The volume of reported incidents and cases we take on that involve people falling from height at work is alarmingly high. The regulations that we have in place to protect employees is there and it is stringent, so there is never an excuse for employers failing to abide by the law.
But in spite of this we see incidents time and time again that were entirely preventable. Unfortunately, fall from height injuries are usually serious, and this is why it’s vital to get legal advice as soon as possible.
The law is clear and it should never be broken
The rules and regulations for health and safety at work, when it comes to avoiding injuries from height, is plentiful and more than sufficient. We have The Work at Height Regulations which specifically address the key areas such as:
- Generally avoiding the potential to fall
- Providing guards and rails and other blocks to prevent falls
- Providing suitable equipment to protect against a fall where an employee must be in a more exposed position (easy example is harnesses)
- Sufficient training and supervision so that the risks are known and avoided, and to ensure employees are safely capable of working at height
- Planning and organisation of working at height risks
- Inspection and maintenance of equipment or platforms and other things used to work at height
Additional regulations such as The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations can also be applied for general safety in the workplace, as can The Personal Protective Equipment Regulations when it comes to the use of equipment like harnesses. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations can be applied when using equipment like scaffolding or platforms as they are classed as work equipment.
The upshot here is that the regulations are clear and numerous so you should never end up falling from height in the workplace at all. If you do then you may have the right to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
The importance of instructing a specialist lawyer
We’re well aware that there are loads of lawyers to choose from. We know that some people do not put a great deal of thought in to their solicitor selection by simply going with the last firm they saw on the TV. But it is very important to select the correct lawyer for you because it could make a significant difference.
At The Injury Lawyers the way we operate, we feel, its the best way because:
- We are a real law firm – many of the common names on the net and on the TV are just claims management companies who refer cases on (even some who purport to be “real lawyers” are in fact not a law firm at all)
- We specialise and only represent victims for personal injury – so our advice, skills, and expertise are the best
- We have a particular specialism in high value and catastrophic injury cases – work at height injuries often fall in to this category
- Our systems and procedures make sure we can help you efficiently and ensure you are guaranteed to get the maximum amount of compensation in the shortest time possible
For help and advice please call 0800 634 7575.
