Most people know that health and safety is very important in the workplace. However, not everyone is aware of who is responsible for maintaining health and safety. We can be bombarded with too much information or we can be too busy with the job in hand. Either way, we may sometimes lose sight of who has to do what. In the event of something serious occurring, any confusion can be calamitous. Therefore this article seeks to clarify these crucial matters for those who aren’t quite up to speed.
According to government information, your employer is obliged to report serious work-related accidents, diseases and incidents to the Incident Contact Centre of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). They are legally obliged to report:
• major injuries like broken bones
• dangerous incidents such as the release of a toxic gas
• any injury that stops an employee from doing their normal work for more than three days
• contagious disease
• death
The reporting has to be done by the employer, but if a worker is involved it’s a good idea for them to make sure it’s been reported.
Employees are obliged to take reasonable care over their own health and safety.
An employer should always do things like risk assessments. Furthermore, they should appoint first aiders. By following good practice, they can avoid accidents at work. An accident at work can result in a compensation claim. However, compensation claims can be relatively small beer compared with the trauma and suffering caused by a serious accident at work.
Related Personal Injury News
- Why An Accident At Work Should Not Be Ignored
- Fireman wins a claim for compensation after suffering from an accident at work
- Construction – Health and Safety at Work
- Claiming for injuries at work
- How to stop an accident at work from happening