Accident at work

heretolearn_2

'The former could be avoided by not allowing liquids to be drunk around office desks as there will always be a risk of spillages.'

noooooooooooooooooooooooo, now you are trying to diddle me out of my cups of tea. They are the only things that keep me going all day :-)

OK Ok I accept we all do, um, daft things at times. Me especially. I'm a human disaster zone. You wouldn't believe the crazy accidents I've had. Last year I broke my hand falling off my office chair. Was just one of those silly accidents, no-ones fault (and no, I don't put whisky in my office tea). Last month an estate agent sign fell over and whacked me on the head. I once had a bed fall on my car while I was driving it! I just chalk it all up to another dumb thing I've done/the universe picking on me again, and don't go suing anyone. It's the fourth rung of the ladder thing that gets me, I'd just be too embarrassed to admit to that one, myself.

dickydonkin

I once had a bed fall on my car while I was driving it!

Was the road in 'Bed -fordshire' ? Sorry - couldn't resist.

So how did you explain that one to the insurance company?

And

Last month an estate agent sign fell over and whacked me on the head.

I don't expect your nickname to be 'lucky' then!

I suppose there are some things you just cannot legislate for.

SarEl

heretolearn wrote: »

'The former could be avoided by not allowing liquids to be drunk around office desks as there will always be a risk of spillages.'

noooooooooooooooooooooooo, now you are trying to diddle me out of my cups of tea. They are the only things that keep me going all day :-)

OK Ok I accept we all do, um, daft things at times. Me especially. I'm a human disaster zone. You wouldn't believe the crazy accidents I've had. Last year I broke my hand falling off my office chair. Was just one of those silly accidents, no-ones fault (and no, I don't put whisky in my office tea). Last month an estate agent sign fell over and whacked me on the head. I once had a bed fall on my car while I was driving it! I just chalk it all up to another dumb thing I've done/the universe picking on me again, and don't go suing anyone. It's the fourth rung of the ladder thing that gets me, I'd just be too embarrassed to admit to that one, myself.

But could you possibly let us know where you work / live? So the rest of us can avoid the area ?

heretolearn_2

yeah, that's wise. :-)

john59_2

Just a bump up on this, the guy is still off work and is now in the hands of physio having ultra sound sumat or other. He said only over the weekend that after speaking to his manager over the phone, his manager said (and he spoke to him in an agressive manner) "I think we need to have a chat regarding your position within the company, but we will do that when you are ready to comeback in".

UUMMMMM dosn't sound to promising does it.

I think this guy is now expecting to get dismissed if no other work can be found within the company

suited-aces

john59 wrote: »

This is a bit hit and miss, but a lad at work has stepped off a ladder and didnt realise he was on the 4th rung up and has damaged the ligaments in his ankle. Now you are probebly thinking "what an idiot" and he himself thinks the same but he has now been off work for 5 weeks and his argument or point is that he was sent to the job (a contract with another company) who always insisted that no ladders were to be used on site no matter what. His boss knew this but sent him and his work mate to finish the job (spraying paint from a rattle can) so the job could be signed off because the job had over the weeks taken too long due to no blame to the lads.
Now I know that the lad has no training using ladders and on every other visit, scaffolding or scissor lifts were used and on the day of the accident the site manager who is also the site first aider said " YOU KNOW YOU SHOULD NOT BE ON A LADDER AND DONT EVEN THINK OF A CLAIM"
Now this lad is thinking of putting in a claim for personal injury, he has told me hes not bothered about compen but would like to know if he could at least claim for loss of earnings.

To coin a new phrase, where there should be shame, there's a claim!

dickydonkin

john59 wrote: »

Just a bump up on this, the guy is still off work and is now in the hands of physio having ultra sound sumat or other. He said only over the weekend that after speaking to his manager over the phone, his manager said (and he spoke to him in an agressive manner) "I think we need to have a chat regarding your position within the company, but we will do that when you are ready to comeback in".

UUMMMMM dosn't sound to promising does it.

I think this guy is now expecting to get dismissed if no other work can be found within the company

It is likely that by dismissing him, the employer will hope the problem will go away or it is possible that the manager is sabre rattling hoping the employee will not progress any claim.

If I was in your pal's shoes, such threats would make me even more determined.

rachbc

Does the employee not have an responsibilty to say 'Sorry, not doing that, not had the right training' - its what I'd do if someone asked me to do something dangerous at work that I wasn't sufficiently expereinced or qualified to do....

dickydonkin

rachbc wrote: »

Does the employee not have an responsibilty to say 'Sorry, not doing that, not had the right training' - its what I'd do if someone asked me to do something dangerous at work that I wasn't sufficiently expereinced or qualified to do....

Of course they do - but for some, that is more easier said than done.

In today's climate where staff are looking to cut back, many employees may be reluctant to give the impression of being 'difficult' by refusing to do a task they are uncomfortable with or not trained to do as they could fear they may be first out of the door should cutbacks be required.

For workers just starting a new job and who may be on a probation period, again, such people may find it difficult to say no - the same could also apply to younger workers who may not wish to be 'wimpish' in front of their colleagues.

There are a variety of reasons why some employees may be reluctant to refuse a job or task that may compromise their own or indeed their colleagues wellbeing, but a we all have our own individual traits, some will refuse where others are quite happy to plod away whether they are aware of any potential danger or not.

pegginout

Well the title of this thread certainly got my attention.

I am the victim of Corporate Killing (an accident at work to you lot) and totally understand this thread more than most.

It isn't elf & safety gone mad.

The company didn't defend the use of ladders, SO WHY DID THEY SANCTION IT THIS TIME? They did it to save money, SIMPLE. Therefore they are at fault IMO

Risk assessments should be taken more seriously by employers instead of being treated as form filling nuisances.