An accident at a tyre factory in Cumbria left a worker with a sprained ankle after he fell five metres onto a concrete floor. A lack of training led to the accident, for which the employer was fined £5,000 by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE).
Premier league health & safety failure
The accident could have been far more serious, such as the one at Premier League Everton’s new training academy. When the academy was under construction, worker Karl Davis fell out of an open window frame when a guardrail gave way. Sadly, after three months in a coma, Mr Davis died. Construction giant Kier was prosecuted by the HSE because the site management team was found to have failed to ensure the stability of the guardrail.
Falls from height are the biggest single cause of workplace deaths in the UK. In 2008/2009, over 4,000 workers were involved in fall-related accidents, 12 of which were fatal.
Construction and roofing, window cleaning, agriculture and aerial tree work are some of the higher risk industries where falls from height are most common.
Scaffold worker Shaun Stevens fell four metres whilst dismantling a temporary roof in Bristol. He suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital 12 days after the accident.
Compensation for falls from height
Falls can result in a wide scope of injuries, from sprained ankles to head injuries. A compensation claim can be brought against the employer if they are found to be negligent. Amounts vary depending on the severity of the accident and the level of damages caused. A typical payout for an ankle injury which shows every likelihood of healing fully would be up to £9,000. Head injury compensation varies greatly depending on the level of brain damage sustained and can be anything from £10,000 to £265,000.
If you have suffered a fall from height at work due to the negligence of your employer, talk to the accident claims experts at Stephensons. Our specialists have long term experience in pursuing claims of this nature. They’ll put a case together that ensures the maximum level of compensation is awarded. Call us in confidence on 01616 966 229.
By personal injury solicitor, Kate Sweeney
Comments