Accidents at Work Involving Scaffolds
Scaffolds are designed to allow people to safely work at height. However, every year people are injured in accidents involving faulty scaffolds and unsafe use of scaffolding.
Claiming compensation for personal injury following a scaffolding accident
If you have been injured in an accident at work involving scaffolding you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. The most common types of accidents involving scaffolds include:
- falls from scaffolding
- falls through scaffolding boards
- trips on scaffolding
- accidents involving scaffolding collapse
- injuries sustained whilst erecting or dismantling scaffolding
- injuries caused by objects falling from scaffolds
Avoiding accidents at work through safe use of scaffolds
Scaffolding can allow work at height to be carried out safely and can, if used properly, avoid accidents including falls from height at work. There are a number of workplace regulations which apply to the safe use of scaffolding at work but generally all scaffolds and working platforms need to be:
- stable, secure and on firm footings
- erected by competent persons
- inspected regularly
- of sufficient strength for the loads to be placed upon them
- provided with barriers and handrails to prevent persons falling
- provided with suitable edge protection or toe-boards to prevent objects from falling
- provided with a safe means of access
- fully and properly boarded to provide a safe working platform
- kept clear of obstructions or other tripping hazards
Employers liability for accidents at work involving scaffolding or falls from height
It is the duty of an employer to protect their employees from all accidents and injuries in the workplace.
A workplace includes a scaffold and employers must take steps to ensure that the workplace is safe.
There are a number of workplace regulations that an employer must comply with, including the Work at Height Regulations 2005, whenever scaffolding is used at work.
If an employer fails to comply with the laws regarding workplace safety and safe use of scaffolds they can be held liable for an accident resulting in an injury to an employee.