Building sites are dangerous places – it’s the reason why the health and safety rules and regulations are so tight for people who have to either access them or work on them. The standard “hard hats and safety boots” are usually on signs dotted around various entry points to sites to make sure the basic protection is provided; but there is of course much more to it than that.
Site Safety
There should be someone with the authority to regularly inspect and maintain the site to ensure that there are safe to use designated traffic routes around the site, and that any potentially dangerous areas are signed / cordoned off accordingly. All protrusions, tripping hazards, falling hazards (open manholes) or areas where a building is potentially unsafe to walk on should be secured and signed off accordingly.
You do not want to be falling through a flooring level because the building is in disrepair! All scaffolding used on a site should be properly constructed, and entirely safe to use.
You can make a claim for compensation through the insurers of those responsible if you are injured due to poor site safety.
Protective Equipment
If you work on a building site, your employers are duty bound to ensure you are provided with adequate personal protective equipment to ensure you are not injured on the site. This includes everything from safety boots, to hard hats, to gloves, to coveralls; and anything else that is required to allow you to do your job safely. Your employers are solely responsible for purchasing and providing the equipment; you should never be asked to provide your own.
It is also their responsibility to ensure that equipment is regularly checked and replaced as necessary to ensure it is till safe to use. You should also be fully trained in how to apply the equipment to its desired effect.
You can make a claim for compensation through the insurers of those responsible if you are injured due to a lack of personal protective equipment, or inadequate equipment for your job role.
Work Equipment
I bet there can be hundreds of automated tools and machinery on a building site! If you are ever instructed to use some, such as a power drill, a hand or electric saw, a crane or cherry picker, you must be fully trained in how to use the equipment safely. This is important; and there should be a detailed record of any training you have been provided.
Any large machinery which could be a potential danger to you through access to dangerous parts should be guarded off appropriately, and emergency stop buttons should be in place in the event you need to stop the machinery quickly.
You can make a claim for compensation through the insurers of those responsible if you are injured due work equipment on the site.
What About Small Sites / Private Residences / Scaffolding in General?
What if you are just visiting a property and you end up injured due to the negligent actions of a builder on site? Say, you are hit by a falling piece of material from a builder, or you are caught by a protrusion from some scaffolding, or trip on some debris or equipment left on a driveway or general walkway? If this is the case, you are just as entitled to claim for compensation as a builder who has been injured on their employers’ site.
When there are such obvious dangers around, the responsibility to ensure that no one is hurt on a building site or as a result of building activities is of paramount importance.
Making a claim for compensation is simple; contact us today and we will advise you as to whether we think you have a good chance of making a successful claim today. If we think you have a good chance, we can help you claim using our unique Genuine No Win, No Fee agreement. You will always receive 100% of the compensation you are entitled to claim for, and there are no deductions or bills to pay.
We can help you out with private medical care that never costs you a penny as well – so don’t hesitate to get in touch!