It has been released this week by the BBC that three companies have been convicted of breeching Health and Safety regulations and failed to protect their employees in relation to the Oil depot explosion in Buncefield. Forty three people, amongst homes and businesses were affected as a result of the explosion. The explosion was heard 125 miles away and it has been reported that a huge vapour cloud ignited after 250,000 litres of petrol leaked from a tank. (source)
Employers, by law, must adhere to Health and Safety regulations this can be anything from ensuring their employees have the correct equipment at work to ensuring workplaces are clear from obstruction that may lead to harm. Employers have a duty of care to their employees to ensure that they do not come into contact with any hazardous situations.
If you feel that your employer has in some way breached the Health and Safety regulations, and it has resulted in you having an accident whilst at work, you may have a potential claim for compensation.
Wherever possible, it’s always advisable to record the circumstances of the accident; what and how did it happen? Your employers should also record your accident in their accident book along with the date and time; this information can be relied upon at a later date. You should also always seek medical attention after any accident, no matter how minor your injury may seem. The injury needs to be assessed by an expert who will confirm if it’s safe for you to continue to work.
Record any losses that you have experienced as a result of your accident, e.g. loss of earnings, prescription fees etc. Also, record any details of any additional care you have received – even if it’s unpaid from a family member of friend.
If you do decide to go ahead and make a claim for compensation, a letter of claim will be submitted to your employer. The matter will most likely be dealt with by your employers’ insurance company as your employer should have employee’s liability insurance in place. This should in no way affect your position within the company, as the insurance they have is there for this exact reason. At the end of the day, the accident will in no way be your fault, and so you should not be penalised for it.
You should always chose an independent firm of personal injury solicitors to deal with your claim for compensation – they will be completely dedicated to you and will fight for the compensation you deserve, rather than being tied to any insurance company or claims management company, and be subject to referral fees. A firm of personal injury solicitors will be able to advise you accordingly of how to proceed with your claim and how it can be run to a successful conclusion.
