Injury awareness week 2024
Injury awareness week organised by APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) takes place from 24 – 28 June and aims to highlight the prevalence and impact of workplace injuries.
Unfortunately, injuries at work are common. In fact, according to the Health and Safety Executive, 561,000 workers reported a non-fatal injury in the Labour Force Survey 2022/23, while more than 60,000 employers reported employee injuries through RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations).
Injuries in construction
Our latest research shows that 78% of construction workers have been involved in an accident in the workplace.
Shockingly, of those asked, 38% believe that a serious accident “is inevitable” on the sites they have worked on, with almost half (48%) stating that their boss could have done more to improve construction site safety.
The most common injuries that those working in the construction industry have sustained in the workplace are:
- Slips, trips, falls (45.13%)
- Cuts/lacerations (42.82%)
- Muscle strain (41.54%)
- Hit by falling objects (25.13%)
- Repetitive strain injury (21.03%)
- Machinery accident (12.31%)
- Scaffolding accident (11.03%)
- Crashes/collusions (7.69%)
- Caught between objects or machine (7.18%)
- Chemical exposure (7.18%)
- Electrocution (6.15%)
- Gas leak, fire, explosion (5.64%)
- Heat stroke/hyperthermia/exposure (5.64%)
- Acts of violence (5.38%)
- Hit by a vehicle (4.10%)
Even though big strides have been taken in recent years to improve the safety of people on construction sites, this remains a high-risk industry and accounts for a large percentage of fatal and major injuries. Data released by the Health and Safety Executive revealed that 30 of the 123 work-related deaths in 2021/2022 occurred in the sector.
Jamie day, associate in our personal injury team, said: “While we recognise that people do work hard to improve safety on construction sites, our research shows that they are still an extremely dangerous place. As a law firm that specialises in personal injury cases, we have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of accidents on construction sites. We are committed to holding those responsible for construction site accidents accountable, however, we would much rather see these accidents prevented in the first place.
“Often, those who have been injured whilst at work are not sure of their rights and what their next steps should be. We want to make sure everyone has access to the information they need to make informed decisions and our toolbox of content will do exactly that.”
Accident at work claims
If you have been injured at work and it was not your fault, we may be able to help you.
Our research revealed only 30% of injured construction workers make a personal injury claim, with 53% thinking their injury was not bad enough and 17% saying they could not afford a solicitor.
We conduct most of our serious injury cases on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ agreement, meaning there is no financial risk to you if your case is unsuccessful.
For advice or more information, visit our workplace injury page today.
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