Can I Make an Office Accident Compensation Claim?

Injuries at work are extremely common in the UK due to the potentially hazardous nature of many job roles. Some of the most common workplaces associated with accidents are warehouses, construction sites and agricultural sites, but many employees also suffer serous injuries while working in an office. Although associated with more sedate and potentially safe work, offices can pose a number of hazards to those who are not properly protected by their employer, and as such it is important that companies take the correct steps to ensure employee safety.

In some cases there is very little legislation that details the responsibilities of office employers to protect their staff from harm, and many employers take as few steps as possible to keep their workers safe. However, employers are still subject to Workplace Regulations, which state that employers have a duty of care over their employees, which means that they should be protected from any avoidable physical or psychological harm while at work.neck-brace

Common Office Accident Compensation Claims

There are many different types of possible office accident claim, and possible injuries often depend on individual office environment. However, there are some common office accidents that command the attention of many of the UK’s personal injury lawyers each year.

Slips, Trips and Falls:

One of the most common claims made by office workers are slips, trips and falls claims. An often overlooked but potentially serious hazard, trip and fall risks can lead to severe and potentially long-term or life threatening injuries in some circumstances. Slips and trips are often caused by objects left in unsafe places, such as cables from electrical equipment left across a floor or files stacks in a walkway.

Electric Shocks:

There are many electrical items that are vital to the running of an office environment. Equipment including fax machines, computers and printers are all regularly used in offices but rarely considered a hazard. However, if not properly maintained, all electrical equipment has the potential to caused electric shocks to employees.

Asbestos-Related Illness:

Although most offices are free from asbestos, there are still many in the UK that contain asbestos materials and therefore have the potential to cause harm to employees. Employer negligence with regards to asbestos can lead to serious and even life threatening asbestos-related disease, which can lead to valid compensation claims.

Falls from Heights:

Office spaces may seem like the last place where a fall from height claim could be made, but there are a number of falls from height personal injury compensation claims made by office workers every year. The most common reason for these claims is a lack of training provided by the employer, which would highlight the risks and hazards of working at height in an office and could prevent workers from taking unnecessary risks. However, there are some cases where office workers may be required to work at height, for example if they are retrieving items from a high store cupboard. In this instance, the employer should have provided the correct equipment such as a safe step ladder for the employee to use. The employer should also have ensured that every employee was trained to use the equipment safely.