If you work in an office, you naturally expect to be in a safe and secure environment. However serious accidents can happen in an office if due care and attention is not paid, as with any other working environment. If you have suffered an accident or been injured whilst you are at your office, then you may be eligible to make a claim.

Compensation will normally be paid by your employer’s insurance company and you can still make a claim for an injury that has occurred in your current place of work. Regulations mean that your employer cannot discriminate against you just because you make a claim against them. If they proceed to treat you differently following any insurance claim which you have made, then they are in breach of national legislation, and you may subsequently be eligible to take them to an employment tribunal. However, there is no need to worry, as the vast majority of people who are forced to make an accident claim continue to enjoy a positive relationship with their employers.

Here are a few of the circumstances which have given rise to successful office accident claims:

Scalding Injuries

For many people, a tea break can be their favourite part of the day, but if due care and attention is not paid, then hot drinks can cause serious injuries. If a boiling hot drink is spilled on to you or pulled onto you by accident then you may suffer serious scalding injuries. If the severity of your injuries is exacerbated by failures in the standard of first aid in the work place, then you may be able to claim an even larger amount of compensation.

Electrical Injuries

Most offices in the United Kingdom have hundreds of electronic components which are designed to make it easier for employees to do their jobs. However, if these devices do not meet minimum standards then they can become dangerous.

Employers must ensure that all computers, printers and other electronic devices are checked regularly to make sure that they meet national safety standards. Failure to arrange and carry out these checks can put staff and visitors at risk from electrocution and injury. If you have received a serious electric shock or if one of your family members has died because of an electrical injury that they received whilst at work in the office, then you may be able to make a claim for compensation.

Slips, Trips And Falls

If proper precautions are not taken, many things in an office can become slip or trip hazards. For example, if coats or bags are not stored safely, it is easy for people to trip over sleeves or straps. Each office should take proper steps to ensure that staff members are able to store their possessions safely and are doing so.

Likewise, wires and cables from electronic equipment are easy to trip over if they are not tidied up and secured away from walkways. Falls like this can have serious and lasting health consequences, so if you have suffered because your employer has failed to meet their obligations then you are entitled to make a claim.

Unhygienic Working Environment

Whatever environment you work in, you should be guaranteed minimum hygiene standards. Working in a place that does not meet these standards can put your health and the health of your colleagues at risk.

Unhygienic environments encourage the spread of potentially harmful bacteria which can cause health issues. If you have suffered any negative health consequences because you are forced to work in an unhygienic environment without adequate protection then you may be eligible to make a claim. This can include things such as a worsening of asthma symptoms due to working in a damp or mouldy environment.

Dangerous Equipment Or Structure

The building and equipment that you use must also be maintained properly. Any failures of equipment can cause injuries. For example, if your chair breaks and you end up falling to the floor, you could suffer broken bones, bruising to the body, or even injuries which are far more serious.

Structural problems in an office can also cause serious injuries. There have been successful office accident claims raised by people who have been forced to work in an office which is in a state of structural disrepair.