Work-Related Accidents or Injuries
The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers.
The Act created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which sets and enforces protective workplace safety and health standards.
OSHA also provides information, training, and assistance to workers and employers.
Workers may file a complaint to have OSHA inspect their workplace if they believe that their employer is not following OSHA standards or that there are serious hazards.
The Act was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed at work.
The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration website at www.osha.gov
Certain types of accidents must be reported by Employers and self-employed people, as well as people who are in control of the premises.
Almost every type of injury listed below needs to be reported.
This includes if it happens to an employee, a self-employed person, or a member of the public if their injury took place on the premises.
Work-related deaths
Any death of an employee, a self-employed person working on the premises, or a visiting individual, must be reported.
Major injuries – Some types of potentially serious injuries must be reported.
1. Anything that causes one to lose consciousness
2. Acute illnesses needing medical treatment or a loss of consciousness.
This could be the result of exposure to a biological agent or absorption of any harmful substance through ingestion, inhalation, or the skin.
3. Dislocation of the shoulders, hips, knees, or spine
4. Any type of penetrating injury to the eye
5. Electrical shocks or burns causing unconsciousness and requiring resuscitation or hospital admission for over 24 hours.
6. Any injury leading to hypothermia, unconsciousness, or a heat-related illness requiring resuscitation or hospital admission for over 24 hours.
7. Broken/fractured bones, excluding the fingers, thumbs, and toes
8. Amputations
Injures Lasting Over Three Days
If a work-related injury causes the injured person to be off for more than three days of work or if the person is unable to perform their usual duties for more than three days, this needs to be reported.
Work-related diseases
Besides injuries, there are diseases that need to be reported.
Musculoskeletal disorders, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome, work-related cancer, and decompression illness
Serious infections that include tetanus, anthrax, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and leptospirosis
Lung diseases that are work-related include asthma, mesothelioma, asbestosis, farmer’s lung, and pneumoconiosis
Skin diseases that are work-related
Dangerous occurrences (accidents that almost happened)
Potentially dangerous incidents should be reported, even if no one was actually injured. If an incident did occur which could have caused severe human injury or illness, it should be reported.
Making a claim for compensation
If you have suffered a serious accident or injury at work, whether it was your fault or not, it needs to be reported to the Health and Safety Executive.
You may be able to file a claim for compensation for your injury. Your employer will be insured for compensation claims and you will be able to claim on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Many people find the time after a work-related accident or injury can be hard.
The recuperation costs and loss of earnings can leave one severely out-of-pocket with medical expenses. With a no-win, no-fee compensation claim, many of these can be alleviated.
Remember: You cannot be fired for making a personal injury claim against your employer.
