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Safety in the workplace – Construction Accidents

The tradesmen that make up the construction industry are said to undertake the most physically demanding jobs and as a result they are said to sadly be six times more likely to be killed whilst undertaking their profession. Although the construction industry in Britain is meant to be the safest in Europe it is where one third of all work fatalities happen.

The construction industry puts the bodies of its workers under great strain and exposes them to many potential health risks. There are a number of accidents that can happen in the construction industry due to a number of aspects such as faulty equipment, no matter how much or less they are damaged, at the first sign of wear and tear they should stop being used for safety reasons as they run the risk of causing a construction accident. As well as damaged equipment there is also the risk of scaffolding collapsing and people having falls from ladders or safety harnesses breaking. Another potential construction accident could be the fall from a roof.

Research shows that 71 people died between 2002 and 2003 within the construction industry due to aspects such as the ones mentioned above. In order to stop these deaths and injuries from occurring the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are responsible for enforcing safety regulations in the UK. It is also the responsibility of your employer to ensure that the workplace is safe but this only works with the cooperation of all the tradesmen and staff on a construction site. It is an employee’s responsibility to report any defects in the workplace or on any of the equipment that is being used.

Without the correct health and safety in a construction site accidents will happen and these accidents could result in severe injuries such as broken/fractured bones, head and neck injury, torn muscles/ligaments, back injury, spinal cord damage and many more.

If you are a tradesmen working actively on a construction site it is essential that if you feel at any moment that you are not fully trained in what you are meant to be doing or if the equipment that you are using is faulty it is important that you inform your employer straight away so that the problem can be resolved before any serious damage occurs.

If you have been injured whilst working on a construction site then you could be entitled to put a claim in for compensation. If the injuries that are currently suffering or the injuries that you have suffered in the past three years have meant that you are restricted from performing your daily activities or if they have meant that you are out of work then you could be entitled to compensation to cover your initial injuries as well as any loss of earnings you have suffered and any medical expenses that you have encountered.

For more information about claiming for compensation after a construction accident that should have been avoided contact a no win no fee solicitor and they will guide you through the compensation process.

Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Constructions Accidents and Workplace Accidents.

Safety in the workplace – Construction Accidents / Author: Helen

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Dealing with Workplace Accidents

Despite huge improvements in health and safety along with an ever increasing list of safety rules, sadly many workplaces still remain dangerous. It doesn’t matter what employment sector you work in there are potential dangers present in all of them.

You could be working in an office and start suffering from repetitive strain injury due to incorrect positioning of your desk or you could trip over aspects such as boxes that have been left on the floor. Maybe you are a construction worker who is suffering due to a fall from scaffolding or you are a labourer who has been given faulty equipment. Whatever your position and whatever your workplace sector, if you don’t have the correct health and safety or the right amount of training you are running the risk of suffering from a severe accident.

It is the responsibility of your employer to ensure that the workplace is safe and free from hazards. It is also the responsibility of your employer to ensure that employees have received the correct amount of training; however as an employee if you feel that you haven’t received sufficient training for the job that you are doing or if any of the equipment that you are using is faulty/worn you must report it to your employer straight away so that the necessary action can be taken to improve the safety of the workplace.

If the worst does happen and an accident does happen in the workplace then your employer has a legal obligation to report certain accidents and incidents. Your employer must report serious work-related accidents, diseases and dangerous incidents to the Incident Contact Centre of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), or in Northern Ireland the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

It is essential that your employer reports the following:

• Death
• Major injuries (for example, a broken arm or ribs)
• Dangerous incidents (for example, the collapse of scaffolding, people overcome by gas)
• Any other injury that stops an employee from doing their normal work for more than three days
• Disease

As well as reporting any serious accidents or incidents you employer must also provide the company with an accident book, which is required by law if a business has more than ten employees. If however there is no accident book and no one has made a note of the incident then it is important that you advise your employer to put what happened into writing, detailing the full circumstances of the accident and the injuries that were sustained.

In order to reduce the amount of accidents that are caused due to incorrect safety procedures it is important that all employers are provided with the correct safety wear such as goggles, hard hats, ear defenders, dust masks, safety gloves, safety boots or high-visibility jackets as well as being shown how to lift heavy objects in a safe way.

If you have had an accident at work it is important that you get any injuries checked by a health professional and that you record details of your injuries to your employer.

Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Workplace Accidents.

Dealing with Workplace Accidents / Author: Helen

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Repetitive Strain Injury and your Employment

Repetitive Strain Injury is also known as cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), which is just one of many different names associated with Repetitive Strain Injury. The effect of Repetitive Strain Injury comes as the result of overusing a tool such as a computer, guitar or knife; basically any activity that requires repeated movements. Repetitive Strain Injury affects your muscles, tendons and nerves in your hands, arms and upper back.

Repetitive Strain Injury is a medically accepted condition, which occurs when muscles in your hands, arms and upper back are kept tense for long periods of time due to poor posture and repetitive motions. Some people also believe that stress is a main cause of Repetitive Strain Injury rather than it just being a contributing factor this is because of aspects such as job demands, poor support from colleagues and work dissatisfaction may cause an employee to work harder without realising the potential damage that they could be causing through Repetitive Strain Injury.

The effects of Repetitive Strain Injury may take months, even years to develop and in many cases starts with a slight ache that gradually gets worse. Once the problem of Repetitive Strain Injury has started the problem can get that bad that severe pain may be felt most of the time, even with only the slightest movement.

Anyone whose job involves repetitive movements is at risk of developing Repetitive Strain Injury. The risk is increased by spending long periods of time without a break or sitting on an uncomfortable chair. The symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury can often vary from person to person but the most common three include pain, numbness and tingling; you also may find it difficult to hold objects. If you start to feel any of the following then it may be indicating the onset of Repetitive Strain Injury:

• Recurring pain (myalgia) or soreness in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists or hands.
• Tingling, numbness, coldness or loss of sensation.
• Loss of grip strength, lack of endurance, weakness.
• Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and wiry when palpated.
• Pain or numbness while lying in bed. Often early stage RSI sufferers mistakenly think they are lying on their arms in an awkward position cutting off circulation

In many, if not all cases of Repetitive Strain Injury the treatment that you will receive will be given so that it targets all the major areas of your body that may be affected i.e. arms and upper back. So how exactly can Repetitive Strain Injury be prevented? When you are working in an environment that requires you to perform repetitive motions there are a few things that you can do that will reduce your risk of Repetitive Strain Injury such as warming up and cooling down your muscles, taking regular breaks throughout the day, having an appropriate workstation and a good seating position.

The treatment of Repetitive Strain Injury includes taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs as well as using heat and cold packs and elastic wrist supports or firm wrist splints. You may also require acupuncture, physiotherapy or osteopathy in extreme cases.

Helen is the web master for Accident Consult, Specialists in No Win No Fee Compensation Claims surrounding  Repetitive Strain Injury. 

Repetitive Strain Injury and your Employment / Author: Helen

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Whiplash and Road Traffic Accidents

It has been estimated that two in three people who are involved in road traffic collisions will end up suffering the effects of whiplash through experiencing problems in their neck and surrounding area. These symptoms usually develop within a few hours but the nature of the symptoms that they suffer can often vary.

The most common symptoms that are associated with whiplash include the following:

• Pain and stiffness of the neck, which can often extend up to the head and down to the shoulders
• Headache
• Numbness or tingling in the arms, which extends down into the hands
• Low back pain
• Dizziness
• Problems such as poor concentration, memory or mental performance
• Tiredness
• Ringing in the ears or tinnitus
• Blurred vision

These symptoms usually develop a few hours after the road traffic accident and most people usually recover from the symptoms of whiplash within a few weeks but in extreme cases the symptoms can often worsen and go on to cause further problems that will affect people for years to come.

When it comes to whiplash many people don’t realise the fact that a car only has to be driving at a low speed of even 10mph to cause the on set of whiplash. Even the slightest, smallest bump to a car can cause whiplash. This is surprising to many people as they only think whiplash happens when a car is travelling at high speed.

Whiplash most commonly occurs after a road traffic accident where a car collides with another car or a structure. So what exactly does whiplash do? It stretches and tears the soft tissues of the neck, affecting the tendons, ligaments and muscles. It also may damage the nerves and other structures in the area. This soft tissue damage is known as a whiplash injury, or cervical sprain as well as hyperextension injury.

The way in which whiplash is diagnosed is by looking at a patients history as well as a head and neck examination. Also x-rays are also used purely to rule out any potential fractures. It is important that you seek medical help after a road traffic accident as you may feel fine but aspects such as whiplash take a few hours to diagnose. By gaining medical help after a road traffic accident you will have the peace of mind that your injuries are being treated in the right way and you will also have a record of your injuries in case they are needed for future use.

The standard treatment that is usually given to a patient who is suffering the effects of whiplash includes encasing the neck in a soft collar to prevent movement that could worsen the symptoms. As well as this you will often be advised to apply an ice pack to the affected area and to take regular pain relief.

Sadly there aren’t many things that people can do to prevent the onset of whiplash, however certain head restraints may prevent some whiplash injuries such as they may stop the head jolting backwards.

If you are suffering from the affects of whiplash then you could be entitled to put in a claim for compensation. If you do want to put in a claim for compensation then it is important that you speak to a professional solicitor who will be able advise you on what to do next.

Helen is the web master of Accident Consult, specialists in all aspects of Road Traffic Accidents and the symptoms of Whiplash.

Whiplash and Road Traffic Accidents / Author: Helen

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Vitality of Legal Services on Personal Injury Cases

Ideally, when you or your loved one sustained an injury as the result of someone else’s act, that person will naturally offer to compensate you for your injury or that their insurance company will offer a fair settlement. Unfortunately, that hardly ever happens.

The sad truth is that many people will not take responsibility for their actions and insurance companies profit from under compensating injury victims or from not paying at all. This reason alone should necessitate the hiring of personal injury lawyers.

Personal Injury Lawyers

The need for injury lawyers have become a part of people’s daily lives. This is because more and more individual have been negligent of their acts and irresponsible for its outcome.

An experienced personal injury lawyers are knowledgeable on how to make your case, how to settle your claim with an insurance company and, if necessary, how to defend your case in court. They are in a good position to assist you in obtaining a favorable settlement.

While negotiating your claim with an insurance company can be done all by yourself, these companies will typically do everything to take advantage of you, to defeat your claim or to effect the lowest possible settlement. This simply means one thing: you are not able to exhaust all that is due you.

How to Spot a Good Personal Injury Lawyer

In choosing a good personal injury lawyer, you should bear in mind that most of them do not practice medical malpractice law nor handle workers’ compensation cases. They are like doctors who provide a special type of medical care.

In addition, there are certain firms or lawyers who provide various types of personal injury legal services depending on the particular kind of injury or cause of action. There are those who focus more on bodily injuries such as burn, brain, spinal cord or injury caused by animal attacks or bites.

There are also firms which or lawyers who concentrate mainly on vehicular accidents, construction accidents or litigation over defective products.

It will be beneficial if you ask whether a lawyer you consult has experience with your type of injury before you engage his or her services.

What to Prove in Personal Injury Cases

Engaging the legal services of an injury lawyer will give them the responsibility of proving negligence and liability. This is a condition precedent before a victim can collect an award.

In order to prove liability, a lawyer must establish negligence. If the offending party fails to exercise reasonable care to prevent injury or damage, then there may be negligence.

When liability and negligence are found to exist in the case, the victim may be awarded money to compensate for medical bills, lost wages and lost future earnings as well as for pain and suffering.

In sum, personal injury legal services include consulting a lawyer, entering into a compensation scheme, building up your case, proving the existence of negligence and making the other party liable, settling your case and battling your case out in court. All of these can be better dealt with when you seek professional help.

Vitality of Legal Services on Personal Injury Cases / Author: Jean Kuda

If you are seeking for the  right attorney services for your personal injury claim, log on to our website and seek the aid of our legal team.

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