Does my employer have a duty of care to keep me safe at work?

In the UK, an employer has a duty of care to ensure that all working environments are safe and appropriate for their employees to carry out their work. They must carry out risk assessments on all activities and have regular checks on all equipment used to ensure it reaches adequate standards.

Within their duty, employers should:

Provide the correct machinery and tools and ensure they are in a safe condition.
Have a safe and tidy workplace to avoid hazards – for example, your employer must ensure that corridors are kept clear.
Give proper training to all staff members – for example, ensuring staff know how to operate machinery safely or how to lift correctly.
Provide the appropriate safety equipment, such as hard hats, safety gloves, high visibility clothing, dust masks and ear defenders.

If your employer fails in this duty of care and you become injured as a result, you may be able to make a compensation claim. You can also claim if the accident was caused by the negligence of another member of staff.

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Frequently asked questions