Workplace health & safety special 👷
Tuesday 28th April was World Day for Safety and Health at Work, a global awareness campaign that has been promoting safe, healthy, and decent work since 2003. The scale of the problem in Great Britain? 680,000 working people sustained an injury at work in 2024-2025…
At Optimal, we support people whose lives have been turned upside down by failures in workplace health and safety. Our specialist solicitors are committed to identifying employer compliance breaches, encouraging higher standards across workplaces, and helping victims rebuild their lives with confidence.
“It’s absolutely crucial that employers not only fill the preventable gaps that lead to workplace injuries in the first place, but learn from past accidents and make the necessary operational improvements to prioritise health and safety.” – Susan Phelps, Senior Solicitor in the Serious Injury team
“Many of our clients come to us feeling anxious about whether making a claim could affect their relationship with their employer or even put their job at risk. Those concerns are completely understandable. But it is important to know that you have the right to seek justice. An employer cannot lawfully dismiss you simply for exercising your legal rights, and any attempt to do so may amount to unfair or unlawful dismissal.” – Chris Germaine, Legal Director
“Always report workplace accidents immediately. Employers often deny liability if an accident is not officially recorded. Keep written evidence such as emails or messages reporting the accident, photographs of the hazard, and witness statements. It can make a huge difference in the success of a claim.” – Hemant Kumar, Solicitor in the Fast Track team
Been injured at work and suspect your employer could be partially or fully at fault? We will assess your circumstances with care, empathy, and professionalism, providing clear legal advice and working on your behalf to pursue the compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us for honest, clear, and targeted legal advice.
Now, let’s see what else has been happening at Optimal and the world of law this month!
Legal briefing
Optimal in Health & Safety International: How systematic failures prolong impact on employees who have sustained workplace injuries
For an exclusive article in Health & Safety International, we have analysed claim durations to highlight the prolonged impact on employees whose lives have been disrupted by preventable accidents and disputed responsibility by employers. In addition, our catastrophic injury senior solicitor, Susan Phelps, gives her expert take on the recurring safety failures in workplaces and the steps employers need to take to protect their staff. Read the article here.
Consultation launched for overhaul of workplace injury and illness reporting
HSE, the UK’s workplace safety regulator, will consult over changing the regulations around how work-related injuries, ill health, and dangerous occurrences are reported. The proposed new measures are designed to “strengthen protections for workers and to cut unnecessary administrative burden on businesses”. Revising the list of dangerous occurrences and the list of reportable occupational diseases is also on the agenda, with the aim to better reflect modern workplace risks. Read more here.
Calls for driverless car crash data to be shared with injured victims
Lawyers say that access to collision data held on driverless vehicles might help the injured victims secure compensation. The calls come while the Department for Transport consults to develop safety regulations for self-driving vehicles as the technology advances. As well as being shared, data should also be retained and protected from being wiped as it could prove to be vital evidence down the line. Read more about what the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers thinks the new law should look like.
The Optimal pulse
- Happy 10th work anniversary to Chris Hindle! We loved celebrating Chris’s big milestone in the office, where the sweet treats flowed and his colleagues flocked to show their appreciation for a man whose dedication, kindness, and commitment to helping others has made a huge impact over the past decade.
As Operations Manager at Optimal Med, Chris has always been committed to improving the care his clients receive and the support his teammates get. He’s also been an instrumental part of the growth and development of the business, and we’re lucky to have him. Congratulations, Chris – here’s to many more successful years ahead 🎉
- We have our second £50 voucher winner from the Optimal Fitness and Wellbeing Group… Congratulations, Weronika Bojarska! In case you missed it last month, the WhatsApp group is a virtual community where colleagues can connect in ways that don’t always happen in the office – sharing pictures, videos, and updates about what they do to stay active and happy 💪
- For National Pet Day on 11th April, we celebrated Optimal’s four-legged friends with an appreciation post full of dogs, cats, and even two horses. Meet them here, doing what they do best – which is looking fabulous for the camera of course 📸
- It’s not Easter without an egg hunt, right? Well, the Optimal team – as they always do – went the extra mile with a full magical Easter extravaganza, complete with a giant smiling Easter Bunny at the entrance and loads of Easter-themed decor around the place. Check out our hopping mad makeover 🐇
Employee of the month
Many congratulations to our April Employee of the Month, Edyta Wilgucka-Skubisz 🙌
Well done, Edyta – here’s why your colleagues chose you as their winner…
Edyta keeps a consistently high standard in her work. She opens a lot of cases, handles her workload really well, and is super organised with a get-it-done attitude! Her conversations with customers are natural, professional, and effective, and she also picks up admin tasks really quickly – improving all the time. Work aside, she’s always happy to help others and brings a really positive vibe to the team with her friendly and supportive personality.
Very well deserved, Edyta! Now to congratulate the rest of our worthy April nominees:
- Susan Phelps – Very patient and resilient, and never hesitates to help and assist without micromanaging.
- Walter Coupe – An outstanding costs performance for March, showing real commitment and effort, and a very kind and helpful colleague.
- Jakub Wisniewski – Works tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the systems improving.
- Charlotte Porter – Always supportive and helps whenever needed.
- Ricky Jones – Extremely helpful, upbeat in all he does, and nothing is ever too much trouble.
- Weronika Bojarska – A team player who’s always willing to help – an asset to the team.
- Sana Asghar – Always demonstrates good teamwork and client care while stretched across departments.
- Dominika Beza – Happy to help, goes above and beyond, prioritises our clients, and is excellent in her role.
- Stephanie Matthews – Impressive work ethic and ability to juggle tasks. Recently she’s surpassed that with billing while supervising her team.
- Craig Fisher – A great help and always answers questions. Nothing is ever too much trouble for him.
- Siriporn Germaine – Gives it her all and is there to help out. A massive asset to the team.
- Mark Thomason – A calming influence and handles any situation with a steady and reasoned approach.
- Tracie Thomas – Ensures that maximum results are achieved on file and is always available to give advice and support to all team members.
Well done everyone – here’s to more where that came from in May 💪
Work anniversaries
A huge congratulations to our five team members celebrating their work anniversaries this month, with a special mention to Chris Hindle on an incredible 10 years at Optimal 👏
🎉 Hemant Kumar – 2 years
🎉 Sana Asghar – 4 years
🎉 Susan Phelps – 5 years
🎉 Sara O’Grady – 6 years
🎉 Chris Hindle – 10 years
Thank you all for being wonderful assets to the team. It never goes unnoticed!
Blog showcase – How Optimal goes the extra mile for clients who have been injured at work
In recognition of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we’re putting the spotlight back on our previous clients – the ones who, through no fault of their own, needed help moving forward with their lives after injuries sustained at work.
Accidents at work come in all shapes and sizes. Often, the injuries sustained lead to life-changing outcomes for the victims and their families. From chemical burns to machinery accidents, here’s how we’ve helped a range of clients achieve justice over the years:
- Six-Figure Settlement For A Serious Machinery Accident At Work
- Compensation For Chemical Burns In An Accident At Work
- £45,000 Compensation For An Injury Sustained After Slipping On Ice
- Helping A Construction Worker Who Was Struck By A Digger Through A £20,900 Accident at Work Claim
Introducing… Weronika Bojarska
Weronika Bojarska is a dedicated paralegal who has recently joined our Multi Track team, supporting solicitors with document drafting and Polish translation assistance. For clients, she’s also a reliable point of contact who always strives to simplify the legal complexities and break down language barriers.
As a Master of Laws graduate, Weronika is passionate and committed to the field. She is also driven by supporting people through what can be one of the most vulnerable and difficult times of their lives. This combination of knowledge and empathy makes Weronika a great fit within the team here at Optimal.
Outside of work, you might find Weronika working out in the gym, losing herself in a good book, or locked in on some embroidery.
“Professional, responsive, and incredibly supportive”
Ensuring the client journey is as smooth and positive as possible is one of our key priorities here at Optimal. Yes, we are outcome-focused as well, fighting hard for justice that supports our clients to move forward with their lives. But ensuring our clients trust us to simplify complexities, offer empathetic support, and communicate promptly and clearly all the way through the process is equally as important.
Thanks to Alberto for the kind feedback on Trustpilot 🤝
Injured at work? Reclaim your future with Optimal
We know how isolating and distressing suffering an injury at work can be. On top of the physical discomfort, you may also be experiencing loss of earnings and uncertainty about how to move forward. That’s where we come in.
Our experienced and supportive team can help assess your circumstances, and if we think you have a case, represent you in a claim for maximum compensation – all while ensuring you receive the current and future rehabilitation you need to move forward.
Call our team today on 0161 250 7771 or complete our online contact form.
