Overfilled Stock Room Accidents – Make a Claim Today!

Overfilled Stock Room Accidents – Make a Claim Today!

As Christmas approaches, the retailers are going to inevitably load up their stockrooms as much as they can. I know this because the Christmas period is always one for shopping and spending, and I’ve worked in retail and seen just how much stock a large retailer will try and cram in their stockroom!

At the place I used to work at, I can tell you now that it was one huge health and safety hazard. As a college student with no legal experience, I couldn’t have told you that back then. But thinking of it now, I’m surprised more people weren’t injured!

I’m talking here:

• Stock piled up on floors and in walkways where there is no shelf space for them.
• People rushing around in busy warehouses and stock rooms or shop floors.
• Shelves overstocked with products liable to fall off of them.
• Stacks of items collapsing as they are piled too high.

So what happens if you are injured in circumstances like the above? Perhaps you trip over due to stock being on the floor, or something falls and hits you? Or a colleague runs in to you as they are rushing around?

The Law

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 state the following when it comes to traffic routes and walkways in the workplace:

(3) So far as is reasonably practicable, every floor in a workplace and the surface of every traffic route in a workplace shall be kept free from obstructions and from any article or substance which may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.

The above puts a clear duty on your employer to ensure that there is nothing on the ground that could post a tripping hazard. So stock should not be placed in walkways or areas where people are likely to trip. As such, if you do trip and fall, you can make a claim against your employer.

The same regulations address being hit by falling objects as well:

13.(1) So far as is reasonably practicable, suitable and effective measures shall be taken to prevent…

(b) any person being struck by a falling object likely to cause personal injury.

Legislation: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/contents/made

So again, there is law that addresses this particular issue. If shelves are overfilled, that is a hazard and can be considered a breach of the above regulation. Breaching this regulation resulting in injury can make your employer liable for a personal injury claim.

When it comes to being run in to by a rushing colleague, you may have a claim as well. There should be policies for staff taking care not to cause such hazards and failing to adhere to such policies can make your employer vicariously liable for the negligence of a colleague. So even if a colleague fails to follow the rules and runs around causing an injury, your employer may still have to pay you out.

Making a Claim

You can see that the law is clear. Many retailers and workplaces will ignore these rules to save time and maintain profit margins.

If they do, you should make a claim for personal injury compensation and receive 100% from The Injury lawyers as part of our 100% Compensation Pledge 4 U!