Workplace injury lawyers at Leigh Day have spoken out about concerns that British building sites are becoming even more dangerous places to work.

The Observer’s report highlights the dangerous working conditions faced by construction workers on the UK’s building sites and expresses concerns that working conditions are becoming even more dangerous.

The Health and Safety Executive will report shortly on the final number of fatalities in the construction industry, but it is expected to be a minimum of 40 for 2013-2014.

Unions and safety activists are concerned that cuts of more than 30% that have been levied on the Health and Safety Executive in recent years will have a negative impact on the number of inspections that it is able to carry out.

The serious injury team at Leigh Day is acting for the family of Silviu Radulescu who died only a week after starting his demolition job.

Silviu fell five storeys when he was asked to help raise a broken lift.  He was standing on the lift roof when it fell. 

At the conclusion of a five day inquest into his death the jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing.

The police are currently considering whether to bring a charge of corporate manslaughter against his sometime employer TE Scudder (Demolition). It is possible that charges may be brought against other companies on the site as well.

A report written by Lady Donaghy for the last Labour government on safety in the construction industry recommended the naming of company directors with responsibility for health and safety to enable the courts to bring more successful prosecutions following fatalities on their building sites.

She also recommended the appointment of a minister for construction to encourage worker engagement with construction companies.

None of the recommendations in Lady Donaghy’s report have been implemented.
 

Construction accidents claims

The workplace accident team at Leigh Day has represented a number of workers and their families who have lost their lives, or suffered serious injury, including brain injury and spinal injuries.

Sally Moore, head of the serious injury department, represented Jennifer Deeney whose husband Kieron died on a Laing O’Rourke building site in Canary Wharf when a hatchway he was standing on gave way.  Kieron fell 40 feet to his death.  The jury at the inquest into Kieron’s death delivered a verdict of unlawful killing.

To speak to a specialist construction industry injury lawyer please phone 020 7650 1200 for a free and confidential discussion about the possibility of bringing a compensation claim.  If you prefer please complete our enquiry form and someone will get back to you shortly.