In a factory environment, it’s critical that health and safety procedures are in place to minimise the risk of any accidents occurring. Due to the very nature of factories, they can be dangerous environments where if staff are not correctly trained and if health and safety legislations are not followed serious accidents can happen.

All employers have a duty of care to follow the HSE (Health and Safety Executive) safety at work procedures to minimise the risk of danger to employees and visitors to the site. They also have a duty of care to you as an employee to keep you as safe as reasonably possible while working. If your employer falls negligent to either of these and you or a loved one has been injured as a result you may be able to make a factory accident claim.

What type of accident qualifies for a compensation claim?

While there is not a designated list of accidents that can and cannot be considered for a compensation claim, there are those that are more common than others:

Manual handling accidents

Your employer should provide training on any manual handling aspects of your job role. Depending on what you are handling it may also be a requirement to provide specialist lifting assistance equipment which must be checked and maintained.

Machinery Accidents

If machinery is not correctly maintained or operated, it could cause a serious accident.

Slip, trip and fall accidents

While these types of accidents can happen in any environment, factories which handle chemicals and liquids should be especially vigilant to make sure any spillages are dealt with and correctly signposted with a hazard sign. Cleaning systems and schedules should be in place and the floor area should be risk assessed at regular intervals.

Forklift truck accidents

Any operator of a forklift truck should have a forklift truck driver licence and appropriate safety training organised by the employer. The forklift area should be clearly marked out so any pedestrians are aware that forklift trucks are in operation in certain zones.

Occupational illnesses

As well as accidents, it is possible to develop an illness while working in a factory environment. This will depend on the chemicals and materials you work with and their toxic qualities. Some chemicals can cause respiratory and skin conditions. Your employer is responsible for providing you with any appropriate apparatus and personal protective equipment to minimise the risks to your health.

Falling objects

Poorly stacked items on high shelves that fall are another cause of accidents in factories.

As stated above, this list is not exhaustive, these are just some types of accidents claims we are personal injury specialists deal with when a client comes to us to make a factory accident claim.

What should I do if I am involved in a factory accident?

The first thing you should do following a factory accident or any other personal injury is speak to a medical professional, whether it’s through your own GP or from visiting an accident and emergency department. Then afterwards if you feel you would like to discuss a compensation claim, call an experienced no win, no fee personal injury solicitor to discuss your individual circumstances. Our team of personal injury factory accident claims specialists can take you through the free initial consultation when you are ready and provide you with advice on the next steps we advise you take, if we believe you have a strong case for claiming compensation we will offer to represent you on a no win, no fee basis. If your claim results in a successful award then the only fee will take is a pre agreed small percentage of the overall financial award, this is referred to as a success fee.