When an accident at work occurs, many people are unaware of the wealth of legislation which exists, placing a duty on employers to ensure that health and safety is monitored and upheld. That any accident is logged correctly and safety is always high on the agenda.

Employers must ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair that any employee knows how to work any such equipment he is expected to use safely and is properly supervised at all times .employers must also be responsible that any safety measures on equipment like safety guards on equipment must be in place at all times when the equipment is being used.

All employees should be encouraged to clean as they go to ensure the environment they are working in is not cluttered. This makes tripping over waste products or spillage of substances less likely making it a safer work place in which to work.

Hazardous substances are not only found in chemical laboratories. They can be found in almost all work environments such as shops, factories, farms and even offices. Every employer is under a duty to identify the hazardous substances present in the workplace and they should also consider the risk these substances present to the health of the workforce. This normally means a risk assessment has to be done to protect the employees.

Any neglect to do any of the above could in the case of an accident allow you to have a claim for compensation .it may be that you were partially responsible for your injury that does not necessarily rule you out for compensation. You may be found to be let us say 15 percent guilty and could then loose 15 percent of your award for compensation, but that would still give you 75 percent of your compensation.

It is also your employers job to make sure the people you work with are competent in what they do and are not likely to put you at risk this includes someone who may pass out have a fit. You have the right to work in a safe environment.

You have up to three years if you have an accident in the workplace in which to make a claim for compensation.