Falling from height is the most common cause of workplace death.
If you or someone you love has been involved in an accident call our No Win No Fee Lawyers today free on 0800 0891 331 and we can advise you on your legal rights, including how to make your first steps toward receiving compensation.
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The Work at Height Regulations
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 are designed to prevent falls from height occurring and to reduce the risk of injury in the event that a fall does occur.
Even if a worker is working at ground level or below ground, and falls from a height the Work at Height Regulations 2005 shall apply if there was a risk of injury, which ought to have been recognised.
If a worker is instructed to carry out work at height the employers or construction site managers must do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent that worker, or anyone else falling.
First and foremost, in terms of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, the construction site manager or employer must try to avoid the need for a worker to work at height.
If it is not possible for the employer or manager to find a practical alternative to working at height, the following courses of action should be taken:
- Enforce the use of equipment and procedures to prevent falls occurring
- Enforce the use of equipment and procedures to minimise the distance and consequences if a worker should fall from height
Furthermore, construction site managers and employers are legally obligated to make worker safety of paramount concern. Construction site managers and employers have a duty in terms of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 to: :
- Properly plan and organise the work at height and to undertake to make workers as safe as possible.
- Make sure the work being carried out at height is appropriately supervised and the area properly inspected.
- Make sure all those working at height are trained and competent.
- Make sure those working at height have suitable and properly maintained equipment to allow them to carry out the task and to provide suitable training in the use of such equipment.
- Consider factors such as the weather and postpone work if the weather condition could endanger workers.
- Make sure workers have a safe means of access to and from the area where they are working.
Moreover, in the event of a fall from height resulting in worker injury, construction site managers and employers should have plans in place to deal with such an emergency.
Further information regarding the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (as amended) can be found below:
Work at Height Regulations 2005
Work at Height Regulations 2005 (Amended)
Work at Height Regulations 2007 (Amended)
Claim compensation for your injuries
Employers and those in control of work at height have a duty to ensure that work is properly planned, supervised and carried out those with the requisite training, knowledge and abilities. This includes ensuring suitable equipment for working at height.
If you have suffered injury as a result of a failure on the part of your employer, speak with Thompsons today about claiming compensation for your pain, injury, suffering, losses and expenses.
