A look at construction accidents and the dangers
of building sites
Although the construction industry in Britain is said to be one of the safest in Europe, one third of all work fatalities happen in this sector. Deadly statistics showing that construction workers are six times more likely to be killed at work in construction accidents than any other type of employee underline this fact.
Construction workers undertake the most physically demanding of jobs, put their bodies under great strain and expose themselves to potential health risks and personal injury on a daily basis.
Young people in particular are at greater risk in the construction industry as they have less industry experience and less knowledge of their work rights. They are also often given more risky jobs to undertake as their senior colleagues take on higher-level managerial roles.
Faulty equipment
Construction equipment manufacturers are responsible for designing and maintaining products and
machinery to a safe and operable standard. If they are damaged in any way or are not safe, they risk causing a construction
accident and if proper safety measures are not employed, the chances of a personal injury can increase
significantly.
Wear and tear of equipment is often the cause of a construction accident and many workers do not realise that they are entitled to ask supervisors for regular breaks when using heavy duty equipment. Workers are also entitled to request replacement equipment if any they are using is faulty.
Failure of employers to implement these worker’s rights could result in a work accident claim.
Types of construction accidents
Construction accidents that can occur include defective and collapsing scaffolds; falls from ladders; safety
harnesses that don't work properly or break; falls from roofs and roofing structures; electrocutions; cranes;
injuries from faulty machinery like tractors and forklifts; toxic welding rod injuries; crane accidents;
electrical accidents; power tool accidents; holes in flooring; construction debris accidents; lift accidents;
fires and explosions; burn injuries; chemical burns and dumper crashes.
Health and Safety regulations
The Government's Health and Safety Commission, responsible for health and safety regulation in Great
Britain, intends to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are
properly controlled.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the organisation responsible for enforcing safety regulations in the UK, reports that the biggest cause of construction accidents is actually getting to work and that most accidents occur while walking across building sites, handling work materials or moving around the workplace. Read more about construction accidents and the HSE at their website at www.hse.gov.uk.
Making a construction accident compensation claim
Having a work-related accident causing a personal injury is no joke. Loss of earnings, loss of livelihood,
trauma and the injury itself can have a major impact on somebody's life and put their ability to earn a living
and live comfortably in great jeopardy.
Often construction accidents that happen in the workplace could have been avoided if management had taken the necessary health and safety steps to protect their employees.
If you have a personal injury that you believe has occurred through no fault of your own, you may be eligible to make an accident claim. We work on a no win, no fee basis, our straight-talking panel of personal injury solicitors won't charge you a single penny for their services and you will keep 100 % of any money you are awarded if your claim proves successful.
Our team of solicitors have an excellent success rate in dealing with personal injury cases and you won't have to pay a single penny of any compensation awarded to you.
So call us now on 0800 10 757 95 and we'll take you through the claims process and explain how to make a claim following a construction accident.
