Can I really claim for that?

Many people have accidents at work and don’t realise that they can bring a claim for damages from their employers. Whilst they may know that the accident wasn’t their fault, they assume that it wasn’t the fault of their employer either and that it was ‘just one of those things’.

Employer’s Absolute Duty

In the bad old days employers could do what they wanted without worrying if their workforce got injured in the process. Since 1992 the position has been different thanks to a number of European Directives that have been incorporated into English Law.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations

Your employer has to make sure that all work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair. That is an absolute duty. It doesn’t mean that they just have to show that they did everything that they could to keep the equipment working safely. It means that they actually have to maintain it and make sure that it is safe. They are also under a strict duty to make sure that you have been adequately trained in how to use that equipment.