Health at Safety in Pre-School

[snowhite2219]

Hello

I am new to this forum, so please forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong place on thism forum.

I am a pre-school assistant and for the past two years have been working in an early years setting in Peterborough.

I have a number of health and safety issues that I have raised with my employer in the past, although nothing seems to change for the better. One of these is that there is no provision for adult hand wash basin facilitites, which causes immense back ache. Also there are manual handling issues which causes me much disstress.

I suffered a slip today at work on a wet floor, which I did not know was wet at the time. The manager of the setting seems to have scant regard for my injury, and has not even bothered to ask me if I was ok. Can anybody tell me if they have had any such issues and how they have dealt with them. I'm not sure if I should persue a claim for personal injury for my slip, as I was badly injured as I banged my head on the corner of a door frame.....please help :-(

[Chef Dave]

Hello

I suffered a slip today at work on a wet floor, which I did not know was wet at the time. The manager of the setting seems to have scant regard for my injury, and has not even bothered to ask me if I was ok. Can anybody tell me if they have had any such issues and how they have dealt with them. I'm not sure if I should persue a claim for personal injury for my slip, as I was badly injured as I banged my head on the corner of a door frame.....please help :-(

Your employer is in violation of OSHA, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administrative safety regulations. Accident investigations fall under article 1960.29(d) "The investigative report of the accident shall include appropriate documentation on date, time, location, description of operations, description of accident, photographs, interviews of employees and witnesses, measurements, and other pertinent information. A copy of the investigative report required by this section shall be forwarded to the official in charge of the workplace, the appropriate safety and health committee, and the exclusive employee representative, if any."

OSHA article 1926 requires that signs and symbols be visible at all times when work is being performed, and shall be removed or covered promptly when the hazards no longer exist. The wet floor should have been marked with orange safety cones and/or a yellow wet floor sign.

You should have filled out an accident report form and seen a doctor to document your injuries on the day the accident occurred. Failure to complete appropriate documentation could jeopardize any future claim for worker's compensation should your injury prevent you from working.

Your employer also has a legal responsibility to complete a First Report of Injury or Illness and file it with the Division of Workers' Compensation. You should also have received a copy of this document.

If you had visited a doctor and if the doctor had said that you were unable to work because of your injury, you would have been entitled to recover lost wages due to the accident.

If your employer refuses to report your accident to the Worker's Compensation Insurance Company or provide you with an authorized medical provider you may complain to the Division of Worker's Compensation in your state for further action.

Best wishes,

David