The legal duty of an employer is take reasonable care for the health and safety of employees and to reduce the possibility of accidents and injuries at work – including scaffolding accidents if you work with scaffolding.
In respect of scaffolding accidents, some of the main risks are if the scaffolding is on poor foundations, if boards are missing from the platform, or if boards are uneven or of poor quality etc. Of course there are many other risks with scaffolding and it is imperative that scaffolding is erected properly and safely.
The building industry has proven to be a dangerous environment for workers and for the general public. If you are the victim of a scaffolding accident then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Here at The Injury Lawyers we deal with many claims caused by scaffolding accidents.
Scaffolding is designed to be a temporary structure used during the construction of new buildings or the repair of existing buildings. Scaffolding allows workers to reach heights and is a safer alternative to using ladders. It would be difficult to use ladders for a prolonged period of time but scaffolding could be used all day as the worker has a platform from which to work from. Therefore you can easily see why scaffolding is widely used in the building industry.
If your job involves the erection of scaffolding or leads to you using scaffolding because you have to work at height, then your job is inherently fairly dangerous. Particular trades most at risk are scaffolder’s themselves but also construction workers, bricklayers, roofers, joiners, satellite dish installers and some decorators.
Essentially the scaffolding is a part of the workplace and therefore the rules and regulations surrounding the workplace and equipment will of course apply.
Scaffolding can become dangerous if it is poorly constructed or improperly used. Great care should be taken when erecting scaffolding to ensure safety and stability. Unfortunately, as scaffolding is so widely used, we do see an increasing number of people injured as a result of scaffolding accidents.
To discuss your scaffolding accident claim please call us today on 0800 634 75 75. We can offer free specialist advice. We deal solely with personal injury claims and we offer an excellent service to all of our clients.
