Accident Book

[chirpychippy]

My Governer doesn't have an Accident book, and whenever an accident does occur on site, very seldomly may I add and I have approached him to fill out a form he just laughs. Now I appreciate he only employes two people but surely by law he should have one. As he hasn't I am sure he trying to avoid any repurcusions should an accident occur. What do you reckon?

 

[JohnD]

I am that there are people willing to break the law on such an important matter

You can shop him if you want

But do it a long time after you last complained or he will know it was you

 

[chirpychippy]

Yeh, peeved off, it was I, back in early part of last year, slipped with a sharp blade and severed a tendon in my hand, was off of work for three months, damn sure that the HSE should have been notified and accident recorded, but nothing happened, tried to claim on his liabilty insurance, to no avail! Thing was, I was working on my own, again, and didn't have a first aid box or anything suitable, there was no one around so had to drive myself to hospital, kin nightmare.

 

[JohnD]

He deserves to be shopped.

he's already got away with too much.

Is this the place?
http://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm

 

[^woody^]

Reporting under RIDDOR is only required for certain occurrences, and the accident may not be one which is notifiable under RIDDOR.

Also, I'm not sure that employers have to keep an "accident book", but can keep records in other ways - what constitutes an acceptable system depends on the size and type of company, IIRC.

 

[mattylad]

There must be an accident book, it must have removable pages so that when an entry is made, it is removed and passed onto a nominated person for safe storage.

The books where all info was entered into it on each page & then left in it are now illegal.

FFS! the book only cost a few quid, tell your boss that its not worth the fines for not having adequate 1st aid resources.

 

[^woody^]

.... back in early part of last year, slipped with a sharp blade and severed a tendon in my hand, was off of work for three months, damn sure that the HSE should have been notified and accident recorded, but nothing happened, tried to claim on his liabilty insurance, to no avail!

What makes you think that the employer was in some way liable for this accident?

Why would the HSE be interested in what may be a very common (for your trade) type of accident?

And did you actually claim against the employers insurers and get turned down, or did you pursue a formal claim and engage your own solicitors?

 

[Softus]

Find a better employer.

 

[chirpychippy]

Cheers woody for your comments and questions, the problem is that when an accident does occur on site, I, for example received so much conflicting information about what I was entitled to and from whom and whether or not I could claim on my bosses liability insurance that I didn't know whether I was coming or going. I know my employers liabilty insurance should "should he even have any" cover his employees for accidents in the place, but how this works exactly I do not know.

Also where the HSE is concerned, it was my understanding that all major accidents in the work place should be reported to them and whilst it may seem a trivial accident to you, for me to have to take three months off of work puts the accident into the realms of severe.

And no I didn't instruct solicitors to make a claim against my employer, because, at the end of the day, I have a family to support and I didn't particulaly want to get myself sacked by taking this route.

 

[DCPlumbing]

I'm not sure of the rules regarding provision of accident books but surely the purpose of one is to keep a record of the accident for future reference.

Should a claim be submitted and the employer was to contend the claim, he would need this information just as much as the claimant. So he's daft not to have one anyway.

I have attended many site inductions and have regularly been told to enter any accident no matter how minor into the book.

 

[gangman]

I know my employers liabilty insurance should "should he even have any" cover his employees for accidents in the place, but how this works exactly I do not know.


Chippy, I think you'll find that his employers liability insurance is not there for your benefit but for his own. If he's succesfully sued by an employee for negligence resuting in an injury then the insurance company will cover that cost.
Depending on how negligent he was the insurance company may sue the employer to recover that money.
As to your injury you would have to prove some negligence on the part of your employer which could come down to a percentage blame for both parties.


Also where the HSE is concerned, it was my understanding that all major accidents in the work place should be reported to them and whilst it may seem a trivial accident to you, for me to have to take three months off of work puts the accident into the realms of severe.


All major accidents do have to be reported to HSE under RIDDOR. This is a legal requirement, and three months off work is a major accident. He should also register his business with HSE.
If you employ 10 or more people you must have an accident book at the workplace, though that may now be 5 or more.

 

[snb]

For those of you unsure about the rules about accident books check out the HSE site.

But it is a requirment to have an accident book if you employ 1 or more people.

A record has to be kept but not necessarily in a carbonised book.

If you have employees that work at numerous places then they must be issued with a first aid kit and a book to record any instances.

All company vans should have a first aid kit with an accident book.

If anyone has an accident that keeps them off work for 3 or more days or the break a bone then the HSE must be informed via a RIDDOR form.

The rules to running a business are so bloody long that it's so easy to break them without knowing.

 

[JohnD]

The rules to running a business are so b****y long that it's so easy to break them without knowing.

I find it hard to believe there is an established employer who does not know he ought to have an Accident Book or equivalent.

There may be some who don't care though.

 

[snb]

I was refering to all of the rules not just accident books.

I bet there are the rules that you are not adhering to either, whether knowingly or unknowingly.

Even the biggest multinationals do not follow all the rules. Local government are usually the best at adhering to most but even they.

 

[Zampa]

There must be an accident book, it must have removable pages so that when an entry is made, it is removed and passed onto a nominated person for safe storage.

The books where all info was entered into it on each page & then left in it are now illegal.

FFS! the book only cost a few quid, tell your boss that its not worth the fines for not having adequate 1st aid resources.

You dont even have to buy a proper one..but you must have a method of recording ALL accidents and the books should be kept for 3 years in case you get a come back..like someone developing occupational dermatitis and sueing you further down the line..the same goes for insurances policies btw.