Health and safety laws exist to protect you at work from such hazards as defective equipment, the negligence of other employees or unsafe working practices. If you are injured due to negligence on the part of your employer you may be able to claim compensation. Your employer must ensure that you are protected from hazards that can occur in the workplace, for example: slips, falls and injuries from lack of training on equipment or lifting. If they have not complied with Health and Safety laws and you suffer an injury they may be found liable for those injuries.

If you have an accident at work make sure that you fill in an accident book accurately and as promptly as possible. Try and take photos these can be extremely helpful in demonstrating the problem that has arisen and possibly proving that your employer has been negligent. Don’t forget most mobile phones now have cameras on them. Obtain witness names and statements from anyone who saw what happened.

Of course, this is not all about making a claim. We should all take responsibility for looking out for issues that could result in an injury to someone else whilst in the work place, such as equipment not cleared away properly or slipping hazards. Should you see things in your workplace that would appear unsafe you should always report them to the appropriate person. You may be fine, but it could prevent someone else from sustaining a far worse injury. 

Some people worry about making an accident at work claim against their employer, fearing it might lead to them losing their job. Employers have a legal requirement to obtain public liability insurance and, therefore, if you pursue a personal injury claim against them, the likelihood is that the insurance will satisfy any award of damages.