Parker Simmonds Solicitors & Lawyers litigation director Bruce Simmonds says employers are set to face more workplace compensation lawsuits by “cutting corners” when it comes to workplace, health and safety. 

“Construction sites and workplaces with hard physical labour seem to feature in the most dramatic news reports of workplace accidents but workers need a strong reminder too that they must follow workplace health and safety practices,” the Queensland-based compensation law specialist said. 

“The ‘she’ll be right’ attitude won’t help your recover if you suffer a serious workplace injury because you couldn’t be bothered following a safety process. Employers are liable but so are workers.”

Mr Simmonds said while employees operating heavy machinery seem the most at risk of injuries, “workplace compensation claims can and are related to all work-related injuries”.

For example, Mr Simmonds pointed to a 2017 case study whereby a Queensland man was awarded more than $230,000 for injuries by his employer, Woolworths, after he was forced to lift heavy boxes. Similarly, Mr Simmonds said he’s seen a climb in these types of suits playing out at nursing homes and hospitals. 

“I have had many similar claims for injured staff at hospitals and nursing homes where they are put at risk when they especially have to move large, overweight patients,” he explained. 

“It’s especially worrying for staff – including nurses – at understaffed or over-worked hospitals and nursing homes...Hospitals and nursing homes need to ensure they have proper staffing levels and ensure staff are not put in a position where they could be injured while helping patients.

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“Hospitals and nursing homes have a duty of care to their patients but also to their staff. This issue applies to paramedics too moving heavy people in and out of ambulances.”