Falling object compensation claims

We all expect to be safe from harm while at work. Falling object injuries can have very serious consequences, causing long-term injury and in worse cases, death. If you or a loved one has suffered an injury at work from a falling object, you may be able to secure compensation.

Your employer has a duty of care to prevent you from being injured by hazards such as falling objects at work. This includes providing adequate training on how to avoid injury from falling objects and offering suitable and effective safeguards to protect you as you work.

Leigh Day has successfully represented many people following a falling object injury. Talk to us as soon as you can and we’ll investigate the claim.

What are falling object injury claims?

Falling object injury compensation claims can secure compensation after being injured at work due to being hit by a falling object.

These incidents can happen for various reasons, including a lack of training and unsafe working conditions. Injuries can be caused by:

• Broken machinery
• Unstable buildings
• Improperly stacked items
• Unsecure safety netting attached to scaffolding on construction sites
• Fallen trees or branches.

A fallen object can injure you in any profession where conditions are unsafe, and your employer has not protected you from harm. These incidents may be more common in hazardous workplaces such as:

• Retail and hospitality
• Construction and building sites
• Demolition sites
• Warehouses and factories

Common falling object injuries

Injuries from falling objects can be varied and have a wide range of consequences. They can often include:

• Sprains
• Bruising
• Broken bones or fractures
• Back injuries
• Head injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Foot injuries
• Psychological trauma.

An object does not need to fall from great height to be considered a falling object injury. The incident only needs to be caused by employer negligence.

Your employer’s responsibility

Your employer has a duty of care to protect your health and safety while at work. It is their job to reduce the risk of injury from falling objects and other workplace incidents.

Your employer is legally responsible for the following:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) – Appropriate PPE such as hard helmets must be available to employees who are at risk of injury from falling objects.
• Warnings – Employers must warn staff about risks and falling object safety, which can be verbal and through the use of signage.
• Training – Employers must provide adequate training to ensure employees understand safety practices. For example, when moving a load, employers should ensure that these are not lifted, lowered or swung over anyone’s head.
• Safe working conditions – Workplaces must be kept clean and tidy, and tools kept in the correct storage area once they have been used.

The Work at Height Regulations 2005

Regulations are in place to prevent fatality and injury caused by falling objects in the workplace. Employers, and anyone in control of any work at height, have legal duty to ensure:

• Work is appropriately and competently planned, supervised and carried out
• Appropriate equipment is used
• Risk assessments are conducted.

Our work with falling object compensation claims

We represented a foreign national who sustained a very serious head injury in the UK when pallets containing steel frames fell on him. The pallets had not been stacked safely and he had been offered no health and safety training, so Leigh Day helped him make a falling object compensation claim.

We were able to secure a number of interim payments which allowed the man to undergo a course of treatment in the country where he lived. The payments also helped to fly him back to the UK so he could be assessed by medical experts.

His claim was complex. His loss of earnings was considerable, based on the fact that he would have remained in the UK if he had not been injured. Our team had to issue Court proceedings, after which the case was successfully settled for £250,000.