for damages or personal injuries occurred during the course of employment if the employer is found to be at fault.
Updated on 29/01/2009