The nature of work undertaken in factories varies significantly from industry to industry. In addition, whilst every employer must take reasonable steps to protect its work force, in reality the action taken will often vary significantly.

Manual handling risks arise not only from the weight of the goods being moved but also the manner in which the manual handling activities are undertaken and the equipment which is used to move goods and materials. As a consequence all manual handling tasks should be risk assessed to identify the potential dangers.

In addition, all factories should be designed to ensure that there is appropriate and safe access and that all work stations are safe for use. Work equipment should be regularly inspected and maintained. It must also be suitable for the purpose for which it is intended.

There must be suitable ventilation and extraction to prevent the build-up of harmful fumes and suitable personal protective equipment must be provided where necessary. Full training must also be given on the use of work equipment and PPE so that it is always used in the correct manner.

Many accidents in factories occur because poor work practices are allowed to develop or because proper training is not provided when systems of work are changed. To prevent such accidents, risk assessment should be regularly updated and refresher training provided. Risk assessments should also be reviewed following every accident at work and additional safety measures introduced where necessary.

Slips, trips and falls are a common cause of accidents in factories. These are often caused by a failure to provide safe traffic routes and walkways. Steps should be taken to ensure that walkways and traffic routes are always kept free from obstructions and that there is sufficient working space to undertake the required activities. It is also important to ensure that there is adequate lighting to allow obstructions to be identified or for spillages to be avoided.

All employees should be made aware of the need to clean up any spillages which occur. They should also cordon off the area or provide adequate notice of any potential danger before it is cleaned away.

At Sintons our personal injury specialists have a wealth of experience in pursuing successful compensation claims arising from accidents at work and in factories.

In addition, all personal injury claims are pursued on a No Win No Fee basis so you can rest assured that there is no financial risk.

To begin a personal injury compensation claim or obtain further advice with no obligation contact Sintons 24/7.