ACCIDENT AT WORK - MINE OR UTILITY SITE
Working in a mine or quarry or on a utility site is a dangerous occupation. Each year in Scotland, more than 100 people who do are killed or suffer a serious injury and there are around 300 cases annually of these workers in Scotland having to take more than 3 days off because of work-related injuries. It’s a serious issue, often with significant consequences (both financial and non-financial) for those affected.
Mining and quarrying accidents in Scotland take a variety of forms and many work-related illness are highly prevalent amongst miners and others who work in the extractive industries. Crush, break and burn injuries are relatively common, as are lung diseases.
Quarrying and mining are both inherently dangerous activities. Each can involve:-
- working in an unpredictable environment
- using complex heavy machinery
- being exposed to dust, gases and other potentially damaging particulates
- the use of chemicals and explosives
Mine, quarry and utility workers have the same general and statutory duties owed to them by their employer as other workers. There are, though, some regulations that tend to be more relevant to workers than to other sections of the workforce. For example, there are detailed rules relating to:-
- each worker having suitable personal protective equipment (and “suitable” means, amongst other things, that it takes account of the health of the individual who has to wear it and that it fits) – this extends to things like gloves, protective boots or shoes and eye protection
- the provision of suitable work equipment; the way in which it is operated and maintained; and the training that is provided with regard to its use
- manual handling operations – amongst other obligations that an employer has to its workers, it must, so far as reasonably practicable, avoid the need for employees to do any manual handling at all which involves a risk of them being injured
If your employer breaches one of these general or statutory duties and you have a mining accident in Scotland or are involved in a quarry accident or an accident on a utility site or otherwise suffer personal injuries, you may be entitled to compensation.
Similarly, members of the public who are injured as a result of an accident in a quarry in Scotland or a mine accident or an accident on a utility site may also be entitled to compensation. The occupiers’ liability rules apply to care home accidents in Scotland and accidents in Scottish hospitals in the same way as they apply to accidents in other places.
If you’re unsure whether you may have a valid compensation claim for a personal injury caused by an accident in a mine in Scotland or a quarry accident or an accident on a utility site whilst you were working or visiting there, call us now on 08448 700 800 to discuss how we can help or simply fill in the CALL ME box and we’ll ring you. Alternatively, you can start your claim immediately by answering a few simple questions on the CLAIM NOW page and we’ll do the rest.
Remember – If you have had an accident at work in Scotland, your claim is best dealt with by Scottish specialists and you won’t pay a penny for our help, whatever happens.