An accident at work is when you, as a worker, are the victim of an unintended incident that causes you injury, which happened at your place of work or elsewhere whilst you were carrying out work-related duties, e.g.
- You slip on a wet floor in your workplace.
- You cut your hand on machinery that hasn’t got a safety guard over the moving parts
- You fall from a ladder or scaffolding while working
- A forklift truck in the factory/supermarket/ warehouse where you work knocks you down
RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) define accidents as ‘work related’ if any of the following were a significant factor in causing the accident:
- The method of working.
- The machinery, substances, plant or equipment used.
- The condition of the premises where the accident took place.