As employees, we rightly place complete trust in our employers to keep us safe. Not only do they have a legal obligation to ensure our health and safety while we are at work, in order to maintain ongoing operations and protect their reputations, but most businesses also take this matter very seriously.
Employer Health & Safety Risk Assessments
Employers of all types and sizes must routinely undertake risk assessments across all aspects of their business, including car parks, vehicles, premises and warehouses. For every health and safety risk they identify, they must implement control and mitigation measures to eliminate the danger, or if this is not possible, mitigate it as much as possible.
Employer Health & Safety Policies
In order to control health and safety risks, employers have at their disposal a wide range of strategies, including creating policies and procedures to be followed across the business, staff training, providing protective equipment (e.g. eyewear and ear defenders), safety guards on machines, using clear signage to warn and remind staff of known risks, and rotating staff between roles to avoid over-use injuries such as vibration white finger or carpal tunnel syndrome.
While it is a considerable undertaking to manage health and safety risks across an organisation, it is nevertheless one private and public entities are required to do by law. As such, if you have been injured at work due the negligence actions (or failure to act) of your employer, you may be able to bring a claim against them for your pain, suffering and losses.
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