Injuries at work don't just happen to people working in heavy industry or construction. Accidents and injuries happen in places which are not immediately thought of as dangerous; such as offices, warehouses and shops.  Wherever you work, if your employer has not taken the appropriate actions to ensure that you are safe at all times then they may well be liable for any injury suffered at work.

Such actions include:

• regularly assessing risks
• providing appropriate health and safety training
• providing equipment guards and clear, appropriate signage
• providing or ensuring use of personal protective items such as helmets, gloves, goggles and earplugs
• providing or ensuring use of 'preventative' equipment such as support belts, knee pads, wrist rests and foot-stools
• providing hearing and sight tests
• keeping adequate accident records and making improvements to prevent recurrence where possible
• maintaining appropriate policies and procedures
• carrying out regular safety tests and drills to ensure plans work in practice and make staff familiar with what to do in exceptional circumstances.

Work related injuries generally fall into one of two types, those which occur due to a specific incident, such as an accident, and those that develop over a period of time due to an unsafe working practice. Sometimes one-off incidents are due to longer term unsafe practices, such as falling items, inadequate guards on machines, trips, slips, falls, chemical usage or the lifting of heavy objects.

Injuries that develop over time are often referred to as industrial diseases, though not all are actually diseases.  Such diseases, injuries or conditions include:

• vibration white finger
• asbestosis
• mesothelioma
• other respiratory diseases
• repetitive strain injury (RSI)
• loss of hearing
• loss of sight
• loss of mobility
• back pain and loss of strength

Can my employer afford to compensate me?

By law, all employers must carry Employers' Liability Insurance. A current certificate of insurance should be on display in the workplace where it can be seen by every employee. If it is not, the employer is liable to a severe penalty.

If you successfully claim against your employer, it is this insurance which the employer will use to meet your compensation claim and associated expenses. With Claim4Injury's No Win No Fee approach, you won't be out of pocket even if you do not win.

What should I do now?

If you are suffering from an injury sustained at work then our experienced advisers are available to discuss the circumstances with you either by phone on 0800 046 1449 or via Live Chat .

Otherwise, why not complete our simple Start a Claim form online and we'll get back to you when and where you have told us it is most convenient for you.