If you have suffered an injury by falling at your place of work, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
Falls are a common and often overlooked risk that can take place within any workplace, whether a busy warehouse or a small office space.According to the 2014 National Statistics survey, which was conducted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), falls from height were the most common cause of fatalities and injuries in the workplace, and are responsible for a large number of compensation claims every year.
Anyone who has fallen at work, regardless of the height of the fall, maybe entitled to make a personal injury claim. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (amended in 2007) is in place to protect everyone who has to work at any height above ground level. This covers everyone from retail workers standing on a raised platform in order to stock shelves, through to construction workers suspended on safety harnesses hundreds of feet above the ground.
Common Falls from Height Claims
Injuries can be caused by multiple factors and many are a direct result of employer negligence. Some examples of these types of accidents are:
- Falls from a ladder or raised platform
- Falls through a fragile surface such as a roof or unsupported scaffolding
- Falls into an opening in a floor or a hole in the ground
- Safety rails or equipment failing
- Falls from or onto machines
- Failure to account for working conditions such as duration of work, weather and its affect on surfaces
Compensation
Having to cope with the aftermath of an injury, including the prospect of an uncertain financial future, can be an unpleasant reality for some. The impact of these events can result in significant changes to an individual’s home life and can also affect their family and friends. Compensation can assist with many financial responsibilities and losses such as private medical bills, additional care and loss of income following your accident.
How do I Make a Compensation Claim?
If you have been injured in a fall from height at work then it is likely you are entitled to make a claim. With the help of a professional personal injury compensation claims lawyer, you can build a case that demonstrates your employer’s liability for your injuries and identify key elements of negligence. These can include some of the following:
- All work at height should have been properly planned and organized
- Anyone who is going to be working at height should be competent and able to do so
- That the risks from working at height should have been assessed and appropriate work equipment should have been selected for the job
- Any risks from fragile surfaces must have been properly controlled
- The equipment being used when working at height must have been properly inspected and maintained
- All other alternatives were considered prior to working at height
- Duration of work should not have exceeded the recommended maximum limit