Many careers involve regular working at height situations. I am talking about careers such as tree surgeons, scaffolders, or TV aerial installers. However, it is in many other careers, careers that you may not expect, that accidents from working at a height could occur. These could be a receptionist changing a light bulb, or a warehouse assistant attempting to obtain an item from elevated shelving so it’s no surprise that working at a height accidents are extremely common.
There is legislation in place aimed at decreasing the amount of accidents occurring from working at a height – these are quite aptly called the Working At Height Regulations 2005. This is a lengthy piece of legislation, and the whole detail does not need to be the subject of this blog; however, there are a few important details which should be noted. These being that any working at height situation should be properly planned and supervised using safety equipment that has been checked prior to use.
If this piece of legislation is not properly known and enforced by employers, there is a high chance that a working at height accident could occur. Some of the most common accidents being falls from scaffolding, roofs, and ladders.
It is these accidents which are most commonly felt by people in professions such as building and maintenance, where sick pay may not be an option, and the victim may be the main breadwinner supporting a family. It is for these reasons that a compensation claim should be started as soon as possible, allowing a specialist personal injury solicitor to get matters underway and to apply for interim payments to assist with any money troubles as soon as possible. Interim payments can be applied for where the claimant is suffering financial hardship due to the accident, and can be paid to the claimant before the case has come to its conclusion.
If a working at height accident occurs there are few useful tips which would support a potential claim:
- Report the accident to a supervisor as it may need to be entered into an accident book.
- Seek medical assistance for your injuries – a note will be made on your medical records.
- Check for witnesses to the accident and obtain their details so they can be contacted at a later date.
- Photographic evidence of your injuries would also support any potential personal injury claim.
- Instruct a specialist personal injury solicitor directly and as soon as possible.
At The Injury Lawyers we have specialist personal injury lawyers experienced in dealing with working at height accidents. Feel free to give us a call for any information you need to know.
