Download an introductory Guide to the No Win No Fee Claims Process

Download an introductory guide to the claims process

Office Accidents

office accident claims

Every year, there are a
significant number of successful
office accident claims

Offices are usually considered to be fairly safe working environments, without many of the hazards associated with factories, construction sites and other workplaces where there’s a risk associated with using machinery. But every year there are a significant number of office injuries and compensation claims arising from accidents and bad working practices in offices.

Office injury claims tend to arise as a result of inadequate workstations and seating arrangements - bad ergonomic planning for desk workers - and also from trips over trailing cables and other obstacles on the floor, slipping on worn or broken steps, and injuries from inappropriate lifting.

As with all personal injury claims, if an employer has failed in a duty owed to an employee to comply with safety regulations, and to take all practical steps to ensure safe working practices and a safe workplace, and it can be proved that injuries have arisen as a result of this failure, compensation may well be recoverable for an office-based work injury claim.

Preventing office injuries

Along with factories and construction sites (indeed along with any working environment), offices are subject to health and safety legislation. This puts duties on employers to make sure that offices are safe for employees, and that the way in which they are required to carry out their duties is also safe and complies with all relevant health and safety regulations.

Employers have a responsibility to take precautions to stop office accidents happening in the first place. These precautions could include ensuring leads and wires are tidy and not straying across walkways, or making wrist rests available to reduce strain injuries whilst using a computer keyboard. They will also include educating employees about any risks, as well as how to avoid injury in the office.

If your employer fails to provide this education, this is further support of office health and safety negligence and may support an accident claim.

Causes of office accidents

Office injury claims tend to arise as a result of inadequate workstations and seating arrangements or due to faulty equipment or appliances.

If you’ve suffered from an office injury, it is worth investigating whether you can claim for office injury compensation – in particular if the injury has caused you to take time off work and lose out on earnings.

Office injuries could include:

Repetitive strain injury – Bad ergonomic planning in the office can lead to this long-term injury, usually caused by typing

Tripping over – Trailing wires not tidied up correctly or other walkway obstacles can lead to a trip

Slipping over – Wet floors and icy courtyards that haven’t been gritted can cause considerable injury and broken bones if someone slips on them

Electric Shocks – Usually caused as a result of faulty equipment and untested electronics, these can lead to particularly nasty injuries

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning – Can occur if there are broken appliances that burn fuel, such as gas boilers. Usually the gas is disposed of safely but leaks can occur and poison those in the vicinity

Back Injuries – If a job involves lifting heavy boxes or other weighty objects the employee would need to be fully instructed of how to lift properly. If not, and an injury occurs, the employer is at fault

Claiming compensation following an office injury

In any office accident case, you shouldn’t be afraid to make a claim for injury compensation against an employer. They should have insurance to cover them against compensation claimed by any employee. It’s also important to know that, by law, your employment cannot be terminated as a result of an office accident claim.

A personal injury claim can arise if an employer has failed in a duty owed to an employee to comply with safety regulations. Compensation may well be recoverable for such a claim if the employer has failed to take all practical steps to ensure safe working practices and a safe workplace, and it can be proved that the employee has been injured as a result of this failure.

Remember - by making an office injury claim, you may prevent the same accident happening to someone else in your office in the future.

National Accident Helpline specialise in office accident claims. We appreciate that it can be a delicate matter claiming against an employer, but remember that it is illegal to dismiss an employer on this basis. If you are thinking of claiming, or even if you just want advice, give us a call or fill in our online claim form. You will receive 100% of the compensation as we operate through the “no win no fee” system of compensation.