Many workplace accidents are the result of an employee mistake or uncontrollable situations such as heavy traffic or inclement weather. However, there are also many workplace accidents that don’t need to occur but happen anyway because of negligence on the part of an employer.
Employer negligence opens the company up to liability for any injuries a worker suffers and could impact what forms of compensation a worker can receive. The more you know about various forms of negligence, the easier it will be for you to determine whether you have a case to hold your employer accountable for questionable workplace practices.
Negligence can involve bad maintenance, poor training and other issues
Providing workers with a safe work environment means adhering to regulations for the industry and for safe facilities in general. From maintaining clean spaces and proactively addressing spills to providing adequate safety equipment and the proper training of those in high-risk positions on safety management, there are many obligations an employer has to the people they hire.
Proper training can ensure that workers know how to avoid risks and how to protect themselves with safety equipment. Workers can easily wind up injured if they don’t receive adequate safety equipment or training on how to use that equipment. Failing to penalize an employee with questionable work habits can also be a form of negligence if that worker, for example, repeatedly comes to work and is still permitted to drive a forklift.
Demonstrating that the circumstances that led to your injury directly related either to inaction or failures of maintenance and training on the part of your employer could give you options for seeking compensation.