CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Construction accident statistics show that there are six times more fatalities on building sites than in any other industry. In the last 10 years nearly 900 workers and over 50 members of the public were killed as a result of building work and almost all of the deaths and injuries were foreseeable and preventable. The Health and Safety Executive statistics show that building site deaths accounted for 32% of all workplace deaths in the UK in the year to 31 March 2002. Provisional accident figures show that there were 79 fatal injuries to building site workers in the year to 31 March 2002. The statistics show 47% of fatal injuries to workers were caused by falls from height, 15% were struck by a moving or falling object and 14% were struck by a moving vehicle. Three-quarters of those people killed at work are self-employed or work for a contractor that employs less than 15 people and half of all deaths happen on sites with fewer than 15 workers.

The legal duty of an employer is to comply with safety regulations and take reasonable care for the health and safety of an employee. An employer is required to provide competent co-workers, adequate materials, safety equipment, protective clothing and a safe system of work with proper training and supervision and if he does not do so and an accident causing personal injury occurs then the employer will be liable to pay compensation to the employee.

The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 and the Construction (Lifting Operations) Regulations 1961 outline safety requirements within the industry including:

• A general duty to ensure a safe place of work and safe means of access to and from the place of work to reduce the risk of injury.
• A duty to prevent falls with specific regulations for work over 2m. high;
  • by physical precautions or provide equipment that will arrest falls;
  • to ensure there are physical precautions to prevent falls through fragile materials;
  • to erect scaffolding, access equipment and harnesses under competent supervision;
  • to ensure there are criteria for using ladders:
• A duty to protect employees and others from falling objects
  • to take steps to prevent materials or objects from falling;
  • to take precautions to prevent people from being struck by falling objects;
  • to ensure that materials and equipment are stored safely:

We are able to advise you of a specialist construction accident solicitor who is a member of the Law Society panel of personal injury experts. All of our solicitors operate the no win no fee scheme and do not make any deductions from your compensation. You will not be asked to fund or finance your compensation claim in any respect and you do not have to pay for any expenses, medical reports or insurance policy. Compensation is paid in full.

For free advice from a solicitor just complete the construction accident contact form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will contact you by telephone at no cost and with no obligation.