Building sites are, of course, extremely dangerous. I know it’s a bit of an obvious statement but it is extremely relevant when discussing accidents on building sites. Those in control of building sites have many duties to protect their workers and also visitors on site, and they must also prevent access from the public and secure sites safely.
If anyone was to stray on to a building site then they could be at serious risk of injury, and the victim may have the right to make a claim for personal injury compensation.
Primarily the victims in these cases are children and vulnerable adults who will stumble on to a site by mistake – perhaps through curiosity, and unknowing of the dangers that lie within. Some may not even know they are accessing a building site where signage or cordons and fences are not properly in place. There are many genuine reasons a person may accidentally end up on a building site and at risk of injury.
The law says that those responsible for a site must ensure that they do not put members of the public at risk through their work. There should be adequate fencing and cordons to prevent access, and proper signage to confirm that access is not allowed to anyone who is not authorised to be on the site.
A proper boundary should be in place and fencing should not only be erected but it should be checked and maintained to ensure it remains effective during the course of the project. It only takes a single piece of plant machinery to maybe knock in to a fence to cause it to become unstable, and it may later fall down and allow access to members of the public.
It is recognised in law that children, the elderly, and persons with particular disabilities may of course be at more risk of inadvertently accessing a site. To children, a building site can look like a playground. The project needs to properly prevent access and plant equipment at night should be secured and locked, and any obvious dangers like holes or trenches should be covered up as best as possible.
Whilst statistics show that the number of injuries to members of the public caused by unsecure building sites has fallen, it is a serious matter and it needs to be taken in to account on any project no matter how big or small. It isn’t just projects near places like schools or hospitals were vulnerable people are within closer proximity that need to take action seriously; it is everyone.
What to do if you have been injured within an unsecured building site
A victim may be entitled to compensation if they gained access to an unsecured building site which resulted in them suffering injury and loss. At The Injury Lawyers we’ve taken on cases where victims have suffered serious lifelong injuries as a result of being able to access an unsecured building site, so victims do have rights to claim.
For advice please call 0800 634 7575.
