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Seasonal Work Accidents
Seasonal Work Accidents
In the run-up to Christmas, many businesses, including retailers, restaurants and courier companies will take on extra staff to help out during the busy festive period.
Legally, when it comes to health and safety, seasonal workers are entitled to the same rights as every other employee. If you have been injured while at work, you may be able to claim compensation.
Call First Personal Injury today on 0333 358 2345 or get in touch online to speak to our experienced and sympathetic team.
Types of seasonal workers
There are a number of different types of jobs available for people who are looking for a temporary job over the Christmas period. Examples of seasonal staff include:
- Shop assistants
- Waiters, waitresses and other seasonal restaurant staff
- Delivery drivers
- Warehouse workers
- Royal Mail and post office workers
Each work environment will bring with it different types of hazards that might cause an injury. Because of this, some seasonal workers are more at risk of accident than others. For instance, warehouse workers might be at risk of manual handling injuries and delivery drivers might be involved in a road traffic accident at work. On the other hand, those who work in a restaurant might be at risk of slips on wet floors or burns caused by hot food.
Even if you are employed on a seasonal basis, your employer has a duty of care to keep you safe while they are at work. They must:
- ensure you receive relevant training
- provide you with the equipment they need to carry out your job safely
- ensure that all tools and equipment are properly maintained and in good working order
- ensure that the workplace complies to current health and safety regulations
- provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
If your employer fails to take any of the steps above and you become injured while at work, you may have a valid claim.
Common accidents and injuries involving seasonal staff
Some of the types of accidents and injuries that might involve temporary staff include:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Manual handling injuries e.g back injuries caused by lifting heavy loads
- Road traffic accidents involving delivery driver or couriers
- Injuries caused by falling objects
- Accidents involving warehouse machinery such as forklift trucks or other warehouse accidents
What to do if you’re involved in an accident at work as a seasonal member of staff
If you are hurt while working in a temporary job over Christmas, there are steps you should take if are considering making a compensation claim.
- Report the accident
As soon as possible, you should report the accident to your supervisor and ask that the incident is reported in the company accident book.
- Seek medical attention
Depending on the severity of your injuries, you should visit your local hospital or your GP for medical attention. If you are considering making an accident at work claim, your injury must be diagnosed.
- Take photos and speak to witnesses
If you can, take photos of the accident scene and of your injuries as evidence. If there were any witnesses to the accident, such as colleagues or customers, ask if they would mind taking down their details. They may be able to provide a witness statement that could help strengthen your potential injury claim.
In most cases, you have just 3 years from the date of your accident to make a claim, so it is important to make an enquiry as soon as possible if you are thinking about making a claim. If you are under the age of 18, you have 3 years from the date of your 18th birthday in which to take legal action.
Will I lose my job if I make a claim?
Some people who are injured at work are put off from making a claim because they are afraid that doing so might put their job at risk.
Your employer has a legal duty to ensure your safety. If you are injured while you are working through no fault of your own, you are legally entitled to make a claim to restore you to the position you were in before your accident. Your employer cannot dismiss you for taking legal action against them if you have become injured because of their negligence.
If you are worried about your employer having to pay financially, your injury claim will go through their employer’s liability insurance and will be dealt with by an insurance company on their behalf.
Have you been injured while working in a seasonal job over Christmas?
If you have been injured at work within the last three years, you may be entitled to make a claim.
Call us on 0333 358 2345 to speak to our friendly team or make an enquiry online via this website.