The risk to pedestrians from vehicles accidents at work
Each year thousands of people suffer injuries through an accident at work, including many in the construction industry. Working on building sites is by its very nature more dangerous than many other professions, such as those which are office-bound, but this is all the more reason for health and safety matters to be taken seriously.
According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, as many as one in three fatal work accidents involve vehicles. Many of the vehicles which are used on site are very big and are clearly capable of causing devastating personal injuries in the event of a construction site accident.
Vehicle accidents at work
It is most often pedestrians who are killed in vehicle accidents at work and it is therefore vital that they are given particular consideration when setting up and managing a construction site. There are a number of circumstances which can lead to these kinds of incidents, and we shall take a look at some of the most common.
Although many construction vehicles have a high cab which should help with visibility, accidents can easily happen if visibility is even slightly restricted. This may occur if vehicles are coupled with larger trailers which are unsuitable or simply if a vehicle's windows are coated with mud and dirt from the site, which will hamper the driver's vision.
As well as considering the visibility implications, the coupling and uncoupling of vehicles is something which must be closely monitored to ensure that workers are adhering to safe practices. If they do not do so, there is the risk that a trailer will become unhitched as it is being towed or as someone is working on the coupling mechanism.
Drivers who have not been properly trained also pose a risk to pedestrians on the construction site and could unwittingly cause an accident at work. It is therefore imperative that all employees who may need to drive on site get the necessary training on how to safely operate the various vehicles.
As well as accidents involving pedestrians, there are countless other vehicle accidents which can, and do, occur on building sites. Amongst others, these include vehicles overturning, striking overhead power lines, colliding with other vehicles, and accidentally hitting other objects with their load.
Claiming work accident compensation
If you have been hurt in an accident at work, you may well be looking to claim no win, no fee compensation from your employer.
At YouClaim, we specialise in cases just like yours and have a select panel of personal injury solicitors from across the UK who ensure that our customers get the best possible representation in their claim.
There are no costs or fees for you to worry about at any time, as we give you a complete guarantee that you won't have to pay a thing to us or anyone else at any time. Unlike other no win, no fee solicitors, we also ensure that you take home 100% compensation.
To find out whether you could claim personal injury compensation for your accident at work, get in touch with us today. Simply talk to our advisors by calling 0800 10 757 95 or requesting a call back through our online form, or chat to them online via e-chat.
