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The big wheel, hook a duck, and – my favourite – the dodgems, are all attractions you will often find at your local fairground. Fairgrounds attract a lot of people every year, and unfortunately, amongst the excitement, there is the strong possibility of an injury occurring.

The major areas that stand out as possible causes of injuries are poorly maintained rides, slips and trips from the area which the funfair is responsible for, and unfortunately food poisoning from the numerous food vans and onsite vendors. I will address each of these individually:

1- Poorly maintained rides – As some fairgrounds are temporary and therefore travel around the country, it is a possibility that rides are either poorly maintained or not set up properly and are therefore unsafe. For example; the harness on a ride may be loose and consequently not hold you in as safely as it should; I don’t need to say how serious injuries could be in this occasion. Another scenario can arise where parts of the ride have broken or come loose; for example; if a screw comes loose and is in the dodgems arena, this could then cause a dodgem to veer uncontrollably.
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Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which is more common in men than in women. This is not surprising as mesothelioma can be caused as a result of exposure to asbestos. Although a rare form of cancer, mesothelioma is actually on the increase and is expected to continue rising over the coming years.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in your working life you are at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. You may have worked with asbestos and think that you have been lucky enough not to contract mesothelioma. Unfortunately, people generally find out that they are suffering from mesothelioma a number of years after the exposure to asbestos. If you are unfortunate enough to suffer from mesothelioma you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

So, what is asbestos? How do you know if you have been exposed to asbestos fibres? Asbestos is an insulating material that was often used in the building industry.  Many older buildings may still contain asbestos and therefore people need to be extra vigilant when carrying out any demolition or renovation work.
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A faulty equipment claim can arise in a number of different circumstances. From equipment at work to equipment in your gym, faulty equipment can result in serious injury and consequential loss. If you have been injured whilst using equipment that is found to be faulty, you may be able to claim compensation to cover the cost of medical expenses and recover any loss of earnings.

Faulty equipment at work.

Employers owe a duty of care to employees to ensure any work equipment they are required to use is safe and properly maintained. It is also expected of employers to provide adequate training to employees to ensure equipment is used in the correct way and does not cause unnecessary injury.
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If you work in an office, like me, then you may consider yourself reasonably safe from incurring personal injuries.

However, personal injuries can and do happen in office environments more than most people think. You can do your bit to try and prevent personal injuries occurring in the office, which in reality is actually a very important requirement.

No doubt your employers will have given you a ticking off for leaving your belongings on the floor and causing a tripping hazard, for one example. By keeping the office tidy and employing a common sense approach, most office accidents could be avoided.
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This is anyone’s worst nightmare – being high up when the floor beneath you collapses. The injuries you can sustain from falling from a height, or hitting something as you fall from a low height, can be significant. Our bodies can endure a great deal of punishment, but there only so much twisting, turning, thudding, breaking, and bouncing our body parts can take.

We get a lot of these sorts of claims and they commonly relate to accidents at work. Employees are casually working on scaffolding when the floor decking collapses or breaks, causing you to fall. Equally, the structure of the scaffolding could break apart. It’s normally caused by one of two things: poor construction of the scaffolding, or poor maintenance of the scaffolding.

Whoever is responsible for the scaffolding – whether it’s your employers, or another company you are working with or for on some kind of site or project – must ensure that the scaffolding is erected correctly and is maintained efficiently to prevent such accidents occurring. Health and safety inspections and checking is an easy way to do this. Those responsible for putting up the scaffolding need to be properly trained and provided with the right equipment as well.
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As a pedestrian you can be in danger of being involved in a very serious accident. Motor vehicles are lethal weapons to pedestrians and therefore motor vehicle users must take extra care to avoid injuring pedestrians.

The Highway Code has guidelines for pedestrians which include using pavements if provided, keeping to the right hand side of the road so that you are able to see oncoming traffic if there is no pavement available, and also wearing something light coloured or bright if daylight conditions are poor.

Of course, pedestrians can still be injured even when adhering to these guidelines, as motorists can sometimes be careless.
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Tractors, combine harvesters, livestock, 4×4’s, chemicals- these are just a few of the hazards present on a farm. From this list it is clear to see why farming is considered one of the most dangerous industries to work in in the UK. However, it is not just people working on farms that can be at risk of injury, but also people visiting farmland.

Injuries sustained whilst working on a farm.

Your employer is responsible for your safety whilst you are at work – so if you are injured whilst working you have a potential claim against your employer. There is a wide range of accidents that can occur on a farm, especially as there are often several machines in use that require extreme physical exertion and therefore take their toll on your body. It is imperative that all farm-hands receive extensive training and are provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.
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Swimming is a past time enjoyed by many of us – and with the Olympics just around the corner, I’m sure many of us will feel the urge to go to our local swimming baths and enjoy a quick dip! Whether you are lane swimming or just having a leisurely swim, the last thing you want to happen is to get injured whilst in or around the pool.

Injuries sustained whilst swimming can be serious as you have a larger amount of your body exposed than you normally would do. The first thing that comes into my mind is  that your feet are exposed and therefore any defects in the flooring are going to cause more damage than when you are wearing a shoe and step on something walking down the street.

Loose, broken and chipped tiles are often culprits in swimming pools that can cause cuts and slices to the skin, but there are also other potential hazards such as loose or uncovered drains.
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Tripping accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury claims. This is not surprising given the condition of many footpaths and roads nowadays.

Bad weather causes further damage to public footpaths and places an increased burden on local authorities to keep them maintained. Accidents are not solely caused by potholes – they could also be from removed or damaged drain covers, manhole covers, raised paving slabs, or building works for example.

Such accidents can cause injuries including cuts, bruises, ligament strains and broken bones. To make a successful in a claim for compensation there must be some form of defect with the ground in question to be able to hold the council or local authority responsible.
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It was my birthday recently, and unsurprisingly out came the embarrassing pictures of me as a child. Looking through the numerous amounts of photographs of me sitting with my dolls- highlighting their hair with felt tips – it got me thinking about the wide range of toys now available to children.

The toys on the market today are undoubtedly more technical than we used to have in the past, and consequently they have more small and intricate parts; making them potentially more dangerous.

Of course, parental supervision is always recommended when allowing a child to play with a toy with small parts and it is important to check any age guide provided on the packaging: for example, many toys will display a recommended age with a red and white logo with a sad babies face on it.
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