What to do if you feel unsafe at work

When is a workplace considered unsafe?

Workplaces are generally considered unsafe when conditions or acts in the working environment increase the risk of injuries or ill health for employees. This means that a workplace could be deemed unsafe due to certain working conditions, including unsafe practices within the workplace, and the potential for physical or threatening behaviours toward staff members.

There are legal obligations on both employers and employees within the workplace. Employers have a duty to provide a safe and healthy working environment for their employees by:

• conducting risk assessments,
• implementing safety measures,
• providing training,
• ensuring that equipment is safe to use.

It is an employee's responsibility to follow the safety procedures put in place and report any hazards they encounter.

What happens if I feel threatened at work?

In the event that you face any kind of physical threat or abuse at work, you must immediately report it to your respective line manager in the way that you would if you suffered an injury as the result of an accident at work.

By reporting any threats, abuse or inappropriate behaviour that has made you feel unsafe in the workplace, you could help to protect others and yourself, as long as employers take their responsibilities seriously.

When injuries at work are the result of a lack of training, protective clothing, security or safeguarding, an employer can be held liable in the event of an injury at work claim.

Is it common for people to feel threatened at work?

The employers’ liability team at Slater and Gordon has commissioned research into the number of people who have been physically attacked or threatened at work.

It follows an increase in the number of clients coming to us who have been injured at work, particularly those in public sector roles such as nurses and teachers.

Of the 2,000 people we surveyed, half of those who had suffered a physical assault said they didn’t feel that their employer had done enough to support them.

Like any health and safety concern that could potentially arise in the workplace, violence or risk of violence and any behaviour that makes you feel unsafe needs to be addressed as soon as possible to help reduce further incidents in the future.

What to do if you feel your workplace is unsafe

If you feel that your workplace is unsafe for any reason, speak to your manager in the first instance, or to your HR department. If you do not feel comfortable with either of these options and the problem persists, you should consider reporting it to the HSE.

No matter who you report your problem to, internal or external, you will benefit from having notes. Keep a record of the unsafe conditions, including dates, times, descriptions of the issue, and any actions you or others have taken. Try to collect evidence where you can, such as asking witnesses for statements, taking pictures to corroborate your notes, and making your employer or the HSE aware of potential CCTV footage that could have captured any wrongdoing or incident.

The most important thing to remember is that you do not have to suffer in silence. Every employee has the right to a safe work environment, and when you feel unsafe at work, it is important to understand your legal rights as an employee.

If your employer has failed in their duty to ensure a safe working environment and this has led to injury or illness, you could be entitled to make a claim. Speak to our expert accident at work team today to learn more.

How can Slater and Gordon help?

While events are still fresh in your mind, it is a good idea to a lawyer who will make detailed notes and advise on your individual circumstance.

Slater and Gordon have a specialist team of personal injury lawyers who deal with accident at work claims on a no win no fee basis. For a free consultation call 0330 041 5869 or contact us online and we will be happy to help you with your next steps.

All information was correct at the time of publication.