Ladder Accident Claims

Ladder accidents will often involve falls which can cause serious injury or fatalities. These examples of accidents provided by Health and Safety Executive demonstrate the risks involved with ladder use.

In one incident a maintenance fitter lost his footing on the second rung of a ladder. His feet slipped through the rungs and he was killed when his head hit the floor as he fell backwards.

In another case a window cleaner sustained broken ribs, fingers and a broken arm when he fell 2.3 metres from his ladder while cleaning the windows of a show home on a new housing estate.

The ladder was not secured or footed, the ground was dry but sloped gently away from the building. The construction company had not produced a method statement and the injured man had received no health and safety induction when he arrived on the site.

Employer's Liability

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 presume against employers being able to use ladders as a safe working platform unless there is no more suitable equipment and justification for using the ladders is provided for in a risk assessment. It is the employers responsibility to undertake a suitable and sufficient risk assessment and where ladders are used, the Health & Safety Executive provides guidance on how they should be used correctly.

Employers who condone or operate an unsafe system of work will be liable for accidents that occur. The Work at Height Regulations also presume that work at height should be avoided where possible and that if an employee is injured in a fall that could have been avoided had the work been done at ground level, liability will follow.

Making a Claim

If you or a member of your family has been injured whilst using a ladder at work you may be entitled to compensation on a no win no fee basis.

Carrs Solicitors have considerable experience in bringing claims based upon accidents where ladders have been used. The Court of Appeal has said in the leading case of Bhatt v. Fontain Motors Limited that the starting point when apportion of liability for accidents at work involving falls from height is not to immediately seek to blame the employee but to look at responsibilities of the employer and as to whether they have complied with their duties under the Regulations.

Carrs Solicitors are specialists in workplace injury claims with over 20 years of experience helping clients throughout England and Wales bring compensation claims for accidents at work. If you’ve had a ladder accident which was avoidable, get in touch with Carrs solicitors. You may be entitled to compensation against your employer or the employer of the person who caused your accident. We can provide free and confidential advice during or out of office hours.