If you have suffered a personal injury in the workplace you may be entitled to claim compensation. This section of our website deals with safety at work and provides you with information about all aspects of workplace safety.

Provisional figures of work-related fatal injuries in Great Britain issued by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) this week reveal that 228 workers lost their lives as a result of accidents/incidents at work in 2007/08. 4th July 2008

FALLS FROM HEIGHT

The Work at Height Regulations which came into force in April 2005 are aimed at reducing the single biggest cause of workplace deaths. Many accidents involve falling off roofs or from ladders or building edges.

ALWAYS MAKE SURE:

That you work from a safe and secure platform.

That you use scaffolds and towers that are competently erected.

Protect holes or leading edges with guardrails or toe boards.

USING LADDERS SAFELY:

Here are some of the key points that employers must take care of:

Any surface upon which a ladder rests must be stable, level and firm and of sufficient strength and of suitable composition to safely support the ladder and any load placed on it to reduce risk of an accident or industrial injury occurring.

A ladder if used as a means of access - be properly secured and safe to use. Where it is 3 metres or more in length, be secured to the extent that it is practicable to do so and where it is not practicable to secure the ladder a person shall be positioned at the foot of the ladder to prevent it slipping at all times when it is being used.

The top of any ladder used as a means of access to another level shall, unless a suitable alternative handhold is provided, extend to a sufficient height above the level to which it gives access so as to provide a safe handhold.

Where a ladder or run of ladders rises a vertical distance of 9 metres or more above its base, there shall, where practicable, be provided at suitable intervals sufficient safe landing areas or rest platforms.

All ladders should be in sound condition, clean and well maintained and be free from missing, bent or loose rungs, bent or damaged stiles, splitting, warping or corrosion and without sharp edges.

SCAFFOLDING:

The Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 stipulate that scaffold erections must be regularly inspected, be of sound construction and safe to use at all times.

There are various faults that contribute towards accidents on scaffold erections and if you think that you have suffered personal injury as a result of a lack of application by your employer or fellow worker, you may be entitled to compensation.

The duty lies with the employer to avoid accidents and make the workplace as safe as it can reasonably be. Any failure to comply with this duty will result in an accident claim being made. To make an enquiry - just complete the brief form below. Our team will respond to all written enquiries within 24 hours.

We can also help with specialist legal areas such as asbestos disease claims, industrial deafness and vibration white finger compensation following exposure to substances or sustained machine use at work. Many of these cases involve slow developing symptoms and it is important that you obtain advice as soon as possible on your situation.

For immediate accident claim assistance please telephone our FREEPHONE ACCIDENT CLAIM helpline on 0800 0322210

NEWS:

The new Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 SI No 320 (CMD 2007) came into force in Great Britain during 2007 and aim to reduce the number of construction related accidents and injuries. [December 2007]

Government outline new plans to reduce the numbers of those claiming inappropriate sickness benefits - 27th November 2007

HSE warn construction bosses to get serious when it comes to falls and trips on building sites [18th July 2007]

More Links: safety at work - workplace legal website - British safety website - health & safety gov - accident at work manchester - wales - slipping accidents at work - travel claims - back injury at work