Construction is one of the UK's most dangerous industries. The Health and Safety Executive consistently reports that construction accounts for a disproportionate share of fatal and serious workplace injuries, despite employing a smaller share of the overall workforce. If you've been injured on a building site - whether as an employee, a subcontractor, an agency worker, or a self-employed trade - you almost certainly have a claim worth investigating.
Construction is one of the UK's most dangerous industries. The Health and Safety Executive consistently reports that construction accounts for a disproportionate share of fatal and serious workplace injuries, despite employing a smaller share of the overall workforce. If you've been injured on a building site - whether as an employee, a subcontractor, an agency worker, or a self-employed trade - you almost certainly have a claim worth investigating.
This page walks through how construction site accident claims work in the UK: the legal framework under CDM 2015 and the supporting regulations, how to identify the right defendant on a site with multiple contractors, what you can recover, and what happens to your job during the claim. Every case we take on is handled on a no win, no fee basis.
Will I lose work if I claim?
No. Section 104 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 makes it automatically unfair to dismiss an employee for asserting a statutory right - which includes bringing a personal injury claim against an employer. For agency workers and subcontractors, the claim is usually defended by an insurer rather than the contractor personally.
The legal framework - who owes you a duty?
Construction liability is structured around four overlapping sources of duty:
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
The overarching employer duty to take reasonably practicable steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees.
The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 (CDM 2015)
The core construction-specific regime. CDM 2015 splits duties between five parties:
- Client - the organisation commissioning the work. Must make suitable arrangements for managing the project.
A CDM breach by any of these duty holders can support a civil claim where it caused your injury.
The Work at Height Regulations 2005
Falls from height account for roughly a fifth of non-fatal construction injuries and a much bigger share of fatal injuries. The regulations require work at height to be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people.
Equipment regulations
- PUWER 1998 - work equipment must be suitable, safe, inspected and maintained.
The common types of construction accident
Falls from height - Scaffolding collapses or failures, unprotected edges, fragile roofs, ladder falls, MEWP falls, trench-edge collapses, formwork failures.
Falling objects - Tools, materials, components and debris falling from height.
Struck by plant and vehicles on site - Excavators, dumpers, mobile plant, site traffic.
Crush injuries - Trench collapses, formwork or structural collapses, loads being lifted.
Electrocution and electrical burns - Overhead power lines, underground cables, temporary site supply faults.
Manual handling injuries - Back, shoulder and neck injuries from lifting. See manual handling injury claims.
Defective equipment - Faulty power tools, broken harnesses, missing guarding. See defective equipment claims.
Noise-induced hearing loss and vibration white finger - Long-latency industrial disease claims. See industrial deafness and vibration white finger.
Hot works and chemical burns - Welding burns, exposure to cement dust, silica dust.
Identifying the right defendant - often more than one
Construction sites are uniquely multi-party. Your claim may be against any combination of:
- Your direct employer - if you're an employee, almost always a defendant under their Employer's Liability policy.
What to do after a construction site accident
- Get medical attention. Call 999 in an emergency; otherwise A&E or a GP.
How much compensation could you receive?
- Moderate brain injury: ~£52,550 - £267,340
For severe, career-ending construction injuries, total settlements commonly reach seven figures once lost earnings, care, equipment and accommodation are accounted for. See how much compensation.
Agency workers and self-employed trades
Your rights depend on who controlled the work:
- Agency workers - usually have claims against the client and may also have claims against the agency.
Time limits
Three years from the accident or the 'date of knowledge' under the Limitation Act 1980. For long-latency conditions (deafness, HAVS, asbestos-related disease, silicosis), the clock runs from the date you first knew the condition was linked to work. See time limits.
Funding - no win, no fee
Every construction claim we take on runs on a Conditional Fee Agreement. See no win no fee explained.
