![\"work](\"http:\/\/www.theinjurylawyers.co.uk\/injury-lawyers-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/work-safety-300x198.jpg\")
I\u2019m going to write in parts to this article – one from the perspective of a trainee or new employee having an accident, and the other from the perspective of someone injured by a trainee or new employer at work!<\/p>\nI\u2019m going to write in parts to this article – one from the perspective of a trainee or new employee having an accident, and the other from the perspective of someone injured by a trainee or new employer at work!<\/p>\n
You Start Work<\/strong><\/p>\n So you start your new job and you are being trained up in how to be as efficient as possible for the company. There are lots of things you need to learn and health and safety is an issue that needs to be in the forefront of both your mind and your employers. When you are in a new environment, you may lack the skills necessary to understand certain risks. For ease of example, we\u2019ll use a building site: Your employer has a duty to make sure that you are trained appropriately<\/strong> in anything that could cause you harm. For example, you should be instructed that you need to wear a hard hat to avoid serious injury from a falling object. If your employer doesn\u2019t instruct you in this, how are you to know? Another example could be power tools \u2013 do you know how to safely use them? What about equipment \u2013 have you been shown where the emergency stop buttons are, or have you been told that the power needs to be off when you need to access dangerous parts?<\/p>\n It\u2019s all about training, instruction, and supervision<\/strong> \u2013 your employer cannot just expect you to know all that you need to know to stay safe at work. Training should be provided, and a record of this should be made. You should only be allowed to perform tasks you are suitably trained and are comfortable in performing the task. Supervision is required to make sure you are doing things safely.<\/p>\n So if your employer fails to train or instruct you properly, you may have a claim to make if you fall foul of negligence. First things first though, you have a legal right to make a claim and you shouldn\u2019t be put off just because you have started there. Employers know their duties (or ought to know them) and they have insurance to cover them for incidents like this. You are protected by law and you cannot be dismissed just for making a claim<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On a final note, if you are qualified or experienced in a certain field, and you injure yourself in a task that you are more than familiar with but in a new job, the insurers are likely to raise this as a defence.<\/p>\n
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