Companies around the world are putting strict health and safety regulations in place in their offices and other workplaces. UK companies are legally required to have employer's liability insurance, but without proper rules in place, the risk of an accident at work is not reduced in any way.
An accident at work can leave you out of work for weeks while you recover, it can result in you losing income and being unable to enjoy time with the family. Some working conditions are more prone to accidents than others, but even a regular nine to five desk job comes with its fair share of risk.
Some of the most common work injuries are a result of slips. A slippery floor surface, uneven carpeting or a spill that hasn't been cleaned up can result in disastrous consequences and have you rushed to hospital.
There are ways to cut these accidents at work from happening and companies need to put steps in place to make sure their protection. Regular maintenance is essential along with rules on how to manage spills on the floor to cut a slip. Further slippery surfaces are covered in a non-slip covering to cut any injuries from taking place.
The construction industry is one of the industries with the highest number of work related incidents. Falls are exceptionally common in this industry and this type of accident at work can have serious consequences and in worst case scenarios, can result in death.
Falls from scaffolding and ladders are the most common and falling these high distances can result in broken bones, fractured spines, broken necks and even death. Other falls which can happen in any business is falling down stairs. Staff trying to carry too much to their desk from another office and miss a step can lead to serious injury.
Many companies these days offer delivery services, even the local supermarkets now offer a delivery service to their customers. This means more drivers on the road than ever before and with millions of road traffic accidents taking place around the world each year, this is another common accident at work which can lead to serious injury.
With so many drivers on the road, all companies can really do is train them in safe driving techniques, make sure the driver has a clean driving license and hope for the best. There isn't much the company can do in the result of an injury caused by a motor vehicle collision, but it's still one of the most common of the accident at work claims seen by attorneys today.
Other accidents at work include neck and back injuries, along with repetitive strain injury. These injuries are a result of lifting heavy items throughout the day without proper instruction on how to life properly to using a keyboard day in and out for hours on end. Either way these injuries can leave you unable to complete your job productively and even leave you flat on your back in bed for weeks at a time.
One of the more serious workplace incidents is burns. These are common in the industrial industry where workers are working with dangerous chemicals without the property training or equipment.
It's up to the company to ensure that the staff have the proper clothing and goggles when working with chemicals to avoid inhalation and burns, reducing the number of incidents and helping keep their staff safe and healthy throughout their entire working experience.