Being struck by a moving, flying or falling object is one of the most common causes of fatal and serious injury at work in Great Britain. Most of these accidents are preventable with basic planning.
How do falling object accidents happen?
Tools and materials dropped or knocked from scaffolds and roofs; unsecured stock falling from warehouse racking; loads slipping from forklifts or cranes; materials blown off sites by the wind; items falling from shelves or conveyors; and debris from demolition or overhead work.
What must the employer do?
Regulation 10 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 requires suitable steps to prevent any material or object falling, where necessary to prevent injury. Where that is not reasonably practicable, steps must be taken to prevent anyone being struck. Materials must be stored so they cannot collapse, overturn or fall. In practice that means toe boards, brick guards and netting on scaffolds; tool lanyards; secure stacking; debris chutes; and exclusion zones beneath overhead work.
Other rules also apply. Racking must be suitable, inspected and not overloaded. Lifting operations must be planned, supervised and carried out safely under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Where a risk of head injury remains, suitable head protection must be provided under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
What if I was not wearing a hard hat?
If no hard hat was provided, that is a breach in itself. If one was provided and you were not wearing it, compensation may be reduced for contributory negligence, but only if wearing it would have reduced your injury, and the claim usually still succeeds. Your employer must also enforce the use of head protection. See what if the accident was partly my fault?.
Who can be responsible?
Your employer, the principal contractor on a construction site, the occupier of the premises, or another contractor whose worker dropped the object. Because several parties may share responsibility, your solicitor will identify who controlled the work and the area where you were hit.
What injuries are common?
Head and brain injuries, neck and spinal injuries, shoulder and arm fractures, and crush injuries. See head injury at work, spinal injury at work and, if a family member was killed, fatal accident at work claims.
What evidence helps?
Photographs of the area and the object, details of the work happening above, witness names, the site's risk assessment and method statements, and any accident book or RIDDOR report. See also scaffolding accidents and warehouse accident claims.
Sources
Browse every plain-English guide in the work accident guides hub, or read the main guide to how a claim works.
This guide is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every claim turns on its own facts. For advice about your specific situation, speak to a regulated solicitor.