Warehouse Accident Claims

If you work in a warehouse, you’ll know just how dangerous they can be. But your employer has a duty of care to ensure your health and safety in the workplace.

Common warehouse accidents

Warehouses can be hazardous. With vehicles, racking and lots of people present, there are any number of ways you could suffer an accident at work.

Among the most common warehouse accidents are:

Falls from height

A fall from height is the biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the UK. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that in 2022/23, 40 people lost their lives after falling from a height. With high racking and shelving commonplace in warehouses, this kind of accident happens all too often.

Forklift accidents

Forklift trucks are frequently found in warehouses as they transport goods too heavy for manual lifting. But they can cause serious accidents. Being struck by a moving vehicle was responsible for 20 deaths in the UK in 2022/23, according to the HSE.

Manual handling injuries

According to the HSE, manual handling was responsible for 17% of workplace accidents in 2022/23. In warehouses, a large proportion of the work involves lifting and carrying loads, so it is a common injury in these environments.

Falling objects

With so many items being held at a height in warehouses, it is not unusual for something to dislodge and fall. When an object is heavy or bulky, it can cause real injuries if it hits a worker. The HSE reported that 29 people died in 2022/23 after being hit a moving object, which includes those falling.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls are some of the most common workplace accidents, regardless of the physical environment. But they can be more common in warehouses, where trip hazards and ladders are found in much of the building.

Who is responsible for a warehouse accident?

Your employer is responsible for making your workplace safe enough to operate in.

Under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, your employer has a legal duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 also require employers to assess and control risks to protect employees.

If your employer has failed in their duty of care, they can be held accountable.

Preventing warehouse accidents

Your employer can prevent workplace accidents by ensuring they are carrying out the appropriate risk assessments and taking action on any hazards they identify. Risk assessments should be carried out on the working environment, as well as on the use of vehicles an equipment.

You can also play a part in keeping your warehouse safe. If you see any unsafe working practices, address them. This could be colleagues’ operating procedures or problems with the workspace, such as insufficient lighting, the building not being a good state of repair or a lack of safe passage for workers and vehicles.

Taking the issue up with your line manager could help ensure they do something to minimise the danger posed.

Why should I make a claim for a warehouse accident?

In some cases, employers might not realise something has gone wrong enough to cause an accident. By making a claim, you’ll be helping to highlight what happened to you. This gives them the chance to address the problem and stop it happening to anyone else.

You may also need time off work to recover from your accident. A claim for compensation could help you cover your living costs if you experience a loss of earnings. It could also help you cover the cost of any medical treatment you may need.

How to make a warehouse accident claim

You may understandably be worried about making a claim against your employer. You might be concerned that doing so would result in problems, including losing your job.

But employers are not allowed to end your employment for making an injury claim against them. If they do, you would be able to pursue an unfair dismissal claim against them.

It may also help to know that employers are required to have certain insurance policies in place. It’s the insurer that you would claim against, not your employer directly.

To make a claim, just get in touch with First4Lawyers and we’ll help you through the process. You can request a call back or start your claim here now.

How long after a warehouse accident can I make a claim?

In the majority of cases of a workplace accident, you’ll have three years from the date it happened to make a claim. But it’s always best to begin the process of claiming as quickly as possible.

The sooner you start your claim, the easier you’ll find it to remember the details of what happened. Any witnesses to your accident will also find it easier to remember what they saw.

It is also easier to get hold of evidence when making a claim if you begin it as soon as possible. This can include any CCTV recordings of the warehouse your accident happened in, as well as any reports your employer made about the accident.

Your solicitor may also find it easier to access your medical records if you start your claim soon after the accident, which could help to make the process of claiming more straightforward.

How much compensation will I receive?

Your situation – and your injury – is unique to you. This means that without a consultation, we wouldn’t be able to tell you exactly how much you might be entitled to.

Our compensation calculator can give you an example of what you might receive. But for a clearer idea, just get in touch with our team of friendly and understanding claims advisors. They’ll discuss your accident with you and talk you through your options.

If you feel that you have a claim just give us a call or request a call back or start your claim online.