Whether you work in an office or outside; sit at a desk or do heavy manual work – an accident can still happen in your workplace, no matter what environment you're in.

Your safety is vital when you're at work, but sometimes you can be in the wrong place at the wrong time and you can become the victim of an accident – which could potentially leave you out of work for the long-term and even affect your everyday life.

Without a doubt, there are certain professions where you are more likely to sustain an injury than others, or you can often find that there is a common type of accident that happens in a particular workplace.

Some can be more serious than others, but any injury suffered should be reported as soon as possible in order to determine the affects on your physical and psychological health; as well as any financial burdens caused, such as being unable to work or medical costs.

Most common types of accidents

One of the most frequent types of personal injuries found in the workplace is from slipping, falling and tripping over. This is understandable in a job such as office work, retail and restaurants as there is a high chance of obstacles being put in an unsafe and not easily seen area. If something is spilt and not cleared up safely, without any warning signs, you can see how this could be a potential accident just waiting to happen.

Profession's that involve working at a height are most at risk when it comes to falling. There are many different types of jobs that require working at some sort of height: roofers, construction workers, window cleaners etc.

An accident will usually occur due to unsafe equipment (poorly assembled scaffolding), lack of safety measures (specialised equipment, a procedure for accidents and injuries) or inadequate training of staff. An injury such as this could have fatal consequences if someone fell from a great height.

Lifting and Carrying

There are many risks associated with lifting and carrying, the most usual reasons behind an injury are either by carrying something that is far too heavy or not lifting an object in the correct way.

If you haven't been trained properly then you should not be allowed to carry out manual handling, as there is a possibility of causing serious damage to your back, neck, arms and legs. Many of these types of accidents can result in sprains, fractures and whiplash.

Burns and Faulty Machinery

Those that work close to live currents, such as electricians, can put themselves in danger if there is any sort of electrical fault. This sort of accident can leave burn marks, scarring and cause discomfort – though the worst-case scenario in this situation could be fatal if a worker was electrocuted.

There are many reported cases of faulty machinery accidents, which can cause a variety of different injuries, obviously depending on the type of equipment. For example, people involved with these sorts of incidents have sustained fractures, broken bones and even lost limbs, usually due to lack of training or faulty machinery.Anyone using heavy-duty machinery must be trained in doing so properly. There are also health and safety guidelines put in place for this kind of equipment to ensure it is less likely to cause an accident – checking that a safety guide is on at all times and that they are regularly maintained is essential.

It's really important to try and have some sort of evidence when making a work-related accident claim. This can include:

• Witnesses
• Photographs
• Making a record of it in your works' accident book
• Seeking medical advice

This way you have more of a chance of proving what has happened to you and why, therefore you will be able to claim for any financial loss or injuries you have experienced.

Health and safety measures are put in place to protect you, so if you have sustained an injury due to any sort of negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.