Employer responsibilities to ensure ladder safety
Employers and contractors are responsible for their worker’s safety and injury claims will succeed if it can be proven they have been negligent and failed to comply with their statutory duty of care. Employers must ensure a safe and secure working environment for staff and prevent foreseeable injuries. If your employer has failed to follow health and safety guidance to protect staff they can be held liable to pay work accident compensation to anyone injured as a result.
To reduce the risk of injury at work, employers must ensure:
- That they follow working at height regulations.
- That staff are given a safety induction relating to the workplace, made aware of accident risks and how to minimise them.
- That staff are made aware as to how to deal with accidents and seek first aid.
- That health and safety signage is properly and prominently displayed.
- That all staff are provided with the correct PPE.
- That staff are adequately qualified on any tools or machinery they use.
- That faulty equipment is fixed asap and machinery regularly serviced.
- That cleaners display hazard warning signs when making floors wet.
- That any slip or trip hazards are identified and repaired or made safe.
Working at height regulations
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 were specifically created to protect those working at height, whether half a mile above the ground or simply standing on a chair. Regardless of the kind of workplace, If employers are tasking staff members to work at height, they must by law ensure:
- That staff are adequately trained in how to access anything at a height above arms reach.
- That staff understand what equipment they should use to safely access the height needed.
- To provide the right equipment to access anything at height.
- That equipment used to work at height is regularly maintained and repaired.
- That such equipment found to be faulty or dangerous is removed from use.
Can you make a claim after falling from a ladder at work?
Simply falling off a ladder doesn’t mean you are eligible to claim compensation, the key to making a successful claim after an injury at work is being able to hold your employer responsible, usually as a result of breaking health and safety rules. This applies whether you are a full time, part time or temporary member of staff.
If your employer failed to provide you with any training in safe ladder use, or you can demonstrate that the accident was the result of employer negligence or that of another party, you probably have a solid claim for ladder accident compensation.
Even if you have been trained or failed to follow guidance, there may be some element of liability that can be attributed to your employer. If you’re not sure that you’re eligible to claim, please contact our expert team and we’ll be able to let you know.
The comments at the bottom of this article will further help you to understand the wide range of scenarios involved.
Personal injury claims needs to be made within three years of the accident. It is also important that the details of your accident have been recorded with your employer in an accident book and that you have sought medical attention for the injuries you have sustained.
If you haven’t recorded the accident yet, don’t worry, we can help.
Common causes of ladder accidents at work
Placing a ladder in a dangerous position without adequate support. Employers must ensure that any staff members working at height have been given the correct training to fully understand how to minimise the risk of a ladder tipping or slipping, and how to identify a safe location for a ladder to be erected.
Using a ladder that is too short. Many employers do not provide a ladder of an adequate length, and this leads to a worker having to overreach beyond a safe distance and risk the ladder tipping over. Employers have a duty to ensure that all staff using ladders at work are made aware of the ‘3 points of contact’ ladder rule. This reminds workers that they must always have 2 hands and 1 foot or 1 hand and 2 feet on the ladder at any one time.
Common injury claims resulting from ladder accidents
Common injury claims following a fall from a ladder include head injuries, slipped discs, fractures to the ankles, legs, arms and wrists, or to the coccyx area of the lower back. They can also cause people to suffer nasty soft tissue injuries with damage to the knees, hips and shoulders.
In most cases, people are left with mobility and independence impairments, whether temporary or permanent. In cases of severe injuries, such as an open fracture, we have also helped people who have suffered psychological trauma.
How much can you claim for falling off a ladder?
Compensation settlement amounts will vary depending on the injury. The final settlement value will be reached after medical evidence is reviewed and a medical report completed for your solicitor. Clearly, the more pain and discomfort suffered, the higher the value of your compensation. It’s typically affected by:
- The type and extent of an injury sustained
- Whether or not you have made a full recovery from the injuries
- Amount of lost income and costs incurred
- Care required by family and friends – such as transport, help around the house or with shopping etc.
- Any pension loss
- The cost of paying someone to carry out tasks which you could do before your accident but cannot do now, such as decorating or gardening
- Treatment and rehabilitation costs such as physiotherapy or massage
- The cost of any surgery after your accident (you are not forced to have this on the NHS and are entitled to claim for the cost of surgery privately, particularly if this speeds up your recovery)
Whilst some injuries after a fall from a ladder can be immediately obvious – such as a broken leg or arm – some possibly more serious ones may not. Some of the symptoms or damage caused may not be known for months or years. As such, it is important that medical attention be sought early to provide the vital evidence needed to support any claim for compensation.
Start a ladder accident claim
With over 20 years’ experience, you can use our knowledge and expertise to get your claim off to the best start. There is no charge for assessing your case, so you have nothing to lose and much to gain if you can make a successful claim.
Typically, our clients are worried about how making a claim will affect their relationship with their employer and how the claims process works. We are here to offer the support and advice which will help you to understand your rights and give you the confidence to able to pursue your claim.
You can start your claim online or , and one of our expert team will be in touch. Alternatively, call us on 01225 430285. We’ll only need a few minutes of your time to let you know if you can make a claim.
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