Weak roofs can be extremely dangerous and a source of serious injuries or death if employers do not take precautions to avoid falls from roof accidents.
Potential dangers exist when a building has to be demolished or rebuilt. If not sufficiently supported, a roof can collapse.
For example, a worker suffered serious head injuries and was off work for nearly 6 month after he fell from a roof onto a concrete floor. He was inspecting the roof to see which parts needed to be repaired when one of the weak panels fractured.
His employer was found guilty of failing to protect the health and safety of his workers, particularly for failing to prevent employees gaining access to the roof.
How to prove the negligence of a construction company in a fall from a roof accident
It is not difficult to prove the negligence of a construction company. You can do this in a number of ways by showing that:
• The company failed to provide roof workers with crawling ladders or boards.
• The company failed to take precautions to stop workers falling from the leading edge of the roof or from fragile panels which could give way.
• The company failed to provide suitable barriers, guardrails or covers, etc where people pass or work near fragile material such as asbestos cement sheets and roof lights
• The company failed to provide crawling boards where work on fragile materials could not be avoided
• The company failed to exclude workers from the area below the roof work. If this was not possible, failed to take additional precautions to stop debris falling onto workers below.
If you have suffered an injury or lost a loved one as a result of a fall from a roof, you need the help of a good personal injury lawyer to help you claim maximum compensation for your pain, suffering and other losses.
To get a good construction accident solicitor, contact Balinda and Co now on 0800 321 3287 and find out how we can help.