Do special regulations apply?

Some activities have special regulations setting down standards of care which must be complied with. If you work in a factory you ought to see, in some prominent place, a poster about your employer’s Health and Safety duties. This will specify what the factory owner should do to keep the workplace safe, and list many detailed provisions. If these requirements are not complied with, you may have a claim in the event of an accident.

On 1 January 1993 six new sets of Health and Safety Regulations, having their origins in European Law, were passed which affect the work place and work equipment. These cover the use of equipment, the supply of personal protective equipment, manual handling and display equipment. If you work on a building site there are similar regulations which lay down very specific rules about the use of ladders, scaffolds and general building operations.

There are further regulations for docks, ship-building, the electricity industry and many other industrial processes.

Ultimately, if you can establish negligence you have the right to claim compensation.