Construction Accident Claims

Work at height injuries - still a problem in the UK?

A construction company has been fined £135,000 after one of its workers fell more than 30 feet to his death through an 'inadequately' covered hole in the floor. The case has highlighted the prevalence of a lax approach to safety in the construction industry, despite repeated attempts by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to tighten up gaps in safety records. The sad loss of life is still prevalent in the construction industry, with falls from height, slips and trips the biggest cause of major injuries in construction.

Work at height remains the biggest single cause of serious and fatal injuries, according the HSE's latest report on site conditions across the UK. In March 2009 the Executive inspected 1,759 sites and 2,145 contractors. Out of those sites inspected, 265 Prohibition Notices on work at height were issued, demonstrating that some contractors are still not taking the dangers of their employees working at height without adequate safety equipment seriously. In 11 cases out of the 1,759 sites inspected, conditions were considered to be so poor that prosecution is now being considered.

During the initiative the HSE found that one in six sites were failing to address work at height risks, leaving workers vulnerable to serious injury or even death in the event of a fall.

Legal experts dealing with compensation claims for those injured during falls at work are dismayed at the figures. The continuation of blase safety measures that are inadequately enforced at best and completely ignored at worst means that many more building contractors are at daily risk of injury. The compensation paid out to victims and their families mounts up into the millions of pounds every year; an expense that the building industry can ill afford in the current economic climate. Tightening up on site safety, particularly work at height safety, would not only save lives but also money in the long run. Unfortunately, some contractors don't seem to recognise this fact.

Injury at work due to negligence or a disregard for basic safety protocol is still one of the biggest bodies of work for claims experts and solicitors. The problem in this instance is that the victim may be suffering from permanent injury or disability as a direct result of the fall, and subsequently the claims put forward are much higher. This has a financial impact on the entire industry and also damages its reputation as a safe industry to work in. Every fall affects not only the victim but their family too, and claims experts have to look at the whole picture when bringing a compensation claim for injury at work. They see it as not only getting the financial support and help that the victims deserve, but as a means to drawing attention to failure on the part of the employer to keep all their employees safe.

There is still a great deal of work to do to bring safety standards up to levels where employees working at height do so in the knowledge that their employer is fulfilling his duty of care properly. One death is one death too many, and legal experts, claims solicitors and the HSE will continue to work diligently to minimise the dangers on construction sites, ensuring a safe working environment for everyone.