What is the employer’s responsibility if an employee is injured at work?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (“The Act”) is the primary piece of legislation which governs the laws on health and safety management in the workplace. Responsibility lies with the employer and employee; employers have a duty to ensure the safety of their employees and anyone who might be affected by their business, and employees have a duty towards themselves and each other to take reasonable care of their own safety and the safety of others.

These duties are based on the principle of “so far as is reasonably practicable”, meaning that an employer does not need to take measures to reduce the risk if it would be grossly disproportionate to the risk itself. The general stance is that employers should take a sensible approach when ensuring a safe working environment.

There are various measures employers can take to reduce the risk of injury to their employees and others in the workplace:

Prepare a health and safety policy

The Act stipulates that it is a legal requirement to have a written policy for managing health and safety which should detail who has specific responsibilities, the general health and safety policy and what practical arrangements are in place showing how policy aims will be achieved. The policy should be readily available to employees and it should be ensured that it is understood, followed and are periodically reviewed and updated.

Carry out risk assessments

Employers must make “suitable and sufficient” risk assessments which must be periodically reviewed and updated. For businesses with more than 5 employees, risk assessments must be written down and should record the hazard, how that hazard may harm people and what is already being done to control this hazard.

Provide first aid

The law requires that every workplace must have a suitably stocked first aid kit, an appointed person to take charge of first aid arrangements and information on first aid arrangements for employees. First aid arrangements should be adequate and appropriate, but what constitutes adequate and appropriate depends on a number of things such as the size of the workforce, the hazards, the type of work involved and the work patterns of the staff.

Provide information and training

Training should be effective, easy to understand and should take place during working hours. Employers should consider whether any contractors or self-employed people are working for them, as it is likely that they will require their own insurance and some health and safety laws may not apply.

Display the health and safety law poster

There are various versions of this poster; the most appropriate (depending on where the business is based) must be displayed on all business premises. Alternatively, the leaflet equivalent of this poster must be provided to employees.

Despite taking all reasonable measures to ensure a safe working environment, there will always be a risk of an accident in the workplace. Should an employee be injured at work, there are a number of things an employer should do:

Report all accidents

Under social security law, businesses with more than 10 employees must keep an accident book, into which all accidents, no matter how minor, should be recorded. It should detail the time, date, the injured person, witnesses and the nature and extent of the injury. Accidents must be recorded where it results in the incapacitation of an employee for 3 consecutive days.

More serious injuries such as serious burns, occupational diseases, gas incidents and death must be reported in a RIDDOR report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. Such reports must be made within 15 days of the accident.

Notify the employer’s insurance company

It is important to notify the insurance company as soon as an accident occurs. This is so that a claims investigator can be appointed to investigate the accident immediately in case an accident turns out to be much more serious than anticipated, and a claim is made against the business.

Give employees ample time off

Ensure that employees are given appropriate medical treatment as well as ample time off to recover. Upon their return, employers should seek to ensure that the employee have fully recovered and are completely fit and healthy to work again through interviews and/or assessments. If necessary, reasonable adjustments could be made to help employees ease their way back into the workplace.

Improve health & safety

Revisiting risk assessments will allow employers to figure out how the accident may have come about. There will also be an opportunity to consider what further or better adjustments can be made in order to prevent similar accidents.

Unfortunately, accidents at work are quite common and depending on the business or industry they are inevitable. In order to avoid or minimise the risk of an accident, employers should continually assess the working environment of their employees and consider what practical steps can be taken to further prevent any accidents. In the event an accident does occur it is best practice to ensure that the above procedures are followed. Failure to do so may result in further accidents and also claims in respect of those accidents may be brought against the company.

Karen Holden is the Founder of A City Law Firm