How do spinal cord injuries happen on construction sites?
Construction workers may suffer spinal cord injuries from
- Falls: Equipment such as ladders or scaffolding can cause spinal cord injury when falling from heights.
- Collapsing equipment: Construction equipment such as scaffolding runs the risk of collapsing if not built correctly.
- Motor vehicle incidents: Trucks, forklifts or other heavy machinery used on construction sites run the risk of collision, causing harm to drivers or pedestrians.
- Lack of training: Without proper training, workers may cause accidents that lead to spinal cord injury.
- Lack of safety gear: Construction sites require workers to use safety gear to protect themselves from danger. Without safety gear, there is plenty of risk for injury.
Those who work in the construction industry are prone to spinal cord injury and face many other potential injuries if a proper routine is not in place. Employers are legally responsible for ensuring the health and safety of their employees and must provide the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) paired with health and safety training.
PPE for construction workers should always include protective headwear, safety footwear, gloves and protective face wear such as goggles and masks.
Employer liability within the construction industry
- Currently, there are numerous laws in place to protect employees in the workplace to ensure that employers have a duty of care and responsibility for their staff members. Laws include:
- Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
- The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005
Many companies will sub-contract workers to work on projects in the construction industry. Although technically self-employed, sub-contract workers may benefit from the regulations if injured on site. Employers’ Liability insurance is compulsory for every company but whether it is in place and how much cover is provided can vary. These laws protect employees by ensuring all workers have the relevant training, equipment, supervision and most importantly, a safe work environment.
Have you experienced spinal cord injury on a construction site?
If you have sustained spinal cord injury while working on a construction site, you may have experienced third-party negligence where you could have a compensation case. When considering compensation, it’s important to know that there are many costs to think about, such as the price of rehabilitation or surgical procedures, so you should fight for a fee that reflects this.
A rehabilitation team can support you throughout the entire journey when learning to live life differently. It is important to remember that the recovery process can be a different experience for every injured person, depending on the individual incident, and claims will reflect this.
Those who sustain a spinal cord injury while working in the construction industry may receive compensation benefits. These funds can cover wage loss, medical expenses, and rehabilitation fees.
The construction industry currently has the highest rate of traumatic spinal injuries than any other sector – a statistic you can’t ignore when working in construction.
At Aspire Law, our spinal cord injury solicitors are incredibly experienced litigators with vast experience in complex and high-value spinal cord injury claims. Get in touch with us today to find out more.
