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Common hazards in the workplace

Places of work can be hazardous. In fact according to the Human Resources Management Guide, as many as one in ten people sustained an injury in the workplace in the first half of the 2000s.
Whilst we are all exposed to potential risks of an accident or injury and work on a daily basis, the good news is that being aware of the most common hazards can significantly reduce our chances of being involved in an accident.

Falls

Falls are extremely common in the workplace and according to Work Place Safety Advice trips, slips and falls invariably ranked the highest in accidents at work from figures collected from 1996 – 2008.
There are many reasons why someone may fall over at their place of work – from incorrectly stored equipment to spillages and trailing leads. Some of the most common injuries caused by a fall at work include back injury, neck injury, head injury, sprains and repetitive strain injury.

Whatever the reason behind a fall at work and whatever injury may have been sustained, the injured party is entitled to monetary compensation for accidents which occur in the workplace. 

Exposure to asbestos

Asbestos exposure is the biggest killer in the British workplace, causing more than 4,000 deaths a year according to The Independent – that’s more accidents than occur on the road!

The fibres caused by asbestos can settle in somebody’s lungs for as long as 50 years before causing cancer. Since 1995, society has been aware that asbestos dust can cause fatal lung cancers and anyone that has become ill due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace will be entitled to asbestos compensation. 

In fact, earlier this year thousands of families whose relatives had been killed by asbestos-related cancers won a landmark compensation case when the Supreme Court ordered insurers who offered cover at the time the victims inhaled the deadly asbestos dust to pay up.

The cancer caused by exposure to asbestos is known as mesothelioma and is a rare form of cancer. It initially develops in cells found in the protective lining of organs (known as the mesothelium) and most commonly affects the lungs.

If your mesothelioma was caused due to exposure to asbestos in the workplace then you may be able to claim mesothelioma compensation and should seek professional assistance in doing so.

Manual handling/lifting

Manual handling and lifting occurs in most working environments and is one of the most common causes of workplace injuries. Lower back pain is one of the most common types of injury caused by lifting objects and they are many ways in which such injuries can be sustained. Attempting to lift items that are too heavy, are difficult to grasp, involve awkward postures or movements or trying to move goods in a working environment which lacks sufficient space can all cause health issues.

It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure you are able to lift and work within a safe environment, and that means providing you with sufficient training as well as the appropriate equipment for the job. If your employer fails in their duties with regards to this and you suffer an accident as a result then you could be entitled to compensation for any injuries you have sustained.