To think this shouldn’t have happened to my partner at work ?

[Lis1992]

So he was presenting today in front of some firm that they were pitching ideas too. It was in his workplace. The projector has a pull down screen. When he pulled it, it fell down. The heavy metal bar part (that holds it on the wall at the top) caught his shoulder and arm. He’s fine just a bit tender and it bruised. Nothing major at all. AIBU to think a workplace should check equipment etc or was there some installation problem? Or is it these things happen type of idea.

We were always taught to check the equipment ourselves prior to any presentation

Accidents happen but it should definitely have been written in the accident book.

I fell at work on a wet floor and made sure it was in the accident book.

Your husband should complete the accident book.

More information on accidents at work can be found here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/safety-at-work/accidents-at-work/

I'm not sure what the problem is? Unless the company are saying it was your DHs fault and blaming him?

YABU to "think the workplace should check equipment" when you have no idea whether they have or not. Every piece of equipment in a work place is covered under H&S regulations and will be inspected on a regular basis.

A piece of equipment can be inspected at 1pm and fail at 1.10pm because all an inspection does is state that it was compliant at the time of inspection, they can't account for general wear and tear, user error etc that can all lead to damage and an accident occuring at any time. The only time there would be an issue is if a problem was noted during an inspection but nothing was done about it, that turns it from an unavoidable accident to negligence which could have been avoided.

Accidents happen, equipment breaks, sometimes people get injured. None of those things have to be someone's fault but as long as the correct procedures are followed - accident form filled in, DH received appropriate medical assessment, equipment examined to find out why it failed - then I don't see what the issue is?

Also compensation for accidents is the right thing to do .

whilst accidents do happen at times the employer should take more responsibility. It is lazy thinking to say ‘accidents happen’.

Employer responsibility is recognised in legislation. In fact Health and Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

Maybe the broken equipment was known about but no one thought it was their job to put a note on it saying do not use. In that scenario it wouldn't be an ‘accident’.

At my work I’d report it and put it in the accident book. Yes, it’s just an accident, and these things happen, but it should be dealt with promptly and taken seriously so it doesn’t happen again.

A soil pipe ruptured and rained down on my colleague. I think a falling projector is vastly preferable.

I presume you understand that sometimes these things (accidents) happen, so I’m not sure why you’re asking if it’s not for litigious reasons.

If you were seriously injured and no longer able to work because of someone else's negligence you wouldn't claim the compensation you'd be entitled to? That's a bit silly.

These things happen.
The correct thing to do is, as has been said, and is a requirement, write it in the accident book.
Someone will fix it back up again. Perhaps with a tighter bracket.

It would be nice if minor things with equipment didn't happen at work. They do. Luckily, as in this case, no biggie.

It was an accident. The workplace should have some kind of procedure for reporting accidents and incidents and minimising the risk that it happens again, so he can check that is being followed.

This,
it has to be investigated. The incidents must be logged and those responsible for EHS in the company investigate
as-another poster said this could have caused serious injury and is a “ near miss” incident. In most companies with good EHS systems that take their duty of care seriously they’d be all over this like a rash .

They really won't.
It'll be logged.
A man with a spanner will fix it back up.
They'll be told not to tug it too hard next time.

I think what people are missing is that the company has a duty of care to ensure that it was installed properly. Something like that doesn’t just fall down if the screen is pulled down too many times. That kit is designed for the purpose not to do that. To collapse like that it was not properly installed. It was fitted to he ceiling incorrectly or inappropriately. End of. Someone has therefore been negligent, and that must be investigated under EHS requirement.,hence why an investigation takes place.
do people on here not realise how fucking heavy and large a pull down screen unit is? The fact that it could be pulled off in course of normal use is not a random accident, it’s negligent

I don’t know what shit show companies you’ve worked for, but most companies are not that stupid to fail their duty of care responsibilities under his legislation.

Maybe he doesn't know his own strength and pulled too hard?

But yes, obv it needs logged and the equipment checked. Don't want anyone being seriously injured.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/involvement/accidents.htm

Accidents happen. There should be a procedure to follow after an accident at work so that it is logged and can be investigated, but realistically it would be impossible for any workplace to ensure that accidents and equipment failure never occurred. They should be mitigating risk when accidents may occur but you can never eliminate the risk entirely, sometimes freak or unexpected accidents do happen.

Schools.

Quite.

Accidents do happen. Hopefully it was logged so it could be investigated.

Did he die tho?