What Are The Common Construction Site Accidents & Injuries?
Unfortunately, given the dangerous nature of construction sites, accidents and injuries happen often. The type of construction site accidents varies widely but often includes:- Falling objects
- Slips and trips
- Chemical exposure
- Falls from height
- Excavation site collapse
- Faulty equipment
- Safety belt or harness failure
- Electrocution
- Forklift or dumper or excavator truck collision
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Spinal damage
- Loss of limbs
- Nerve damage
- Burns
- Internal organ damage
- Sight and hearing loss
- Psychological trauma
- Occupational cancer
- Occupational asthma
- Occupational deafness
- Organ failure
- Heart disease
- Hand arm vibration syndrome
What Can You Claim Compensation For?
You can claim compensation for the physical pain and suffering as well as for any psychological harm you’ve experienced. Furthermore, you can claim for any accident-related expenses and any financial loss you’ve incurred, including:- Travel for hospital appointments
- Prescription costs
- Loss of earnings
- Loss of job benefits
- Cost of home or vehicle alterations
- Physiotherapy costs
When Do You Have To Make A Claim?
You need to make your compensation claim within 3 years of the date of your injury or within 3 years of realising an injury had occurred. However, there are exceptions to this rule if you are making a claim on behalf of someone else:- If the person suffered the injury when they were under the age of 18, you can make a claim on their behalf up until they turn 21
- If the person’s injury caused them to become mentally incapacitated, there is no time limit for you to make a claim on their behalf
- If the person’s injury resulted in their death, you have 3 years from the date of their death to make a claim on their behalf
How Can You Make A Claim?
To make a construction site injury claim, you need to show that the responsible person on site failed to do all that could reasonably be expected of them to do to protect the injured person and keep them safe. Every case is different but as a guide, an employer or site owner responsible for the health and safety of a construction site can reasonably be expected to implement and comply with a wide range of safety measures, including:- Regular checks of plant, machinery, tools and equipment used on site
- Personal protective equipment to be issued as required
- Compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements
- Staff training on all site systems
- Safety fences installed around scaffolding
