Injured construction workers afraid to take action against employers, claim solicitors

Southport-based Fletchers Solicitors has witnessed a 20 per cent decrease in accident at work claims by construction workers over the past year even though the industry is still seeing more accidents than any other sector.

Subsequently, the firm conducted its own research in which 200 injured workers were questioned. It found that many had decided not to take legal action against their employer due to fears over job security.
 

Ed Fletcher, CEO of Fletchers Solicitors, said: "While we’ve seen a sound drop in the number of claims against larger construction companies, it is the smaller sites where the problems seem to lie. We are still seeing many examples of incidents on construction sites, including falls from height and injuries caused from faulty equipment and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), which all could have been avoided if effective and robust safety measures were already in place.

"It’s worrying to think people who may have suffered from a preventative accident at work are not speaking out because they are afraid they’ll lose their job. Employers have a legal obligation to make sure proper safety precaution procedures are in place and safety equipment is supplied to protect staff who may be exposed to a risk to their health or safety while at work.”