Health and safety in the workplace

You may associate health and safety at work with factories or construction sites, but every employer has a duty of care to protect their employees in the workplace.

Health and safety in the workplace has become even more prevalent in recent months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the government issuing new guidance on PPE and safety measures to keep us all safe. But whose responsibility is it to keep us safe at work? And where do employees stand when something goes wrong?

What is health and safety in the workplace?

All workers are entitled to work in a place where any risk to their health and safety is controlled. This means that employees, and anyone visiting the workplace such as customers or clients, should be protected against anything that can cause harm.

In an office, where the risk is relatively low, the employer would need to ensure that staff are given training on lifting heavy boxes or provided with desk chairs that are adjustable and comfortable, for example. While hospital workers must be provided with scrubs and hand washing stations, or, in more recent times, PPE to protect them and their patients from coronavirus.

In factory environments, employers are more likely to be obligated to provide safety clothing and footwear free of charge, as well as give training on using machinery safely.

It’s not just providing physical items to protect workers against danger. A large part of ensuring health and safety in the workplace is providing adequate training and support to prevent accidents from happening.

Who is responsible for workplace health and safety?

The primary responsibility is down to employers. The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 sets out employers’ and employee’s duties when it comes to workplace health and safety,

Employers have a duty of care for their employees, and must communicate health and safety matters with them. By law, business owners should ensure they have a health and safety policy which is shared with employees. They should also have an up-to-date risk assessment, display the HSE-approved law poster and make sure any incidents or accidents are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

What are my rights if I have an accident at work?

If you have been injured in an accident at work, and you feel that your employer has failed in their duty of care, you can claim compensation.

Workplace injuries can not only affect your health and ability to work, they can result in financial difficulties, too. Claiming compensation for a workplace accident is often the only way to get the financial support you need to replace any lost income, and to get the right treatment and rehabilitation for your recovery.

When you instruct a specialist solicitor to start your claim, they will need to investigate how your injury occurred and the impact it’s had, or will have, on your health. This will establish whether you have grounds for a successful claim.

Workplace injuries can go beyond a one-off trauma to the body; they can also include industrial diseases and injuries such as respiratory or skin conditions, RSI and vibration injuries.

If your claim for a workplace injury is successful, the compensation would be paid from your employer’s liability insurance.

Further information

If you are an employee who is concerned about your employer’s lack of duty of care when it comes to health and safety in the workplace and you would like to speak to an employment solicitor about whistleblowing procedure, we can help.

Our solicitors also advise employers and business owners across the UK on a range of employment and HR-related matters, helping to ensure their business and their employees are protected.

If you have had an accident at work and you are considering claiming compensation from your employer, our personal injury lawyers are on hand to help. Based in Bristol, our expert solicitors advise people across the UK on making personal injury claims. Simply call us on 0117 325 2929 or fill out our enquiry form to get started.