What are the most common types of warehouse accidents?
There are many types of warehouse accidents which can occur. Below we point out some common types of warehouse accidents.
Forklift accidents
A common type of warehouse accident is one involving a forklift. This could be because:
- the driver is driving dangerously, such as speeding
- too many people are using the forklift truck
- staff are not trained
- of loading and unloading
- the forklift truck is not maintained properly
Unfortunately, 25 out of the 142 workers who sadly died after a work accident in 2020-21 were hit by a moving vehicle.
Shelving and racking accidents
It is common for shelving and racking accidents in warehouses. For example, the shelf or rack may:
- fall apart
- break
- collapse
- have a sharp edge
Slips trips and falls
Slips, trips and falls are one of the most common types of warehouse accidents. Reasons for slip downfalls can be due to:
- leaks
- spillages
- cables
- cluttered warehouse
- boxes in the way
- poor lighting
Falling object accidents
It is common for falling objects to cause a warehouse accident. Serious injuries can occur simply because items are stacked poorly or the racking is damaged. If there is a lack of PPE, a falling object injury could mean you sustain serious head injuries.
What causes warehouse and logistics accidents?
Warehouse and logistics accidents can be caused by a variety of things. This can include:
- not carrying out adequate risk assessments
- inadequate safety training or none at all
- lack of PPE
- poorly maintained equipment
- damaged or broken equipment
- not taking rest breaks
What are the most common injuries for warehouse and logistics workers?
Unfortunately, you can be injured in many ways if you are a warehouse or logistics worker. Common injuries include:
- broken bones
- fractured bones
- dislocations
- limb and joint injuries
- amputation
- loss of eyesight
- loss of hearing
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- tinnitus
- head injuries such as concussion
- Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
- back injuries, including spinal cord injuries
- cuts and bruises
- chemical burns
- injuries to soft tissues
How can warehouse accidents be prevented?
Warehouse accidents can be prevented and where they are not your employer may be responsible. Ways to prevent warehouse accidents include:
- adequate training which is regularly updated
- maintaining machinery correctly
- making sure you have the right experience for the role you play at work
- regular safety reviews
- appropriate equipment
- avoiding long working hours
- adequate safety procedures
- ensuring the right rest breaks are taken
- adequate lighting
- visible signage
- putting items away correctly
What is my employer's duty of care?
Your employer has a duty of care. Where they fail to meet this, you may have a compensation claim. Their duty of care towards you at work is to do what they reasonably can to keep you healthy and safe.
Where they fail to do this, they are negligent towards you. For example, they must ensure you get the training needed for your job and carry out a full risk assessment. Another reason for negligence may be because they identified danger but did nothing about it.
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View profileMeet the teamWhat should I do if I'm injured in a warehouse?
If you are injured in a warehouse, you should first seek medical help. This may mean more than first aid on site but a GP or hospital stay following this. There are then several other actions you should take such as:
- report your accident to your supervisor
- ask for witness statements from colleagues
- take photos of the injury and the scene
- write a statement about how the warehouse accident happened while it is fresh in your mind.
- keep any receipts you incur as a result of the injury
Am I able to make a warehouse accident compensation claim?
You can make a warehouse accident compensation claim if your employer has not carried out their legal duty which is to keep you as their employee safe while at work. This means they have been negligent towards you and as a result, an accident occurred and you were injured.
What evidence do I need to gather?
You must gather evidence for your delivery driver warehouse and logistics accident compensation claim. For example, this may consist of:
- receipts for any medical treatment
- copies of your medical records
- photos and CCTV footage of the accident
- witness statements and statements from hospital staff
- payslips to show loss of earnings
- travel receipts
- copy of the accident at work log report
How much warehouse accident compensation could I get?
The amount of compensation you may receive for your warehouse accident depends on many factors. However, it should include special damages and general damages. Special damages compensate you for financial losses as a result of your injuries and general damages cover the suffering caused by your injuries.
Here are a couple of examples of how much you may get for your warehouse accident. If you have a moderate foot injury as a result of your warehouse accident you could receive up to £24,990. However, if you suffer an amputation of your foot, meaning you lose your ankle joint, you could receive up to £109,650.
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Can I still claim if I'm injured visiting the warehouse?
If you are injured visiting a warehouse you could make a compensation claim. This is because the warehouse owner is responsible for the safety of anyone visiting the warehouse as well as their own employees.
Can I make a no-win no-fee warehouse injury claim?
If you suffer a warehouse and logistics accident and want to make a compensation claim with National Accident Helpline, you can do so on a no win no fee basis. A no win no fee warehouse and logistics accident compensation claim means you take no financial risk when you make the compensation claim.
How often are warehouse injury compensation claims successful?
When you make a compensation claim for a warehouse and logistics accident at National Accident Helpline, you do so because we assess your accident and predict it will be successful. Therefore, your warehouse injury compensation claim is likely to be a success.
How do I start my logistics accident compensation claim?
With us you can make a warehouse and logistics accident claim with ease - it is simple to get the compensation that is due to you.
A warehouse and logistics accident causes stress and pain. At National Accident Helpline, the last thing we want you to add to that. Instead, our friendly and caring advisors will listen carefully to how your accident at work happened. They will then pass you on to one of our team of competent and highly experienced solicitors to finalise your compensation claim.
You can even make your warehouse and logistics accident compensation claim with National Accident Helpline on a no win no no fee basis, meaning there is no risk of you losing any money.
Frequently asked questions...
Quite simply, yes. If you're thinking of making a claim on behalf of a friend or loved one, then it's likely we can help you.
To find out more information please visit our claiming on behalf of someone else page.
Around 95% of our cases are settled without the need to go to court. This means there is a very small chance a claim will require a court hearing.
If your case does go to court, your solicitor will be on hand to support and guide you through the process and will make sure you always know what to expect.
In most circumstances for adults who were 18 years old or over at the time, it's essential that you (or your legal representation) issue proceedings within three years of the accident or incident.
Where the injured person was under 18 years old when it occurred, that three-year limitation period expires on their 21st birthday.
If you don't issue your claim within these time limits, you won't usually be able to proceed. This is called being 'time-barred'. There are some certain situations where the time limits can be extended. Check with one of our advisors or a solicitor.
Every case we work with is different, which makes it hard for us to say how long your compensation claim might take.
In simpler cases, where fault is clear and undeniable the claim may be settled quickly. However, if you've suffered a serious or life-changing injury, then your compensation claim may take longer because we need to understand the full impact of your injury and make sure your costs are covered.
Our solicitors will stay in touch and keep you informed every step of the way, so that you always know what stage your claim is at.
If you're injured at work in an accident that was solely your fault, what happens next is down to your employer. But if you suffered an accident that was the fault - or partially the fault - of your employer, then UK Employment Law is clear.
You cannot be sacked, singled out or penalised for making a personal injury claim against them. They have a legal duty of care to provide you with a safe working environment and proper training and protection.
If they breach that duty and you're hurt as a result, you can make a claim against them. The Law is crystal clear, but we appreciate that employee-employer claims often need careful handling.
Why use the National Accident Helpline's warehouse accident solicitors?
If you suffer the difficult experience of a warehouse accident while at work which was not your fault, you could make a compensation claim with National Accident Helpline. Your employer is legally required to keep you safe at work and has to do all they reasonably can to ensure an accident does not occur. Although compensation will not make up for their error, it can help you to deal with the effects of it.
We fully appreciate the terrible impact a workplace accident can have on you and mean changes to your day-to-day life. Changes require money and likely missed work due to the injury means money is scarce. You must claim the compensation you are owed and deserve.
If you have had a warehouse or logistic accident, National Accident Helpline can help you today. Give us a call on or request a call back here. If it's easier, you can even begin your claim online.