Your Right to Work  

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 makes clear the responsibilities of your employer to ensure you are protected against any risk of injury or damage to your health while at work.

Your employer is legally obligated to provide a safe working environment which includes supplying you with proper protective equipment and adequate training to do your job safely.

If you suffer a head injury at work and your employer has failed to fulfil their responsibility to minimise the risk of accidents in the workplace you may be able to claim compensation.

Employees must provide evidence to support their claim that the injury was caused by negligent actions or inactions of their employer. If you feel unsure about bringing a claim against your employer, know that the law is on your side.

It is against the law for your employer to make you redundant, make life difficult for you, or otherwise make you feel like you want to leave your job as the result of a claim against the company.

We are experts in employment law and can advise you on this matter.

What is a Head Injury at Work? 

A head injury is a broad term that describes any form of trauma to the head. This could range from a minor concussion to serious brain damage. A head injury is usually the result of an accident such as a fall, a collision, or being struck by a moving object.

Head injuries are more common in construction, agriculture, and commercial fishing industries but jobs in other industries such as professional sports also pose the risk of injury.

If the injury was caused by your employer’s negligence or failure to provide a safe working environment, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

What can cause a Head Injury at Work? 

There are several possible causes of a head injury at work, including:

• slips, trips, or falls
• being struck by a heavy object falling from a height
• getting hit by a flying object thrown from defective machinery or someone who lost control
• a work vehicle or forklift truck accident.
• colliding with another person

UK employers have a duty of care to manage health and safety risks in the workplace and head injuries are often a result of employers failing to provide employees with adequate safety equipment or sufficient training.

In many cases, using personal protective equipment such as a hard hat can prevent or reduce the severity of a head injury.  However, even if protective equipment was provided, an employer may still be held liable if the employee was left seriously hurt.

Our head injury at work claims solicitors can advise you on whether you have a viable compensation claim.

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What are the most common types of Head Injuries at Work?

Head injuries may occur to the scalp, skull, brain, underlying tissue, and blood vessels. These can range from minor injuries such as mild bruising or cuts to more serious injuries such as concussion, deep cuts, fractured skull bones, and internal bleeding.

The level of medical care you need depends on the severity of your injuries which will impact the amount of compensation you require.

While many people recover quickly after a minor head injury this is not always the case and people may experience longer-term effects.

Less serious injuries can still have lasting impacts such as ongoing pain, headaches, vision problems, and balance issues. This can negatively affect everyday life and make it difficult to get back to normal after your accident.

If you have suffered any type of head injury at work help is available.  Get in touch with PSR solicitors and our specialist legal team will help you get the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.

Concussion

A concussion is one of the most common effects of a traumatic head injury and can cause temporary loss of awareness, and confusion and even lead to unconsciousness.

A concussion is typically caused by a blow to the head.  The brain’s ability to function normally may temporarily be impaired and this can cause problems with cognitive abilities such as memory, concentration, speech, balance, and coordination.

Skull fractures

A skull fracture is a break to the bone in the skull and the seriousness of this type of injury depends on where the fracture occurs, how it’s damaged and the severity of the break.

There are four different types of fractures to the skull with linear fractures being the most common and straightforward to heal. A depressed fracture is where part of the skull is indented which requires surgery to correct. A diastatic fracture causes the bones of the skull to separate when different parts are broken. The most serious fracture of all is a basilar where damage to the base of the skull occurs with the potential to affect the spinal cord.

Intracranial Hematoma (ICH):

Intracranial hematomas are blood clots in the skull which range from mild to life-threatening.

Impaired senses

People with head injuries frequently report visual disturbances, hearing loss, problems with balance, pain, or discomfort in the skin such as a tingling itchy sensation, and the inability to taste or smell.

Lacerations to the scalp

Cuts, though painful are usually minor and quick to heal. Some deeper cuts may require stitches. Any open wound requires immediate medical attention, but care must also be taken to check for additional symptoms indicative of a more serious problem.

Seizures

Seizures or fits are a common side effect of head trauma and are caused when the normal electrical function of the brain is interrupted. Fits or seizures can occur within the first seven days of the accident (known as early post-traumatic seizures) or in the subsequent weeks or months (late post-traumatic seizures).

Symptoms range from mild - overwhelming fatigue and dizziness to more severe - unresponsiveness, loss of speech, loss of understanding, and tremors.