Working on a construction site can be dangerous and many construction workers suffer accidents in the workplace every year. However, just because the working environment is inherently dangerous this doesn't mean you can’t make a personal injury claim.
Furthermore, the law protects you from losing your job if you make a claim against your employer. This post looks at making a personal injury claim for a building site accident against your employer.
Building Site Accident Claims, UK
Building and construction sites are governed by strict rules relating to health and safety. These safety standards and requirements must be upheld by employers and respected by all of those working on the site. There are many injuries that occur on building sites that could give rise to a personal injury claim including:
- Falls from height
- Slips and trips
- Machinery injuries
- Industrial disease
This list is not exhaustive and if you have suffered any kind of injury as a result of a building site you could be entitled to compensation.
Employer’s Safety Obligations, UK
Your employer has legal obligations to ensure your health and safety in the workplace. When working on a construction site, your employer must protect employees, contractors and visitors from foreseeable harm. In order to do this, your employer must:
- Carry out regular risk assessments.
- Devising safe working practices
- Provide employees and contractors with the tools, machinery and protective clothing necessary to carry out their work. They must also ensure tools and machinery are safe for use.
- Ensure the workplace is kept in a tidy with all floor surfaces being clean and free from hazards.
- Provide adequate training to employees who do heavy lifting
Where your employer does not adequately ensure your safety and you suffer an injury as a result, you may be able to claim compensation. You may also be able to claim compensation if your injury was caused as a result of the negligence of a colleague.
Can I be fired if I sue my employer?
Many of those injured in the workplace fail to make a claim as they fear this may negatively affect their employment. However, in reality a personal injury claim will have very little impact on your employer. Your employer is required by law to have employer’s liability insurance, this means that if you are injured in an accident at work your employer is covered for the cost of a personal injury claim. There may be a small increase in the cost of insurance premiums for your employer should you make a claim but this is minimal.
Furthermore, it is against the law for your employer to discriminate against you if you pursue a personal injury claim against them. If your employer treats you differently or you lose your job as a result of a personal injury claim, you may be able to claim compensation or make a claim for unfair dismissal.
In addition, it is illegal for your employer to discriminate against you in this way, and you may be able to claim compensation for unfair dismissal if you are sacked or your working life is made intolerable. If you think your employer is likely to retaliate against you, keep evidence of any problems and consult your solicitor.
Contact a Building Site Accident Specialist
If you have been injured in a building site accident and would like to make a claim, we can connect you with a specialist personal injury solicitor. We only connect our readers with firms that we know and trust as part of our commitment to unlocking the legal sector to every day people looking for legal advice. Contact us today.
More Information
For more information on employer’s health and safety obligations, take a look at the Health and Safety Executive website here: http://www.hse.gov.uk/workers/employers.htm