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A Guide To The Home Office Accident At Work Claims

On this web page, you will read a guide to the process of making an accident at work claim if you have suffered an injury or illness that could have been avoided working for the Home Office. We provide a No Win No Fee claims service, that can help people get the compensation that they are eligible for. This guide covers many of the legal aspects of making such a claim, as well as examples of reasons why accidents may occur in the workplace.

If you have questions that are not answered by this guide, as perhaps they are specific to your own circumstances, then one of our claims team will be able to help you. Give us a call on 0800 073 8804, and a claim advisor will go over your case with you, and answer any questions that you have.

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A Guide To Work Claims Working At The Home Office

In the sections of this guide below, we try to explain the process of making an accident at work claim if you have been injured or suffered an illness while working for the home office that you feel could have been prevented had the right procedures been in place. We will also explain how our national claims service, is the ideal way to have your personal injury claim processed.

Home Office accident at work claims process

Home Office accident at work claims process

The Home Office (HO) is a large Government department, that is primarily responsible for managing immigration (including visas), law, and civilian security. It administers the fire brigade and other rescue services, and is the governing body of the MI5 security service. With its head office in Whitehall, London, the Home Office employs around 35,000 people (as of 2018).

This guide begins by providing an explanation about what could potentially be considered as an accident at work as well as discussing the concepts of eligibility to claim, and liability to pay compensation. We also give some background information on the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (CSIBS) in this part of the guide.

The guide then moves on to take a look at some examples of different types of office accidents that could potentially occur if health and safety along with training and maintenance of office areas is not implemented correctly. Each of these is covered in its own section, detailing the kinds of hazards that could cause them.

We then move on to cover legal considerations related to making an accident at work claim. This includes the Health & Safety obligations of the HO, your rights as a civil servant, and also a number of steps you could take if you have come to harm through a workplace accident.

The final part of this guide goes over the financial aspects of the claim. We provide a list of some of the types of damages a settlement could comprise of, and also a table that details compensation ranges for different kinds of injuries and illnesses. In this part of the guide, we will give an overview of how our national claims service works, and why this is a solid option for having your claim processed. If you have any questions about either our service offering, or the contents of the guide itself, please speak to one of our claim advisors on the telephone number down at the end of the page. They will be able to help you further.

What Is A UK Government Home Office Accident At Work?

In this guide we are looking at accidents that could occur within an office environment. An accident at work in the Home Office could be any type of accident that may cause an employee to become injured, also when we talk about accidents at work it is important to mention injuries that could develop over time such as repetitive strain injuries and stress at work illnesses. Not all accidents at work will qualify for compensation. In order to make a Home Office personal injury claim, the Home Office must be responsible for the incident that caused harm. This could be through error, omission, oversight or negligence in some way.

The pivotal point of any claim, is that the employer or another employee must be clearly liable for causing harm in some way through negligence. If this is so, then the injured party could be eligible to make a claim. Consider the following two examples:

If considering making a claim it is important to consider the following three statements;

  • A claimant must be owed a duty if care,
  • The duty of care was breached,
  • This breach directly caused the accident that lead to the harm.

If you are unsure as to whether your injury suffered while at work is eligible for compensation call Legal Expert today and take advantage of our free legal consultation with no obligation.

Could I Be Compensated Through The Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme?

The Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (CSIBS) has been put in place as a vehicle for employees to receive benefits for injuries and illnesses incurred while working for public services. The CSIBS compensates for losses that include:

  • Injury or death while on official business.
  • Injury or death due to attack while off duty, with the cause of the attack being your employment by the Government.
  • Illness or death due to a disease contracted while undertaking work duties.
  • Illness or death due to a medical condition that was made worse due to carrying out your work duties.
  • Injury or death due to a civil disturbance in an area of the world that you were posted.
  • Injury or death due to a terrorist attack with the cause of the attack being your employment by the Government.

It is important to note that if you do go on to pursue a claim for compensation and your case is successful any moneys paid in benefits will need to be paid back. By being awarded these benefits does not automatically make you eligible for compensation as no liability needs to be proven.

Examples Of Accidents That Could Occur Within An Office Environment

Below is a list of examples of accidents and injuries that could potentially happen within an office space;:

  • Slips, trips and falls.
  • Manual handling accidents.
  • Medical conditions caused by an improperly set up workstation.
  • Falling objects.
  • Strains, sprains and other soft tissue injuries.

If the accident at work you experienced is not mentioned above do not panic call Legal Expert today and one of our specialist advisors will be able to assess any accident you have had.

I Slipped Or Fell In My Office, Could I Claim Compensation?

In order to pursue a civil service accident at work claim for a slip, trip or fall it must be proven that your employer could have prevented the accident and the injuries that were caused. Examples of  causes of slip, trip and fall hazards in an office building could include:

  • Water spilt on the floor of a bathroom.
  • Food spilt on the floor of a works canteen.
  • Torn or frayed carpets.
  • Cracked floor tiles.
  • Warped wooden floorboards.

If you have any questions regarding liability for a slip or trip injury you have suffered do not hesitate to get in touch today you will find several avenues at the end of this guide for ways to contact our team today.

Workplace Repetitive Strain Injury

Having work stations set up to your required needs is vital to reduce the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury RSI. These need to be ergonomically designed to reduce the risk of soft tissue injuries such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and trapped or inflamed nerves. It is recommended that H&S protocols could ensure workstations are regularly inspected and evaluated to ensure that they will not cause harm to the employee that uses it. If you are suffering with the affects of RSI or any other work related injury, having your work station assessed is vital, if after the assessments recommendations are made but not completed by your employer and your conditions continues you may have the bases for a work accident claim.

How Can Manual Handling Injuries Occur?

Regardless of what your job position is if you are required to move items as part of your employment tasks you have the right to be trained on how to do so safely and correctly so that any risk of injury is reduced. If training on manual handling is not provided and you are required to lift, carry, move, pull or push items and you are injured in doing so you may be eligible for a workplace accident claim and your employer may be liable for any harm caused

I Was Injured By A Falling Object In The Workplace Am I Eligible To Claim?

Workplaces must store items correctly as improperly storing items could cause an injury to an employee. Employers may be liable in the following circumstances if an employee is injured;

  • Failing to provide adequate storage facilities, so items are left lying around causing a trip and fall hazard.
  • Failing to train staff on how to stack objects in storage safely, if items are stacked on overly stacked shelves, or heavy items are stacked on shelves that are not equipped for such weight causing them to collapse.
  • Allowing staff to stack heavy objects on high damaged shelves, if heavy items are stacked on damage shelves especially above head height the shelve could collapse causing severe injuries.
  • Storing items on racking that is not fit for purpose, storing objects on defected racking could cause the storage system to collapse and seriously hurt an employee.

If you have been injured due to a falling object that has been stacked incorrectly while working for the Home Office one of our specialist teams will be able to advise what your next steps could be

Health And Safety Guidelines For Office Workers

The Home Office is obligated to comply with all applicable Health & Safety regulations for office workers, in the same way that a privately-owned business is. The Home Office has a legal obligation to provide all office workers with a healthy and safe environment in which to complete their employment in.

If for some reason there is a breach in up holding the legislation that is present for employees or a breach to health and safety protocols and an employee is injured or made ill the basis for a compensation claim for a workplace accident may exist.

What Are My Rights If Injured In The Workplace?

As an employee, you have certain rights that are inferred when you are at work, or out of the office on official business. You have the right to pursue a compensation claim if injured due to the negligence of an employer.

I Had An Accident Working For The Home Office, What Should I Do?

There are a number of steps that you could take to prepare for making your civil service injury claim. These steps help to improve the chances of successful personal injury claims, and streamline the claims process.

  1. Make sure that you have filled in the accident book at work.
  2. Ensure that you visit the hospital to have your injuries treated.
  3. Take photographs of the cause of the accident.
  4. Find out if there were any witnesses to the event and get their contact details.
  5. Begin to document all losses you suffer.

Taking steps like these will help in making your claim. Speak to one of our claims team to learn how we can process your claim for you.

What Financial Losses Can I Include In A Personal Injury Claim?

If your personal injury solicitor successfully processes your claim, the settlement you receive could be made up of several types of damages, for example:

  • Special damages (financial and other losses):
    • Lowered work prospects.
    • Loss of income.
    • Travel costs.
    • Medical fees.
    • Cost of care.
  • General damages (for pain and suffering):
    • Long-term and permanent disablement.
    • Lowered life quality.
    • Pain and suffering.
    • Psychological damage.
    • Shock and trauma.

Speak to one of our claim advisors to learn what types of damages may be applicable in your own case.

Calculating Compensation For Personal Injury Claims

You might be able to find an online personal injury claims calculator to get a rough idea of how much you could be able to claim. You can also look up your injury or illness in the table below, to find the compensation range.

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Accident Type Amounts Injury Information
Moderately Severe Psychiatric Injury £16,720 to £48,080 Significant issues with a person being able to cope with life, work and education, possible future issues. Cases of work related stress that results in long term or permanent disability preventing a return to work.
Less Severe Psychiatric Injury £1,350 to £5,130 The length of the disability is key here and how much daily life and sleep is disturbed. Cases falling specifically short of a diagnosis.
Moderate PTSD £7,170 to £20,290 The brackets include a person who will largely recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and any lasting effects will not be particularly disabling.
Less Severe PTSD £3,460 to £7,170 Only minor symptoms persist and a full recovery will be made in one to two years.
Minor Neck Injuries Up to £2,150 All symptoms will recover within three months.
Minor Back Injury £6,920 to £10,970 A full recovery or a recover with nuisance symptoms without surgery will take place in two to five years.
Less Severe Arm Injury. £16,830 to £34,340 A significant degree of disability is present but a large amount of recovery is achievable.
Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders £7,580 to £9,430 Injuries such as carpal tunnel, constriction with the nerves in the wrist and issues with surrounding tissue that makes a full recovery within three years.
Minor Hip Issues Up to £3,460 Minor soft tissue injuries with a full recovery expected.
Leg Fractures Up to £10,380 Simple fractures to the tibia and fibula or possibly soft tissue injuries.
Moderate Achilles Tendon Injury £11,040 to £18,480 Partial rupture or significant damage to the tendon. The different levels will be awarded in regards to disability, length of injury, function and ongoing pain.

To get a far more accurate estimate of how much you could claim, please speak to one of our claim advisors today.

No Win No Fee Personal Injury Claims Against The Home Office

When you use our No Win No Fee claims service to have your claim processed, we don’t charge a fee at the time we take your claim on. We also won’t charge any fees while we are processing your claim. If the outcome of your claim is no successful, we still don’t charge a fee. We will charge a fee when we have received a compensation payment for you, and at this stage we will deduct our fee from the money received, and give you the remainder.

How To Contact Us

Have you been injured or suffered an illness while working for the Home Office? Either as a current employee, or a prior one? If so, we could act as your personal injury lawyer and process your claim for you if you have a valid case. Please speak to one of our claim advisors on 0800 073 8804. They will go over your claim with you, inform you of your options, and offer you some completely free legal advice on what to do next.

How Do I Find Out More?

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