More people killed at work than in wars says TUC

April 28, 2010/0 Comments/in , /by

Personal injury solicitors and their clients often get vilified in the media for creating the so-called ‘compensation culture’.

Critics are quick to dismiss workplace health and safety legislation as being so much ‘red tape’ which stifles enterprise and they rush to stigmatise accident victims as scroungers. If these people could see some of the tragic cases firms like Bonnar & Company deal with, their attitude towards hurt and injured workers would surely change.

According to the TUC website today:

‘Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates those workers.’

Worker’s Memorial Day is held on 28 April every year, all over the world workers and their representatives conduct events, demonstrations, vigils and a whole host of other activities to mark the day. In South Lanarkshire, the local authority and the Unison branch are holding a seminar on health and safety, followed by a commemoration and wreath laying at the Workers Memorial plaque in the grounds of the council head quarters.

If you or a member of your family have been hurt or injured at work please contact Bonnar & Company Solicitors today FREE on 0800 163 978 for expert legal advice and a no obligation review of your case.

April Fool? Construction sites continue to fail HSE inspections

April 1, 2010/0 Comments/in , , /by

It might be April Fools’ Day, but it is no joke that nearly one in four of the construction sites visited by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) during March failed safety checks.

The HSE announced today that inspectors carried out checks at 2,014 construction sites across Great Britain as part of an intensive inspection campaign aimed at reducing death and injury in one of Britain’s most dangerous industries.

During unannounced visits, inspectors focused on refurbishment and roofing work to ensure that any work at height was being done safely and that the sites were in good order. 2,414 contractors were inspected during the campaign.

A total of 691 enforcement notices were issued at 470 sites, with inspectors giving orders for work to be stopped immediately in 359 instances for either unsafe work being carried out at height or where sites lacked ‘good order’.
The majority of all notices issued related to unsafe work being carried out at height.

Philip White, HSE’s Chief Inspector for Construction, said:

“While it is encouraging that many small construction firms have got their act together and are giving health and safety the priority it needs, the fact that our inspectors needed to take enforcement action on almost a quarter of sites, and on a similar proportion of contractors, is a matter of serious concern.

“There are still a small number of employers or contractors who continue to put their own and other people’s health and safety at risk. This is unacceptable. I want to make it clear to these operators that we will not hesitate to take action where standards of health and safety are endangering workers lives and livelihoods.”

During 2008/09 there were 53 deaths in construction and 11,264 injuries. Last year, inspectors visited 1,759 sites, 2,145 contractors and issued 491 enforcement notices during a similar month-long initiative.

We have always known that construction workers face the greatest risk to their health and safety ,but we are very concerned to note that the number of enforcement notices issued by the HSE has risen by 40%. Consequently, we take issue with the HSE’s contention that it is only ‘a small number of contractors who continue to take risks’. These figures suggest that construction sites are actually becoming more, not less dangerous.

Bonnar & Company specialises in construction site accidents and offers free, no obligation, expert legal advice to direct employees, sub-contractors, the self-employed and apprentices. Please contact us FREE on 0800 163 978.

Bonnar & Company Solicitors Approved by Brain Injury Charity

January 17, 2010/0 Comments/in , , /by

Bonnar & Company Solicitors are delighted to announce that the firm has been included in Headway UK’s list of approved solicitors for 2010.

 

Inclusion on the Headway list acknowledges a law firm’s expertise in handling complex, high value cases, often involving catastrophic injury.

 

Bonnar & Company, who represent clients throughout Scotland, are the only firm of solicitors in Lanarkshire to be approved by the charity and this recognition is a major achievement for the partners and staff who are dedicated to helping accident victims and their families secure their future care needs.

Veronica McManus, Partner said: ‘we handle all types of head and brain injury cases and we fully support the work of this important charity throughout Scotland. It is a great accolade for the firm to be included on the list as we had to meet Headway’s stringent membership criteria and Code of Conduct, which involved an in-depth assessment of our capability to successfully represent the interests of brain injured people and their families.’

Headway UK, The Brain Injury Association, exists to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury, their families and carers. For information and advice on coping with head injuries please refer to the charity’s website: www.headway.org.uk