What is negligence at work and how can it be prevented

Employers have a duty of care to their workers and need to ensure workplace safety. Whilst not all accidents are avoidable at work, employers need to take every reasonable measure to ensure any potential accidents are avoided. These precautions may include the following;-work safety work compensation

  • Workplace inductions for new staff
  • Safety precautions and procedures including work wear
  • Expected responsible work place conduct and behaviour

Examples of such cases include safety harnesses, hardhats and other safety clothing that must be worn in certain areas during certain tasks.

Work accidents happen

Work accidents do happen. When they occur the issue that is raised is one of ‘negligence’. Did an employer neglect their duty of care? It is a complex subject and one that a lawyer explores in further detail. An accident has many circumstances that need to be considered and taken into account. Everything needs to be reviewed and the right questions need to be asked. To get the right advice regarding your work accident call 1800 006 766

Negligence is far from black and white for every case is different. It may seem there wasn’t any negligence but when an accident is ‘preventable’ there may well be some negligence present. Employers have duties that may not be obvious and it is the job of a good lawyer to determine whether or not there has been negligence and who is deemed negligent.

Discussing negligence with your employer

Discussing negligence with an employer is generally not recommended. Speaking to an independent party such as a work compensation injury helpline or a reputable lawyer is recommended. What you need is an independent and unbiased review of your situation and the circumstances surrounding your accident. Getting to the bottom of the cause of an accident will determine where the negligence lies and who may be to blame or at least partially to blame.
Even if you think a work accident is your fault, never take the blame until you have discussed the accident with an independent party. There may be other factors that contributing to gthe accident occurring that had nothing to do with you.

Always seek advice

When you have had an accident always seek the advice of an injury helpline. They will put your mind at ease in terms of what you need to know and what you need to do. You will also find out where you stand legally and what work compensation you may be entitled to under the law in your State or Territory. Get the right advice today call 1800 006 766.








  • Falling down stairs
  • Slipping on a wet floor
  • Falling off office chairs, scaffolding etc.
  • Items falling from above such as shelves, files or boxes










Would you snitch on a friend?

What would YOU do if your friend who is also a fellow worker caused an workplace accident?Workers Comp Work Injuries Dilemma

Whilst most of us would never want to snitch on a friend for fear they may be reprimanded or worse ‘sacked’ there is of course a shared duty of care shared among fellow workers. There is also the possibility you may lose them as a friend if you come forward with the truth.

However, when a worker has caused a workplace accident, the injured victim and your employer has a legal and moral right to know.

Firstly, it can affect their work compensation entitlements in a huge way. If the accident has caused a permanent injury they may be entitled to a common law claim. A common law claim (or negligence claim) is an award available outside of work compensation. It is a claim that takes into account future losses as well as past. For example, if your friend can never work again he or she may be awarded future loss of earnings under common law.

Call 1800 006 766 and You May Maximise Your Compensation Claim Ten Fold!

When a co-worker is negligent it means the permanent injury was caused by negligence. In order for a fellow worker to pursue a common law claim, negligence MUST be clearly proven for the workplace accident.

If your fellow worker who caused the accident chooses not to come forward, it may mean the injured worker gets awarded less work compensation.
A negligence claim is usually worth much more than a standard lump sum from a workers comp insurer (i.e. work cover) and can really help a person get their life back on track following a serious injury. They may have to modify their home, their car, and incur expenses such as rehabilitation and wheelchairs.

Workplace injuries or workplace accidents can have a fatal impact on a persons’ life, so if you know your colleague caused the accident don’t we have a moral obligation to do the right thing?

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