With the amount of safety rules that are put in place these days, it should be nearly impossible to suffer from a workplace injury. However, when employers do not adhere to the guidelines that they have been given to run a safe business, it is often the case that accidents can unfortunately happen. In these cases, it is important to know what your rights as an employee are and be able to provide all of the relevant evidence What are my rights in the workplace? As an employee, your employer must adhere to certain rules. If they do not fulfil these requirements, then they are technically breaking the law. These requirements are:
- That they must give all employees information about the risks that are present in their workplace and detailing how they are sufficiently protected from these risks. Additionally, employees must also be taught how they can best avoid them.
- That they must carry out regular risk assessments that address all of the potential hazards in the workplace.
- That they must also directly consult all employees on health and safety issues. This consultation must either be done directly, or it can be through a safety representative who is elected by the workforce or appointed by the trade union.
If, as an employee, you feel that you have been exposed to dangers in your workplace, then you must make your concerns known to your employer as soon as possible. If the concerns you raise are ignored and your employer fails to take action to assist you, then you may be entitled to injury compensation. What should I do when I’ve had an accident at work? What to do after an accident at work is one of the most important things to know if you are going to provide the best possible evidence for your case. Although it is understandable that you may not be able to carry out all of these steps in the wake of an accident, even partially completing some of them can be helpful. The best things to do are:
- Take photos of the scene at which your accident happened, highlighting any obvious hazards
- Take notes on the circumstances of your accident and anything or anyone that was involved.
- Ask anyone who was a witness to your accident to record their own version of events as they saw them. Also take their contact details in case you will need to ask them anything further or seek more clarification.
- Take further photos of any injuries that have occurred as a result of your accident.
The right compensation can help you to pay any medical bills that may have built up for the relevant treatment that you have had to have for your injury, as well as covering any lost wages from times that you have not been able to go into work. Legal professionals will be able to determine how much compensation you are entitled to, and ensure that you have all of the payment you need to be financially supported.
