UK DEMOLITION ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CLAIM

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 place duties on employers and if a demolition accident occurs as a result of failure to comply then the demolition contractor may be held liable in negligence. 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 has to pay compensation to the employee.

In order to comply with the regulations employers are required to:

• Assess the risks to the health and safety of employees and any others who could be affected by work activities.
• Where the risk is considered to be significant, then this must be recorded in writing.
• Provide health surveillance where there is an adverse health condition related to the work concerned.
• Appoint one or more nominated competent persons to assist in complying with requirements.
• Establish emergency procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger of a demolition accident.
• Provide relevant information to employees on the identified risks, the measures to be taken and emergency procedures.
• Co-operate fully with other employers where work areas are shared, by exchanging information and subsequently pass such information to employees in those areas.
• Provide relevant training to employees in respect of:
  • Duties and tasks allocated to them.
  • Induction on first being employed.
  • When transferred to new work or given increased responsibility.
  • When changes in work equipment or methods are introduced

Personal protective equipment must be provided by the employer:

• If an eye injury can occur then an employer must provide adequate eye protection and take supervisory responsibility to ensure that it is worn.
• Suitable heavy duty gloves should be provided and worn on all demolition sites.
• Where a job may be expected to generate significant levels of dust then respiratory protection must be provided including in extreme situations breathing apparatus. Dust masks must be adequate for the anticipated size of the dust particles.
• Safety boots and a hard hat are both essential on any demolition job and employers must ensure that they are worn and failure to do so may be considered negligent on the part of the employer if there is a demolition accident causing personal injury.
• Concrete brick and wood can be thrown over a wide area during demolition and an employer must consider those working nearby to the job.

We are an independent network of specialist accident solicitors and we are all members of the Law Society panel of personal injury experts. We operate the no win no fee scheme and compensation is paid in full with no deductions. We do not ask you to fund or finance your claim in any respect and we do not ask you to buy any insurance.

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