Ladder Accident Compensation

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Ladder Accident At Work

Falls from height are the most common type of accident in the workplace. According to the HSE, in 2008/09 a total of 35 workers died and over 4500 employees suffered major injuries as a result of a fall from height. Roughly a third of these accidents involved falls from ladders. More generally it has been estimated that up to 50,000 people attend A&E every year following a ladder accident. Given the predominance of ladder accidents at work, regulations concerning their use are detailed, and covered extensively by Section 6 of The Work at Height Regulations 2005. The HSE even runs a ladder exchange initiative, which to date has seen 7,000 faulty ladders handed in by self-employed workers and employers.

Typical Causes Of Ladder Accidents

Ladder accidents are broadly caused either by structural problems with the ladder itself or by human error in its erection and use. When a ladder is not properly maintained the rungs may become weak and give way, causing a worker to fall. Otherwise the rungs may be slippery or clogged with debris and hence uneven, a problem exacerbated by poor weather conditions. Ladders may also be unsuitable for the job in hand, either too short, requiring a worker to over-extend themselves, or lacking secure grips on the feet which provide additional stability and prevent the ladder from slipping. Falls from ladders may be due to human error, such as erecting a ladder at the wrong angle or on an insecure base (either top or bottom), causing it to slip while in use. Workers may also be required to ascend the ladder carrying tools and materials, preventing them from gripping the rungs or sides, often in poor weather conditions, dramatically increasing the risk of an accident. Finally workers can over-reach themselves while performing tasks on a ladder, causing them to either lose balance and fall, or to dislodge the ladder from its base.

Ladder Accident Injuries

A large number of professions use ladders on a regular basis, including construction workers, electricians, retail workers, window cleaners, painters and decorators, caretakers, gardeners and forestry workers. Due to the variety of work contexts and heights at which they are used, injuries resulting from ladder accidents range widely in type and severity. Heavy falls can result in severe head injuries, multiple fractures, damage to the spinal cord with associated complications and fatalities. Ladder accidents are particularly serious when a person falls onto an object with hard surfaces. At the other end of the scale a fall from a ladder may result in bruising, lacerations, sprains and strains. Over-use of ladders can also lead to stress fractures developing in the feet and other repetitive strain conditions in the upper and lower body.

Ladder Accident Compensation Claims

Employers face a number of responsibilities relating to work with ladders. Generally such work should be avoided, especially where safer alternatives such as scaffold platforms can be used, and where absolutely necessary the work should be properly assessed and of short duration. Employers must ensure that a ladder is of a high standard and adequately maintained. Workers must also be provided with appropriate safety equipment and procedures when using ladders, including positioning a co-worker at the bottom of the ladder to increase and monitor stability. Appropriate training must be provided in the safe use of ladders, including showing workers how to assess the ladder's condition and how to ensure that it is secured properly at the top and bottom. Claims for ladder accident compensation are common due to this extensive legislative burden placed on employers.

Bartletts Solicitors are specialists in ladder accident and injury compensation claims. We work on a no win no fee basis meaning if you win your case your employer's insurance company will pay all of your legal fees, and if you lose you will not pay a penny.

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