According to the Health & Safety Commission, over 2 million people suffer injury in the workplace each year and over 35 million working days were lost in 2004/5 as a result.

There were 30,213 major injuries to employees reported in 2004/5, and over 120,000 other injuries to employees necessitating them to be off work for over 3 days.

If you have suffered an injury or illness at work you have every right to make a valid claim.

Did you injure yourself in the workplace?
Employers are legally required to follow workplace regulations and safety guidelines. If you have been injured as a result of your employer's negligence you have recourse to make a claim.

Have you suffered from an illness as a result of your work environment?
Compensation can be claimed by anyone who suffers from industrial disease caused by exposures in the workplace.

Were you hurt as a result of another employee's actions?
Even if another employee caused your accident you can still claim against your employer.

Did inadequate training or lack of supervision cause your accident?
It is your employer's responsibility to fully prepare and protect you during employment duties. If they have failed to do so then you are in a strong position to claim for compensation.

Together with Health and Safety regulations, employers have an obligation to provide a safe working environment for their employees. As they are responsible for their workers, it is compulsory that they have valid insurance to cover themselves against accidents and work related illnesses.

You can claim for:
• Pain and inconvenience of injury
• Loss of income during the time you are unable to work
• Cost of further treatment i.e. medical checks, physiotherapy, osteopathy etc
• Psychological therapy
• Extra travel costs and expenses resulting from injuries

Symptoms of some work related injuries and illnesses might not show up till later on in the future. This is often taken into account when a claim is made.

Injuries in the work place can vary from simple cuts and bruises to broken bones and serious illnesses like the ones below.

Click below for a detailed description of the illness:

Vibration White Finger
Asbestosis
Repetitive Strain Injury
Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
Chronic Chest Disorder
A5 - Beat Hand (Subcutaneous cellulites of the hand)
A6 - Beat Knee ( Subcutaneous cellulites arising at or adove the knee)
A7 - Beat Elbow (Subcutaneous ceullulitis arising at or above the elbow)
A9 - Miners Nystagmus (jerky movements of the eyeballs)



Vibration White Finger
Vibration White Finger (VWF) is a condition caused by regular use of vibrating machinery and power tools. VWF can cause damage to blood circulation, nerve supply and muscles.

Symptoms can include:
• Tingling and numbness in the fingers
• Fingertips may temporarily turn white
• Loss of grip
• Pain and tingling sensation get worse in cold weather
• In extreme cases, VWF can lead to gangrene or skin ulcers and patients may even lose their fingers.


Asbestosis
Asbestosis is contracted when workers are exposed to asbestos fibres. It can lead to a number of debilitating or fatal conditions including Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma.

Symptoms often include:
• Shortness of breath
• Tight chest or cough
• Appetite loss


Repetitive Strain Injury
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a term used to describe a range of painful conditions that affect the musculoskeletal system. Persistent discomfort and pain in muscles, tendons and other soft tissues can be caused or aggravated by repetitive or forceful movement. Some conditions caused by RSI are Tenosynovitis, Tendonitis, Epicondylitis, Bursitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

Symptoms may include:
• Swelling
• Pain and a tingling sensation
• Stiffness


Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)
NIHL describes permanent damage to the sense of hearing as a result of prolonged exposure to excessive levels of noise. It is probably the most widespread of all occupational diseases in the UK.

Symptoms may include:
• Tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears)
• Temporary or prolonged periods of deafness
• Sense of hearing can become worse with further noise exposure and the aging process


Chronic Chest Disorder
Chronic Chest Disorders are caused by exposure to dust and fumes in the workplace. Chest infections can often develop into more severe conditions including Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema.

Symptoms may include:
• Tight chest and coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Fatigue


A5, A6 & A7
Beat Knee, Beat Hand and Elbow are repetitive strain injury conditions, usually occupational in origin, caused by acute inflammation of tissue, most commonly as a result of overloading the joint, often in an awkward position.

The medical name for these common conditions is bursitis, which is imflammation of a bursa, being a small sac containing fluid found at points in the body where tendons or muscles glide over bones and surrounding large joints, including the shoulder, elbow or knee.

The main symptoms include pain and tenderness around the joints and may include stiffness of the joint with pain often being most severe at night.

Beat Hand - is most common in miners and road workers using picks and shovels.
Beat Knee - also known as House Maids Knee - arises in workers who spend long periods kneeling.
Beat Elbow - usually results from continuous rubbing or pressure on the elbow.

Employers are under a legal duty to minimise the risk of injury by taking reasonable care for the health and safety of their employees. If you suffer from Bursitis as a result of your employers failure to protect your health and safety, then compensation can be sought.



A9 Miners Nystagmus
Symptoms may include:
• Jerky movements of the eyeballs occurs from working in or about a mine.

Please use the links shown below to find out more about what you can claim for different kinds of accident compensation:

Motoring Accident Compensation Claims
Motorbike Accident Compensation Claims
Slip and Trip Accident Compensation Claims
Accident At Work Compensation Claims
Criminal Assault Compensation Claims
Medical Negligence Compensation Claims
Holiday Accident Compensation Claims
Other Accident Compensation Claims
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