How Can You Prevent An Accident At The Workplace

This article helps suggest steps you can take if you are wondering how you can prevent an accident at the workplace. It looks at some of the common causes of accidents in the workplace and suggests action that can be taken to help reduce the likeliness of them happening. It also outlines what you should know about making a workplace accident claim. 

How can you prevent an accident at a workplace

How can you prevent an accident at a workplace

As well as presenting some accidents at work examples, the article goes on to explain how compensation for a work accident is calculated. This guide also looks at what a No Win No Fee arrangement is and how it can reduce the financial risk of funding the work of a solicitor. 

Furthermore, this article points you to other resources that will help answer any other questions you may have. As well as this, you can get in touch with our team of advisors using the information below: 

  • Call us on the number above
  • Use the live chat feature to the bottom right of this page
  • Contact us online

Choose A Section

  1. How Can You Prevent An Accident At A Workplace?
  2. What Is The Meaning Of A Workplace Accident?
  3. Accident At Work Examples
  4. Calculating Compensation For A Workplace Accident
  5. What Impact Could A No Win No Fee Agreement Have?
  6. More Resources – How Can You Prevent An Accident At A Workplace?

How Can You Prevent An Accident At A Workplace?

A workplace accident can have a severe impact on the injured person. If you’re involved in an accident like this, you could sustain physical and psychological injuries that have an effect on your quality of life.

You may be wondering how can you prevent an accident at a workplace. There are a number of actions you can take. However, it’s important to also note that your employer has a duty of care towards you and needs to act in a way that reduces the risk of their employees being injured. If they breach this duty in a way that causes injury, then you could claim. 

Statistics For Accidents In Work

The accident at work statistics below are taken from the health and safety at work statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

In 2020/21, there were 51,211 non-fatal workplace accidents reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. There were:

  • 5,117 instances of someone being struck by a flying or falling object
  • 9,314 instances of someone being injured while carrying or lifting something
  • 16,698 instances of slips, trips and falls on the same level
  • 4,143 instances of falls from a height

What Is The Meaning Of A Workplace Accident?

An accident at work is defined by the HSE as an unexpected and unintended incident at work that leads to an injury. A workplace accident must have happened out of our in connection with your work duties. 

Employers are obligated to do what is reasonably possible to maintain the health and safety of the employees in the workplace. This obligation is outlined in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. This means that employers owe a duty of care to their employees. 

For instance, if an employer does not provide adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for an employee who works in an environment where this is required to do their job safely, they have breached their duty of care. If the employee get’s injured, the employer could be held liable. 

You cannot start the process of making a claim if you were involved in an accident but didn’t sustain any injuries as a result. Similarly, you can’t claim for an accident causing injury if you were the one who caused it.

For more information on claiming for a workplace accident that caused you harm, speak with an advisor today.

Accident At Work Examples

Some types of accidents are more common in certain environments, which is important to bear in mind when considering how you can prevent an accident at a workplace. For instance, a worker is more likely to be struck by a moving object in an environment with moving machinery or where objects can fall from a height.

some potential accident types that you could sustain at work include:

  • Slips trips or falls: Wet floors or slippery surfaces could be one of the causes of this kind of accident in the workplace. If you slipped on a spill that you weren’t made aware of through signs, or that wasn’t cleaned up in a reasonable timeframe, then this could be an example of negligence. These types of accidents can also be a consequence of poor lighting in a work area.
  • Handling, lifting and carrying: If you’re not trained properly on manual handling techniques, you could be injured as a result. 
  • Struck by a moving object: This might happen if, for example, you work with machinery that breaks and a piece of it swings and hits you. This could cause a head injury. 
  • Falls from a height: You might fall from a height if you’re working on a platform that is unsecured and you drop and fall as a result. 

It is advisable to seek out legal advice so that the process of pursuing compensation is as easy as it can be. Call us on the number at the top of the page and we could pass you to a solicitor from our panel who will help you gather the relevant information and evidence you will need for a successful claim.

Calculating Compensation For A Workplace Accident

Many factors are taken into consideration while calculating compensation for a workplace accident. Compensation for workplace accidents can be split into two heads; general damages and special damages. 

General damages compensate you for the physical and psychological pain and suffering caused by your injuries. Special damages compensate for financial losses you incur. 

When you make a claim, you might be asked to attend an independent medical assessment. This is so that your injuries can be assessed and confirmed to be consistent with the accident you were involved in. The medical expert conducting the assessment will generate a report, which will be used to value your claim.

In the table below are examples of work accident compensation figures that came from the 16th Edition of the Judicial College Guidelines released in April 2022. The amount you actually receive might differ. 

InjuryNotesAmounts
Brain Damage (a) Very Severe

Markedly reduced language function.
Incontinence. Full-time care needed
£282,010 to £403,990
Brain Damage (b) Moderately Severe

The injured person will be seriously disabled and dependent on others for constant care. £219,070 to £282,01
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (a) Severe

Permanent effects in all aspects of life that prevent functioning at the same level as pre-trauma.£59,860 to £100,670
Eye Injuries (d)Total Loss of One Eye



Psychiatric and cosmetic effects will be considered.£54,830 to £65,710
Ear Injuries (c)Total Loss of Hearing in One Ear
Effects like dizziness and headaches will be taken into account.

£31,310 to £45,540
Chest Injuries (c)
Continuing disability caused by damage to chest and injuries to lungs.



£31,310 to £54,830
Neck Injuries (b)
Moderate
Fractures or dislocations. Serious soft tissue injuries.
£24,990 to
£38,490
Back Injuries (b)
Moderate
Causing residual disability that is less severe than in more serious cases.
£27,760 to £38,780
Shoulder Injuries (b)
Serious
Resulting in shoulder and neck pain and sensory issues in the arm and hand. £12,770 to £19,200
Wrist Injuries (c ) Less severe injuriesSome persisting disabilities like pain and stiffness

£12,590 to £24,500

In order to claim special damages, you need to provide proof that shows the losses you’re claiming for. Examples of some of the things that can be included under special damages include: 

  • Travel costs to and from medical appointments
  • The cost of care that you need because of your injuries
  • Adaptations to your house or car
  • Loss of earnings if your injuries have stopped you from working

Speak with an advisor today for a free, no-obligation claim evaluation. If it’s valid, you could be provided with a solicitor from our panel.

What Impact Could A No Win No Fee Agreement Have?

A No Win No Fee agreement can also be called a Conditional Fee Agreement. This agreement means that they will represent you without the need for upfront solicitor fees or ongoing fees. The benefits of this arrangement are that it removes the financial barriers associated with seeking legal representation. 

A small percentage of your compensation that is capped by law will go towards paying their legal costs if your claim is successful. If your claim fails, there’s no success fee to pay. 

Ask Us “How Can You Prevent An Accident At A Workplace?”

Get free legal advice from our advisors today. Here are ways you can reach us:

  • Call us using the number at the top of the page
  • Fill out our form on this website
  • Use the live chat option on this page

More Resources – How Can You Prevent An Accident At A Workplace?

HSE guidance on slips and trips

Advice on when to visit A&E from the NHS

Government information on when you could be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

We’ve also produced additional guides on how you can prevent an accident at a workplace and what to do if one occurs:

Written by Mary Matisse

Published by Fern Stringer