The Construction industry, by its nature, can be a high-risk business in which to work due to many factors. Recent statistics show that workers in the construction industry are more than 100 times more likely to die from a disease caused or made worse by their work in the industry as they are from a fatal accident. While employers have a responsibility to ensure that procedures are in place to avoid accidents; they also have a duty to ensure that all risks to employees’ health are monitored and managed safely and effectively.
Types of ill health caused by construction
In construction there are numerous dangers that can harm workers’ health. By law, every employer must eliminate, control or prevent these risks. These risks include:
- Frequent or excessive use of vibrating tools
- Frequent exposure to loud noise
- Exposure to asbestos and other dangerous dusts, sunlight, exhaust emissions and other chemicals
- Stress and fatigue
- Excessive or frequent manual handling of heavy loads
How to avoid these issues
By the nature of construction, some of these risks are difficult to eliminate, so it is crucial that employers perform a risk assessment to illustrate any particularly high risk areas, and manage the employee’s work-load appropriately. Risk can be managed by modifying the process of controlling and minimising risk, and taking precautions to eliminate or prevent adverse effects.
What to do if you have been affected
If you, or someone close to you has been affected by ill health brought on or exacerbated by the work place, the first person to speak to should be the employer. They have a duty to assist in the management of any issues arising from employment and should do their best to help. However, if it is too late for that, or if the employer fails to show the care required, you should contact one of our highly trained solicitors. They have a wealth of experience in dealing with these types of cases and will talk you through the process so that you understand how it can work for you. They should also be swiftly able to let you know whether you are eligible to make a claim for compensation, and how much that claim could be worth. Contact us today to get the compensation you deserve.