acclaim-jk No Comments

One Fall Changed Everything. Could It Have Been Prevented?

A routine day at work ended in tragedy for a 53-year-old joiner after he fell through an unsecured roof opening while working on a property in Altrincham.

The opening had been covered with a sheet of plywood, but it gave way beneath him, causing him to fall several metre’s. He suffered devastating injuries, including a complete spinal cord injury, leaving him permanently paralysed from the waist down.

Following an investigation, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the principal contractor had failed to properly plan, manage and supervise the work. Basic safety measures to prevent falls from height had not been put in place, and the incident was described as entirely preventable.

Working at height remains one of the leading causes of serious workplace injuries and fatalities in the UK. Whether employees are working on roofs, ladders or scaffolding, employers have a legal duty to assess the risks, provide suitable protection and ensure work is carried out safely.

When those duties are ignored, the consequences can be catastrophic. A serious workplace accident can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from their health and independence to their ability to work and support their family.

No amount of compensation can undo a life-changing injury, but it can provide financial security, fund rehabilitation and ensure access to the care and support needed for the future.

If you or someone you love has been injured at work because proper safety measures were not in place, our experienced team is here to help. With more than 30 years’ experience acting for injured workers, we’ll provide clear, practical advice and support you every step of the way.

You can contact us by calling 01244 956434 or by filling in the contact form on our website.

acclaim-jk No Comments

Accidents in the Workplace

Most of us spend a large part of our lives at work, be that in an office, warehouse, factory or on a building site, so it will come as no surprise that accidents happen across the UK every day in a variety of workplaces, even if you are doing everything correctly.

However, many people don’t realise that if you’ve been injured at work because of someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to make a compensation claim.

Employers have a legal duty to provide a safe working environment for their staff. This includes carrying out risk assessments, providing suitable training, maintaining equipment, and taking reasonable steps to protect employees from harm.

If your employer fails in that duty and you suffer an injury as a result, you could have grounds to bring a personal injury claim.

You may well be worrying that making a claim will directly affect your employer, though most employers are required by law to hold employers’ liability insurance, which is designed to cover compensation claims made by injured workers. In most cases, it is the insurer that handles and pays any successful claim.

No matter what your injury, compensation is not just limited to the injury itself, a successful claim can also include financial losses and expenses that have arisen because of the accident. These can include; loss of earnings if you have had to take time off work, future loss of income if your injuries affect your ability to work, travel expenses for medical appointments, and more.

Every claim is different, and the amount of compensation will depend on the severity of the injury and the financial impact it has had, and will have, on your life.

Some of the incidents that happen more frequently than others include; manual handling accidents, where lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling heavy objects, can result in back injuries, muscle strains, and long-term mobility problems. Slips, Trips & Falls on uneven surfaces, spillages and trailing cables. Plus, faulty machinery and tools may lead to serious injuries that could otherwise have been avoided.

Being injured at work can have a significant impact on your health, finances, and family life. If the accident was caused by unsafe working practices, inadequate training, faulty equipment, or another form of employer negligence, you should not be left to deal with the consequences alone.

With over 30 years of experience, our friendly and approachable team of experts are here to help you with clear guidance on your next steps should you have suffered an accident at work.

You can contact us by calling 01244 956434 or by filling in the contact form on our website.

acclaim-jk No Comments

Falls from Height at Work

Falls from height continue to be the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Great Britain, particularly within construction, agriculture, manufacturing, and transport industries. Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, falls from height caused an average of 38 worker deaths every year.

However, the true number could be much higher, due to the way in which incidents are reported.

Employer reported accidents are recorded under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations, which in 2024/25 recorded 4,684 non-fatal falls from height.

In contrast to that, The Labour Force Survey asks workers directly about workplace injuries, and it estimates that up to 44,000 workers suffered injuries following falls from height during the same period.

That is a huge difference!

Also, these figures may not tell the full story, particularly among self-employed workers, who are less likely to report incidents through formal channels and who account for approximately two-thirds of fall from height incidents.

Construction remains the sector most closely associated with falls from height, which accounted for around half of all construction related deaths, due to falls from roofs, scaffolding, ladders and platforms. With Agriculture, Manufacturing, Transport and Warehousing also accounting for many fatal and non-fatal accidents due to a fall from height.

Non-fatal falls can have life-changing consequences, including broken bones, spinal injuries, permanent mobility issues, along with long term psychological effects. All of which can affect the ability to return to work due to lengthy rehabilitation, both physically and mentally, which can then lead to financial worries.

The current Work at Height Regulations require employers and those in control of work activities to avoid work at height where possible, and if it is necessary to work at height, to ensure that suitable protection measures are in place, that the work is properly planned and supervised using trained and competent workers with the correct safety equipment, and that regular maintenance and inspections are also undertaken.

Falls from height remain one of the most persistent workplace safety issues in the UK.

Acclaim Solicitors understand that behind every statistic is a worker, a family, and often a life permanently altered, and that making a personal injury claim can feel overwhelming, especially while recovering from an injury.

With over 30 years of experience, our friendly and approachable team of experts are here to help you with clear guidance on your next steps.

You can contact us by calling 01244 956434 or by filling in the contact form on our website.