The Top 5 Most Common Accident At Work Examples And Claims

At Public Interest Lawyers, we understand that suffering an injury due to an accident at work can be a distressing experience, one which may affect you physically, mentally, and financially. Our guide will not only highlight some of the most common accident at work examples, but also show how you might be able to claim compensation with the support of a solicitor from our highly experienced panel.

Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, all employers have a responsibility to protect their workers’ safety. Referred to as a duty of care, this obligation requires employers to take reasonable measures to protect the health, well-being, and safety of all their workers, including you.

If you would like to pursue compensation for an accident at work or have any questions about how to claim, get in touch with our advisors by:

A construction worker receiving medical help from a co-worker after falling from a ladder.

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  1. The Most Common Accident At Work Examples
  2. How Should Workplace Accidents Be Prevented?
  3. What Should Be Done After An Accident At Work?
  4. How To Make An Accident At Work Claim
  5. Get Help From Public Interest Lawyers
  6. Learn More

The Most Common Accident At Work Examples

While incidents can vary by sector, the following sections will discuss some of the most common accident at work examples. Various workplaces across the UK impose different risks to the health and safety of employees. As such, it is important for employers to fulfil their duty of care and adhere to workplace safety laws. That might involve:

  • Conducting regular risk assessments
  • Signposting potential hazards, like wet floors
  • Performing regular maintenance on equipment

As mentioned at the start of this guide, employers have an obligation under HASAWA to protect workers. If they fail to do so, resulting in an employee falling and sustaining an injury, they may claim compensation. To summarise:

  • Your employer owed you a duty of care 
  • Your employer breached this duty 
  • This resulted in your injuries 

When reportable incidents and injuries do occur, employers and any other responsible party must inform the enforcing authority without any delay. This obligation is set out by The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. In 2023-2024, employers reported 61,663 non-fatal injuries under RIDDOR.

Slips, Trips And Falls

Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common workplace accidents. In fact, according to HSE data, employers reported 18,928 non-fatal injuries to RIDDOR involving such accidents. That makes slips, trips, and falls the most frequently reported type of accident under RIDDOR.

  • Example: An employer may fail to secure computer wires that surround their employee’s desk, which is regarded as a safety hazard. If an employee tripped over the wire and sustained a leg injury, they may claim compensation for this.

Manual Handling Injuries

Manual handling is when an employee uses their body to lift and carry objects at work. As such, employers must put specific training in place to ensure they complete such tasks without causing damage. In 2023-2024, 10,543 manual handling injuries were reported to RIDDOR, according to HSE data.

  • Example: You work on a construction site, and your employer asks you to move a bucket of scrap metal from one area to another without providing any safety manual handling training or support. If this breach of duty caused your back injury, you may be entitled to compensation.

Hit By A Moving Object

Injuries caused by employees being hit by moving objects are another common occurrence at work. Such accidents typically result in injuries caused by falling objects, rolling equipment, and flying debris. HSE data for 2023-2024 reveals that employers reported 2,200 such injuries via RIDDOR.

  • Example: Your employer may be uploading scaffolding poles onto a truck, but fails to secure them correctly. As a result, when the truck moves, the metal poles roll off, causing an injury to your foot that leaves you with long-term stability issues.

Vehicle Collisions

Many workforces use vehicles, such as delivery, construction or warehouse companies. However, if employers do not enforce the correct safety measures or training, they may cause employees to sustain injuries for which they may claim compensation. Between 2023-2024, 1,313 employees sustained non-fatal injuries in such accidents (according to HSE data).

  • Example: An employer may have failed to provide their warehouse employees with high-visibility uniforms. As such, when an employee was driving a truck into a warehouse at night, they failed to see another employee at the entrance. Consequently, the vehicle struck the employee, resulting in a spinal injury that leaves the worker with a permanent disability.

Acts Of Violence

The HSE defines workplace violence as incidents in which people are abused, threatened or assaulted under work-related circumstances. For 2023-2024, HSE data shows that 5,651 employees were injured as a result of violent acts, as reported to RIDDOR.

In such a situation, you may need to claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA). This government-funded agency compensates victims of violent crime in cases where an individual has no other avenue of compensation. Our advisory team can explain this in more detail if you have questions about CICA claims. 

  • Example: An employer and employee may get into a dispute regarding wages. If this turns physical and the employer violently hits the employee, causing a facial injury, they may be awarded a compensation payout. 

Office worker lying on stairs after he slipped on wet floor.

How Should Workplace Accidents Be Prevented?

Workplace accidents can be prevented in a number of ways, ranging from regular inspections to providing employees with sufficient training. Other examples include:

  • Providing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as goggles, hard hats, and gloves 
  • Completing workplace health and safety inspections, these must be completed on all sites
  • Ensuring employees complete health and safety training, which may be physical or electronic training 
  • Keeping a clean and hazard-free working environment
  • Ensuring that any devices, machinery, or vehicles are safe and well-maintained 
  • Displaying signage to warn employees of potential hazards, such as wet floor or flammable material signs
  • Reporting any health and safety issues that may be hazardous to employees to the HSE

If your employer failed to take such steps to prevent a workplace accident, causing your injuries, contact our advisors now to find out if you can claim compensation.

What Should Be Done After An Accident At Work?

After an accident at work, you should: 

  • Seek medical attention for your injuries, regardless of their nature 
  • Inform your employer of your accident and injuries 
  • Ensure your employer notes your injuries in the accident report book
  • Begin collecting evidence (this is discussed below)
  • Contact our advisors to see if you can start a workplace accident claim 

For more advice on the steps you should take after a workplace accident, please contact our advisors. 

A worker holds their wrist in pain after sustaining a hand injury due to faulty tools.

How To Make An Accident At Work Claim

Making an accident at work claim is relatively straightforward. All you need to do is contact our advisors within the claims time limit and collect evidence to support your case.

How Long Do I Have To Start An Accident At Work Claim?

You typically have a 3-year time limit to start an accident at work claim, as per the Limitation Act 1980. This window means that you have 3 years from the date of the incident to begin the claim, rather than when the case needs to be settled. 

However, if the claimant is under 18 or lacks mental capacity, the time limit is frozen. That is because neither group is able to seek compensation for themselves. Under such circumstances, a litigation friend may help claim on their behalf while the time limit is paused.

If the claimant regains mental capacity, the 3-year time limit will commence from the date of recovery. Likewise, minors will have 3 years to claim from the date that they turn 18.

What Evidence Do I Need To Support My Accident At Work Claim?

The evidence you will need to support your accident at work claim must show how it satisfies the eligibility criteria discussed at the beginning of this guide. This proof will help to build a picture of how your employer breached their duty of care, resulting in your injuries. Examples of evidence that may support your claim include:

  • A copy of the incident reported in the accident report book (if one was made)
  • Medical records that state the injuries you sustained 
  • Other medical documents, such as prescriptions and scan results
  • Dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident, depending on where it occurred
  • Photographs of your injuries and the accident scene 
  • Copies of workplace health and safety reports and safety equipment 
  • Information about your trade union membership, if you informed them of the accident 
  • Copies of correspondence with your employer 
  • The contact details of people who witnessed the accident

The more evidence you collect, the greater chance your solicitor has at establishing third-party liability. Your solicitor can also help to gather proof for your accident at work claim, so please reach out to our friendly advisors to learn more. They will also be more than happy to discuss any questions you have about this guide on accident at work examples.

Personal injury solicitor reading a document containing accident at work examples

Get Help From Public Interest Lawyers

You can get help from Public Interest Lawyers by contacting our advisory team day or night. They will thoroughly assess your case, answer any queries you have about claiming, and potentially put you in touch with a specialist solicitor from our panel.

Our panel of solicitors are specialists in accident at work claims, and you can benefit from their expertise no matter where you are in the country. At Public Interest Lawyers, our panel of solicitors are dedicated to helping their clients claim the compensation they deserve. So they will always utilise their skills, experience, and resources to try to reach a favourable settlement. They will:

  • Utilise their extensive skills and offer expert guidance 
  • Support you at every stage of the claims process 
  • Help you obtain evidence to establish third-party liability 
  • Set you up with an independent medical assessment to further strengthen your claim
  • Help you apply for interim payments if you face emergency costs during the claims process
  • Negotiate a settlement that reflects the full extent of your pain and suffering

One of the key benefits of claiming with our panel of solicitors is that they offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA). Therefore, you can avoid ongoing or upfront solicitor fees. 

If your claim wins, your solicitor will take a success fee from your compensation for their time and work on your claim. However, this fee is small as the percentage is capped by legislation. If your claim is not successful, you won’t have to pay a single solicitor’s fee. 

Contact Our Advisors

If you have any questions about our accident at work examples or would like to get started with the process of claiming compensation, contact our advisors today by:

Learn More

If you would like to learn more about accident at work claims, have a read through the guides linked below:

Some references:

Thank you for reading this guide, which provides accident at work examples and explains how one of the solicitors from our panel can help you claim compensation for your injuries.