Have you ever had an accident at work that you think could have been avoided if you had been given the right equipment? If you think it’s not you at fault then why should you pay the price? A lot of people have these feelings but are unclear on whether they qualify for a claim. In this guide we will hopefully be able to give you the insight you need to know whether you have a claim or not.
So what is a Work Equipment Claim?
A work equipment claim can be when you have suffered direct harm through not being given the right equipment to carry out the job at hand, or where it is defective. This could be anything from being given a ladder that is not the right length, which caused you to stretch and fall or strain yourself, to your employer not providing a wet floor sign when it has been mopped recently which causes you to slip and hurt yourself. Basically, equipment is something that should be provided by your employer that is suitable to assist with your role.
How can I tell if I was given suitable equipment?
That’s a question that causes a lot of doubt amongst people who have a valid claim as they may not know if the equipment was to blame. Here is the exact definition provided by the Government on the issue of what is a suitable piece of equipment provided:
“suitable” means suitable in any respect which it is reasonably foreseeable will affect the health or safety of any person.
So, if you think that your employer did not take your health and safety into account when providing you with the equipment (or in some cases, not providing equipment you think was necessary) then your employer can be held accountable.
Defective work equipment claims
The other common scenario is where you have been given Faulty Equipment which has caused an injury to you. This is the scenario where your employer can be DIRECTLY at fault and a claim can easily be made on your behalf.
It could also be the case that you have not been given any equipment at all that could have prevented an injury. A good example would be a failure to provide a trolley or cage and been left to manual handle excessive or heavy amounts of goods.
If you have any other questions regarding Equipment Claims or any other claims you wish to know more about please don’t hesitate to ask. Here at The Injury Lawyers we are happy to make the claims process as transparent and simple as possible so you know exactly what is happening with any claim you make at any given time. Take a look at our extensive blogs or just give us a call on 0800 634 7575 and let us help you make a work equipment claim.
