Construction is one of the biggest industries, employing 2 million people across the UK. Building sites are by nature very dangerous places, and employers have a duty to keep employees safe whilst at work. It can be difficult to control hazards and risks when the work environment is constantly changing, and therefore employees are probably injured on construction sites every single day.
The construction industry accounts for 22% of all fatalities and 10% off all major injuries at work. Accidents commonly caused because of falls from heights, slips, trips and defective equipment.
Employees are commonly injured by:
- Faulty scaffolding
- Falls from ladders
- No safety warnings – were there warnings in place to alert you to the dangers?
- No training – were you given adequate training or any health and safety training?
- Defective tools – was the machinery and tools safe for the job? Were you given training on how to use the tools and machinery? Were they properly maintained?
The risks of working on a construction site need to be minimised and therefore it is the duty of the employer to carry out risk assessments to ensure that the site is safe. Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the work place and their employees are kept safe. Employers must ensure that a health and safety procedure is in place, and it that it is followed by all employees.
All employees should be fully trained on how to spot and deal with hazards, and employees should be given personal protective equipment to wear on site where it is appropriate.
If you think you have been in accident that wasn’t your fault, you may have a potential claim. It would need to be shown that your injuries were caused by the negligence of your employer. It would be helpful if your claim was supported by photographs of your injury and the accident site. Call our free helpline now on 0800 634 75 75, and we will be able to help you with your construction site claim.
