As a rock climber (albeit not being able to do it for a while over recent years) and as an advisor to the victims of work accidents on a daily basis, I know a thing or two myself about health and safety at height. The inherent risks of working at height are, well, obvious; even at low heights, such as from a ladder or a stool, you can end up with broken bones and nasty muscular injuries. People working at huge heights – roofers, scaffolders, etc – will know the risks all too well.
That’s why there are so many rules and regulations in place for those who have to work at height. Health and safety when it comes to working at height cannot be stressed enough – it’s so, so important! That’s why we have the Working at Height Regulations 2005; a powerful piece of legislation that’s in place to ensure that employers and those in charge of other employees in the workplace fulfil their duty of care to prevent injuries from falls.
But the big question is this – if you fall from a height at work, can you make a claim for compensation?
Claims from Height Falls
If we can prove that your employers could have done more to prevent your fall, you may well be covered by their insurance.
Work Equipment
If the work equipment you have to use is either not fit for the job, unsafe to use, or defective in any way, your employers could be held liable. For example, if you are given the wrong type of ladders for a job and fall as a result, you can make a claim. If the scaffolding you are using fails to support your weight for whatever reason or another, or is not fitted correctly etc, you can make a claim for compensation.
Personal Protective Equipment
There may be occasions when the use of Personal Protective Equipment will prevent a fall from height. Simple example – you need a harness, like I do for my rock climbing. The harness must be safe to use, must be regularly inspected and maintained (and replaced appropriately), and it must be suitable for you to use it. You don’t want it breaking when it’s the only thing between you and a huge fall from height. Similarly, if you are provided with rubbish footwear that could cause you to slip when you are working up on height, falling as a result, your employers insurance could cover you for a claim.
Training
You need to be aware how to work at height safely. It is your employers’ responsibility to train and regularly retrain you to ensure you are doing everything safely. It’s no good being given a harness if you have no idea how to use it properly.
Making a Claim
In essence, you should never be at risk from falling from a height in the workplace; ever. If you have been injured through a fall from height, please contact The Injury Lawyers as soon as you can and we will advise you whether we can help you out with a claim and help you out with any treatment you may need as well.
