The workplace can be an incredibly dangerous place especially if you are not shown how to use heavy duty machinery and equipment in the right way. Perhaps you work in a warehouse and operate a fork lift truck or maybe you work in an outbuilding operating a bulldozer. You could fall victim to minor injuries such as cuts and grazes or the injury could be more permanent and result in broken and crushed bones leading to a serious impact on your quality of day to day life. Some injuries may even be proven fatal if you are not shown by your employer how to use such equipment. It’s a serious subject.
Under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 your employer is under an obligation to protect their employees from being subject to workplace injuries. An employer must take reasonable steps to prevent an injury occurring by not only demonstrating how to use a piece of machinery safely but by providing sufficient training and instructions of how machinery is to be used.
The appropriate protection when using such equipment must be provided by the employer to prevent an employee sustaining an injury as well.
An important part of the regulations state:
Section 5 – “Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”.
Therefore an employer must inspect heavy duty and specialist machinery to ensure it is fit for purpose and has not become damaged over time.
Employers must ensure equipment is maintained to a high standard, suitable for the job it is intended to carry out and must be checked from time to time to highlight any defects which have occurred and ensure it remains in a good and safe working order. Inspections should also be noted down in a log book as evidence and so that other members of staff are able to refer back to.
So if you have been the unfortunate victim of any of the above or would like more information then call our expert team of injury lawyers now on 0800 634 75 75. We only take on claims that we believe have a chance of winning. We give FREE advice on your claim including how your claim can be processed. We give regular updates and guide you through your claim every step of the way!
Legislation.gov.uk
