Every employee has certain basic rights in UK employment law, which we discuss in a series of blog posts.
Last year, 142 employee deaths were reported due to work related injuries in UK. The next right in our series is health and safety in the workplace.
Is it mandatory for employers to follow health and safety regulations?
Yes. Health and safety legislation requires that employers take reasonable steps to make the workplace a danger-free environment. This involves providing first aid equipment, protective clothing, fire exits and emergency procedures, maintenance of temperature level and a “safe system of work”.
As an employee, you have an equal responsibility to take care of your own health and safety and that of others at the workplace.
What can I do if I am at a risk/suffered a loss due to poor health and safety measures?
In case you think any conditions can pose a threat to your health and safety at the workplace, you could:
- Bring it to the attention of your manager/employer or
- Contact your trade union; or
- Leave the job until the risk is fixed.
If you have an accident or a near miss, report it to your employer and keep a written record of it. It may be a valuable piece of evidence later on.
We advise employees to raise health and safety matters by email and have seen many employees win claims for unfair dismissal and whistle-blowing with such tactics.
If, due to workplace injury, you need extra time off then you are entitled to get Statutory Sick Pay (or perhaps the employment contract provides for a more generous contractual amount. You can still be dismissed for a poor sickness absence record after a workplace injury, although if it was the employer’s fault, they will be expected to have gone the extra mile to retain you as part of unfair dismissal.
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