03/02/2012
Category: Employers' liability insurance
Companies have been urged to pay special attention to the working practices of new employees, as these are apparently at most risk of sustaining an injury in their job role.
Research from the Health and Safety Executive shows that newer workers are more likely to have an accident at work, which could result in a claim on employers' liability insurance to cover compensation costs.
This is especially important as companies look to expand following the economic downturn, with increased risks presented by the introduction of new technologies into the workplace.
Speaking at the RenewableUK Health and Safety 2012 conference in Manchester, Judith Hackitt, chair of the Health and Safety Executive, said: "The rapid expansion [...] will of course mean increased activity levels and that will bring a sharp increase in the potential for health and safety related incidents and accidents."
While the number of accidents in the workplace remains relatively small, the number of incidents occurring in the wind energy sector has recently trebled.
In this respect, it is important that firms try and address the skills gap that is developing and concentrate on equipping all new workers for their job roles.
"Added to that, some new start-up companies may struggle to establish their own appropriate health and safety culture - with the right level of speed - and even existing companies may find themselves faced with new and unfamiliar activities and hazards," Ms Hackitt explained.
The expansion of micro energy projects will extend the need for health and safety schemes into areas that have not previously had cause to implement them, the expert adds, with tighter timescales adding to that pressure.
While most companies are obliged to have employers' liability insurance in place to cover compensation costs when accidents occur, they also have a legal requirement to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to prevent such incidents.
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