Work Accidents – New Statistics
New statistics have recently been released which demonstrate just how severe the number of work-related injuries really is in Great Britain. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations of 1995 ensure that work-related injuries do not go unreported; it is a legal requirement for employers to report all instances of such injuries. The statistics gathered, therefore, can be used to minimise risks in the workplace. Current statistics, however, demonstrate that the number of injuries and illnesses occurring is still very high.
Between 2007 and 2008, a reported 2.1 million workers suffered illnesses which came about as a direct result of their work, the new report, released by the Health & Safety Executive, suggests. A further 229,000 workers suffered injuries that were deemed reportable under the regulations, while an additional 136, 771 injuries were also reported.
However, these statistics may not give a complete picture of how large a problem workplace accidents and injuries are; it is, of course, unknown how many of these cases are going unreported.
These kinds of work accidents are typically associated with jobs involving manual labour; most people picture work accidents as involving dangerous power tools or heavy machinery. This is not always the case, though. The statistics show that those in white-collar jobs are just as likely to suffer work accidents; of these, almost 50% are of the slip and trip variety, while around 25% involve heavy lifting. This does not, however, mean that these are minor injuries: more than 30% of the work accidents reported required their victims to take at least 3 days’ absence for recovery.
Employers, of course, have a responsibility to reduce the risk of work accidents at all times. In light of this, there are legal measures in place which require employers to take reasonable measures to reduce risk; they must, for instance, provide their employees with proper safety training, and, where necessary, employees must have the correct safety equipment for the job in hand. It is always important in cases of accident or injury to make a proper report.
Unfortunately, some employees are often reticent to take action in this regard, worrying that, by filing an accident report or even launching court action against their employers, they could be dismissed, or find it difficult to find future employment. However, not only does the injured party have a responsibility to make a complaint in this case, an employer should positively welcome it; unreported dangers in the workplace which cause future accidents will only end up costing an employer even more money in the future.
If you have ever been the victim of a work accident, therefore, and you believe that your employer was liable for the accident because they failed in some way to ensure that proper safety measures were taken in the workplace, it is strongly advised that you seek help from a legal professional. Many solicitors specialise in work accidents, and so will be able to provide you with all the guidance you will need in your case, and, ultimately, will be able to ensure that you receive all of the compensation to which you are entitled.
Updated on 11/22/2010