At Gerard Malouf and Partners we’re used to regularly handling worker compensation claims across a wide variety of industries. While these cases are often associated with sectors such as construction and mining in the popular imagination, a significant amount of the claims we handle as compensation lawyers involve normal office jobs.
Employers naturally have a duty of care to those who work in their offices, but you should be proactive about your own safety as a matter of course. An ounce of prevention, as the saying goes, is worth a pound of cure.
In this article we’ll detail some classic warning signs of potentially dangerous office workplaces that you should be on the lookout for – along with tips on how to raise workplace concerns in a responsible and professional manner.
Begin by checking environmental factors
The general ambience of an office environment can tell you a lot about its overall safety – or lack of it. Be on the lookout for any of the following problems:
Assess layout, workstations, and equipment
If general environment factors look in order, the next places to check for warning signs are in general office layout, workstation design, and use of equipment. Be on the lookout for the following types of issues:
Don’t be afraid to raise concerns
As an employee, staying up to speed on the topic of office workplace safety is very much in your interests. Start by consulting resources such as the Officewise programme from Comcare and never be afraid to bring up concerns as soon as you have them. When doing so, make sure you are providing clear examples of the risk factors you’ve identified, and document your concerns in writing throughout.
Thanks to legislation such as the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991, employers across Australia are obliged to work closely with their employees on safety, provide Health and Safety Management Arrangements (HSMAs), and keep detailed records of injuries and accidents – by clearly articulating your concerns, you help keep your working environment safer for all and potentially head off issues before they become serious.
If you do find yourself in a situation where you believe you have a potential worker compensation claim, be sure to immediately contact our team of professional injury lawyers for a no-obligation consultation on your case.
As leading Accredited Specialists in Personal Injury, we’ve successfully handled an enormous amount of cases involving people injured at work through no fault of their own. Our expert workers compensation lawyers are ready to fight your corner and provide the financial, medical, and expert resources you need to win your case. Contact us today and we’re happy to provide a completely free initial consultation and consider your case on a no-win, no-fee basis.
Call us now on 1800 004 878 to book a free appointment with one of my compensation experts, or email your enquiry.