Working at Height Injury Claims

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A fall from height can shatter lives in an instant. Crippling injuries, permanent disabilities, or even fatalities often follow these avoidable tragedies. Every worker who climbs a ladder, scaffolding, or platform relies on their employer to uphold the highest safety standards. When this duty is neglected, the consequences are devastating.

The Dangers of Working at Height

Falls from height are the leading cause of workplace fatalities in Ireland, particularly in construction, maintenance, and industrial settings. These incidents are not limited to high-risk environments; even offices and retail spaces have seen severe injuries from poorly maintained equipment or unsafe practices.

Employers are legally required to conduct thorough risk assessments and provide proper training, equipment, and supervision. When they fail to meet these obligations, workers pay the price with injuries such as:

  • Spinal damage and paralysis
  • Severe fractures and broken bones
  • Head and brain injuries
  • Internal organ damage
  • Long-term chronic pain and mobility issues

Common Causes of Falls from Height

Falls from height are rarely accidents. They’re usually the result of negligence. Some of the most common causes include:

  • Faulty Equipment: Broken ladders, unstable scaffolding, or poorly maintained platforms.
  • Unsafe Practices: Overloading equipment, failing to secure workspaces, or ignoring weather risks.
  • Inadequate Training: Workers using equipment without proper instruction or certification.
  • Neglected Risk Assessments: Employers failing to identify and address hazards before work begins.
  • Fragile Surfaces: Falls through unstable roofs, skylights, or poorly supported floors.

Ladder Falls and Other Common Scenarios

Ladders, scaffolding, cherry pickers, and high-rise platforms are frequent culprits in workplace falls. We have handled cases involving:

  • Falls due to defective ladder mechanisms or broken steps.
  • Overreaching or unbalanced positions on poorly secured ladders.
  • Scaffolding collapses caused by improper assembly or lack of inspections.
  • Falls from cherry pickers or cranes due to overloaded equipment or lack of safety restraints.
  • High-rise window cleaning incidents involving faulty harnesses or anchor points.
  • Roof or skylight collapses from weak or unmarked fragile surfaces.

These scenarios often stem from negligence that could and should have been avoided.

Proving Negligence in Working at Height Cases

To secure compensation, it must be proven that your employer breached their duty of care. Our solicitors will gather and present evidence such as:

  • Maintenance Records: To show whether equipment was regularly inspected.
  • Training Documents: To determine if workers received proper instruction.
  • Witness Statements: From colleagues who saw the incident or conditions.
  • Risk Assessments: Or lack thereof, showing if hazards were identified and mitigated.
  • Photographic Evidence: Of the accident site, equipment, or safety failures.

We build a strong case to hold negligent parties accountable.

Compensation for Working at Height Injuries

Injury claims aim to cover not just immediate medical costs but the lasting effects on your life. Compensation typically includes:

  • General Damages: For pain, suffering, and diminished quality of life.
  • Special Damages: Covering medical expenses, lost income, travel costs, and future care needs.

The Judicial Council’s Personal Injury Guidelines assign compensation amounts based on the severity of injuries, ranging from minor fractures to life-changing spinal damage or paralysis. We will ensure your settlement reflects the full extent of your suffering and losses.

Why Choose Good & Murray Smith?

We have advised on negligence claims for over 100 years. Our experience, empathy, and dedication to justice set us apart. From the moment you contact us, you’ll receive tailored support, clear advice, and unwavering advocacy.

We believe in more than just securing compensation. We believe in holding employers accountable and empowering injured workers to rebuild their lives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can. Employers are required to ensure all equipment, including ladders, is safe to use. Failing to secure a ladder is a breach of health and safety obligations. Evidence such as photos of the unsecured ladder and witness statements will support your case.

Falling through fragile surfaces like unmarked skylights is a common scenario for working at height injuries. Employers may be liable if they fail to mark fragile surfaces and provide safe alternatives for access.

Employers should consider weather conditions when assigning tasks at height. Using cherry pickers in unsafe weather is a failure to conduct proper risk assessments, making your employer liable for any resulting injuries.

Even if a subcontractor erected the scaffolding, your employer is responsible for ensuring that all equipment on-site meets safety standards. If your injury resulted from poorly assembled scaffolding, both your employer and the subcontractor may share liability.

Yes. Employers are obligated to provide proper safety equipment, including harnesses, for working at height. If you weren’t provided with adequate safety gear or weren’t trained to use it, your employer could be found negligent.

Yes. Employers must ensure the workplace is safe from hazards created by other employees. If inadequate supervision or training contributed to your coworker’s actions, your employer could be held responsible for your injury.

It depends. If you were not adequately trained on safe ladder use or if the task required you to stretch beyond safe limits, your employer may still be liable for failing to provide appropriate tools or instruction.

Employers are responsible for enforcing lockout/tagout procedures to prevent machinery from operating during maintenance. If your fall resulted from unsafe working conditions, you may have grounds to claim compensation.

Yes, psychological injuries such as PTSD or severe anxiety resulting from a fall are compensable. Your claim can include counselling expenses and the emotional impact on your quality of life.

Employers must evaluate weather conditions and postpone tasks that pose a heightened risk. Failure to take such precautions makes them liable for accidents like slips on wet surfaces.

Yes. Open excavations must be marked and protected with guardrails or barriers to prevent falls. If these safety measures were absent or inadequate, you can bring a claim against your employer.

Temporary structures must meet strict safety regulations. If your fall resulted from poorly constructed or inspected temporary flooring, your employer or the contractor responsible for the structure could be held liable.

Yes, overloading scaffolding can be a breach of safety regulations. Employers must ensure all equipment is used correctly and within weight limits. Documentation proving overloading will strengthen your claim.

Even if you’re an agency worker, the company you were placed with is responsible for your safety on-site. If they failed to follow health and safety protocols, you could claim compensation from them.

Yes, but it’s important to report the incident as soon as possible. If you didn’t report it immediately, explain the delay to your solicitor, who will help gather evidence to support your case.

Start Your Claim Today

Remember that Ireland’s statute of limitations means you generally have two years to bring a claim, but building a strong case takes time. If you or a loved one has suffered a fall from height, contact Good & Murray Smith LPP to discuss options and begin your claim as soon as possible. Let our experienced solicitors ensure you receive the compensation you are entitled to.  

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If you’ve been injured and believe you may have a claim, don’t wait. Good & Murray Smith LLP is here to help. Contact us to arrange a consultation to review your case and guide you through the next steps.