An accident can occur at anytime in any place, but an accident in the workplace can mean time, work and money lost. The HSE record 4.7 million days lost due to workplace injury. The type of injury depends on the nature of the employment. If you work in an office you are unlikely to suffer chemical burns or equipment failure, which is why the most common causes of injuries are from ‘slips trips and falls’ or due to ‘manual handling’.
Even the smallest of trip or fall can result in head injury or bone damage. Employers are responsible for making their staff aware of Health and Safety requirements specific to their job role. In fact, workers in childcare are given specific policies on how to pick up and carry babies and small children to prevent accidents to both parties.
Employers are required to make risk assessments to prevent injuries to their staff. When risk assessments and Health and Safety Rules are not in place is when more accidents start to happen. The consequences of these actions are staff not being able to stay at work, staff on sickness leave that have to make insurance claims and, in some cases, death (180 workers in 2008/09).
When work place accidents are recorded in an accident book, through RIDDOR or through an insurance case, the employer is able to take responsibility and make changes to reduce injuries to the staff they are responsible for.
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