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Preventing Accident at Work Compensation Claims with Risk Assessments

• Hellen
  Clearwater Solicitors...

Risk assessments are a vital tool in preventing accident at work compensation claims. In fact, if a company can show that it has completed regular risk assessments in an effective manner, if may be able to demonstrate that it has not been negligent in its duty of care towards its workforce and may be able to avoid being held liable in accident at work compensation claims.

Although it is best to eliminate risk entirely, the law obliges companies to protect workers and the general public as far as is 'reasonably practicable'. Simple, effective, affordable measures are usually all that is required to do so.

How to conduct a risk assessment

While there are a lot of ways to complete risk assessments, the following guidelines should be adequate for most businesses.
- Identify hazards

Travel around the workplace to sport for hazards and dangers. Ask employees what could lead to an accident at work compensation claim, involving representatives and the entire workforce in your risk assessments.
Manufacturers and suppliers can provide safe-use instructions with hazardous materials, and you can use these instructions to inform your risk assessments.

Look at your accident book and your employee absence records to spot hazards that are leading to personal injuries. Industrial illnesses cause more health problems than accident at work, so consider the long-term health risks as well as short-term ones. Visit the Health and Safety Executive's website or call in a safety consultant if you cannot spot hazards effectively in-house.

- Consider who is at risk

Identify who is at risk from each particular hazard and what injuries may arise from these hazards. Remember, some people, such as those with health problems, the elderly and infirm, or pregnant women, may have particular requirements and face particular risks.

- Evaluate the risks and select effective safety measures

Think about whether a risk can be eliminated, and if it cannot be, then think about how the risks can be controlled in such a way as to minimise the likelihood of harm. This could involve using safer working processes by using safer options, blocking off access to the hazards, providing staff with personal protective equipment or providing staff welfare facilities.

- Implement and record the findings of the risk assessment

Share the results from your risk assessment with staff members. Do not fill these assessments with jargon - keep it easy-to-understand. Implement the measures you saw could prevent accident at work compensation claims and industrial illness claims. You will need to show that the assessment was done properly, that the employees who could potentially be affected by hazards were identified, that hazards were dealt with, that precautions were reasonable, and that staff were involved in the process.

Personal injury solicitors will want to see risk assessments if your employee makes an accident at work compensation claim, so remember that your risk assessments and any related documentation could be seen by a judge or your insurers one day.

Hellen Greek is very interested in preventing accident at work compensation claims advance payment and Divorce solicitors Burnley she protecting the health and safety of employees. She researches industrial accident claims for a team of solicitors in Burnley. In her spare time, she likes to walk around the countryside.

Geek, H. 2013, Preventing Accident at Work Compensation Claims with Risk Assessments.

Tags: Personal Injury, Road Traffic Accident Claims, Accident At Work,