Scaffolding and work-related accidents in the UK
An estimated 65 % of the construction industry, or 2.3 million workers, regularly use scaffolding so that employees can access difficult-to-reach areas of buildings. Read more about work-related accident statistics.
Scaffolds are extremely dangerous if constructed badly or used incorrectly. Around 50 people die each year in the UK because of scaffolds that have collapsed and over 4,500 are injured due to faulty or defective scaffolds.
Construction workers are twice as likely as workers in other industries to suffer from a non-fatal work -related accident and falling from a great height, like scaffolding, is one of the biggest problems.
The causes of scaffolding accidents
Bricklayers, electricians, painters, miners and electricians all use scaffolds which can put them at high
risk of work-related accidents. Insecure bracing, use of shoddy construction materials and lack of attention
to safety procedures can all lead to scaffolding accidents.
In a recent study, 72 % of workers injured in scaffolding accidents said the accident was caused either by planking giving way, or by an employee slipping or being struck by a falling object.
Work-related scaffolding accidents can also happen during construction if scaffolding is incorrectly constructed or installed, causing the scaffolding to collapse and injure anyone on, beneath or around the scaffold.
It is estimated that employers lose 90 million in lost workdays every year because they are not taking the necessary steps to protect workers on scaffolds and prevent injuries and deaths.
Scaffolding regulations
The main regulations surrounding the scaffolding industry are the Work At Height Regulations which the
National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) say are "essentially criminal law". Read the Work
at Height Regulations.
These work-related accident regulations are governed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to ensure that employers stick to British and European scaffolding standards.
When three workers suffered serious injuries as scaffolding at a Milton Keynes construction site collapsed dramatically in 2006, questions were raised about the efficacy of scaffolding regulations in the UK.
Nonetheless, the British construction industry is still said to be one of the best regulated in terms of safety and the number of scaffolding accidents has dropped in the last five years. However, other unpredictable factors like wind are still a big threat and cause of work-related accidents involving scaffolding.
Workers Memorial Day takes place every year on April 28th and there are usually marches about scaffolding issues.
Make a risk-free work-related accident claim
If you have been injured in a work-related accident and wish to claim compensation, we can help. Our personal injury solicitors have an excellent success rate and we help thousands of people like you to get
compensation for a non-fault work-related accident each year in UK work-related accidents. Read about other work-related accidents.
Our claiming process is cost and risk-free and we guarantee that you will keep 100 % of your personal injury compensation. Our solicitors work under a no win, no fee arrangement and take out ATE insurance, for which you do not have to pay and which means that you do not owe anything to anyone if your work-related accident claim is unsuccessful.
We are experts in dealing with industrial compensation cases of this kind and we will take you step-by- step through the claims process using plain English and no legal jargon.
Call us now on 0800 10 757 95 for free legal advice about making a work-related accident claim. Alternatively, you can also ask for a call back by filling in one of our online forms or get instant advice by starting an e-chat with one of our advisors.
