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Guide · Accidents at work
Falls From Height at Work: A Guide to Claiming
If you were hurt falling from a ladder, scaffold, roof, platform or any other height at work, you may be able to claim compensation if your employer, or someone else in control of the work, didn't take reasonable steps to keep you safe. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out what they should have done. You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to start a claim.
Falls from height are the most common cause of fatal injuries to workers in Great Britain, and many more people are left with serious, life-changing injuries. This guide explains what counts as work at height, what your employer should have done, who can be responsible and what your claim could be worth.
- Source
- Health and Safety Executive, Great Britain (provisional)
- Main law
- Work at Height Regulations 2005
- Minimum height
- None. The rules apply wherever a fall could injure you
- Time limit
- Usually 3 years from the accident
What counts as work at height?
Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, work at height means work in any place where you could fall far enough to be injured if no precautions were taken. That includes places at or below ground level, such as the edge of a pit or excavation, and getting to and from a place where you work at height. There's no minimum height.
It covers a wide range of jobs and workplaces, including:
- Ladders, stepladders and mobile access towers
- Scaffolding and temporary working platforms
- Roofs, including fragile roofs, skylights and roof lights
- Mezzanine floors, raised platforms and loading docks
- Cherry pickers and other mobile elevating work platforms
- Lorry trailers and vehicle beds
- Warehouse racking
- Open edges, holes, hatches and excavations
Common causes of falls from height
In our experience, falls from height at work usually come down to poor planning, the wrong equipment or a lack of protection. Common causes include:
- Using a ladder for a job that needed a scaffold, tower or platform
- Damaged, unsuitable or unsecured ladders and stepladders
- Scaffolding without guardrails or toe boards, or that's been put up badly
- Falling through a fragile roof or skylight with no covers, nets or warning signs
- Unguarded edges, openings and hatches
- No harness or anchor point where one was needed, or no training in how to use it
- Work that wasn't properly planned or supervised
What your employer must do
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set out a clear order of steps that employers, and anyone who controls work at height, must follow.
1. Avoid work at height
If the job can reasonably be done safely without working at height, it should be. For example, by using long-handled tools from the ground or lowering equipment to ground level.
2. Prevent falls
Where work at height can't be avoided, they must use a safe place of work or the right equipment to stop a fall happening. Measures that protect everyone, such as guardrails, edge protection and working platforms, come before personal protection such as a harness.
3. Reduce the distance and impact
Where the risk of a fall can't be removed, they must reduce how far you could fall and how badly you could be hurt, for example with safety nets, airbags or soft landing systems.
Employers must also make sure work at height is properly planned and supervised, that the people doing it are trained and competent, that equipment is suitable, inspected and maintained, and that fragile surfaces are dealt with before anyone works on or near them.
Are ladders allowed at work?
Yes, but only for the right jobs. HSE guidance says ladders can be a sensible option for low-risk, short tasks, where a risk assessment shows that equipment giving better protection isn't justified. As a rough guide, if a job means staying on a ladder or stepladder for more than 30 minutes at a time, other equipment should be used.
Being told to use a ladder for a long or heavy job, or being given a ladder that was damaged, unsuitable or not secured, may show that your employer didn't do enough to keep you safe.
Do the Regulations decide my claim?
Not on their own. Since October 2013, a breach of health and safety regulations doesn't by itself give you a right to compensation. You need to show that your employer, or someone else, was negligent. But the Regulations set out what a reasonable employer should do, so evidence that they weren't followed can strongly support your claim.
Who could be responsible for my fall?
It depends on who had control over the work, the place or the equipment involved. Often, more than one party is responsible.
- Your employerResponsible for planning the work, giving you the right equipment and making sure you were trained and supervised. Employers must have employers' liability insurance by law, so compensation is usually paid by their insurer.
- The principal contractorOn a construction site, the principal contractor is responsible for managing safety during the work under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. See our construction site accident claims guide.
- The occupier of the premisesIf the building or structure itself was unsafe, such as a fragile roof with no warning, the person or business in control of the premises may be responsible.
- A scaffolding contractor or equipment supplierIf scaffolding was put up or maintained badly, or equipment was faulty, the company responsible for it may be liable.
- A maintenance or inspection contractorIf a contractor inspected, repaired or signed off equipment that turned out to be unsafe, they may share responsibility.
We'll look at what happened, work out who was responsible and bring the claim against the right party or parties.
What to do after a fall from height at work
These steps protect your health first, and then your claim.
Get medical help straight away
Some head and spinal injuries don't show symptoms at first, so get checked even if you feel OK. Tell the doctor how you fell and roughly how far.
Report the accident
Make sure it's recorded in the accident book or incident log. Certain serious injuries, such as most broken bones, and injuries that keep you off your normal work for more than 7 days, must also be reported to the HSE by your employer under RIDDOR 2013.
Take photos and keep evidence
Photograph the place you fell, the ladder, scaffold or other equipment, and your injuries. If you can, ask for the equipment to be kept, not thrown away or repaired, until it's been looked at.
Get witness details
Note the names and contact details of anyone who saw what happened or knows about the conditions you were working in.
Keep a record of your losses
Keep payslips, receipts and a note of time off work, travel to appointments, prescriptions and any help you need from family or friends.
Talk to us early
The sooner you get advice, the sooner evidence can be secured. We can also ask the other side's insurer to fund early rehabilitation, such as physiotherapy, while your claim goes on.
Compensation guide
How much compensation could I get for a fall from height?
Falls from height often cause serious injuries to the head, back, legs and arms. The table below shows indicative ranges for some of the most common, based on the current guidance used by the courts in England and Wales. You can also claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings, care, rehabilitation and changes to your home.
| Injury type | Severity | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| Head and brain injuryFrom less severe brain injuries to life-changing damage | Less severe to very severe, depending on the lasting effects | £20,000 – £530,000+ |
| Serious back injuryLasting damage to the back or spine that may need surgery | Permanent symptoms, disc damage or nerve involvement | £51,000 – £212,000+ |
| Moderate back injuryDisc, ligament or muscle damage with longer-lasting symptoms | Symptoms affecting mobility and work | £16,500 – £51,000 |
| Serious leg injuryComplex or multiple fractures with lasting effects | Serious fractures, permanent symptoms or disability | £36,500 – £117,000+ |
| Leg fracture (simple)A simple fracture of the tibia, fibula or femur | Depends on recovery time and any surgery | Up to £18,500 |
| Serious arm injuryFractures or nerve damage that leave lasting weakness or loss of use | Serious fracture, nerve damage or loss of function | £25,400 – £172,900+ |
| Arm or shoulder injuryFrom soft tissue damage to fractures and elbow injuries | Depends on severity and impact on work | £5,500 – £42,000 |
| Psychological injury (incl. PTSD)Anxiety, depression or PTSD caused by the accident | Depends on severity, duration and impact on daily life | £2,000 – £150,000+ |
How to read these figures
- These are indicative ranges for pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. In serious fall from height claims, financial losses are often much larger and can include lost earnings, future loss of earnings, care and support, rehabilitation, home adaptations, equipment and transport. See how compensation is calculated.
- Figures are rounded and based on the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026). A "+" means the most severe cases can be worth more.
- Where the other side accepts fault, you may be able to receive interim payments before your claim settles to help with costs such as care and treatment.
- Every claim is different. The amount you receive depends on your medical evidence and circumstances, and past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Falls from height at work: FAQs
Can I claim if I fell from a ladder at work?
Yes, you may be able to. You could have a claim if your employer didn't make sure a ladder was the right equipment for the job, gave you a ladder that was damaged or unsuitable, or didn't train you to use it safely. Ladders should only be used for low-risk, short tasks where a risk assessment shows that better equipment isn't justified.
Is there a minimum height for a fall from height claim?
No. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 apply wherever someone could fall far enough to be injured. That includes falls from a low step or platform, and falls into a hole, pit or excavation at ground level.
Can I claim if I'm self-employed or a subcontractor?
Yes, in many cases. If a main contractor, the principal contractor or the business you were working for had control over how the work was done or the equipment you used, they may owe you a duty of care even though you're self-employed. Talk to us about your situation.
What if the scaffolding was put up by another company?
You may be able to claim against the scaffolding contractor if it was put up or maintained badly. Your employer, or the principal contractor on a construction site, may also be responsible, because they should make sure scaffolding is inspected and safe before anyone uses it. The claim is often brought against more than one party.
Can I claim if I was partly to blame?
Yes, you may still be able to. If you were partly responsible, for example by not following a safety instruction, your compensation may be reduced to reflect your share. Your employer still had a duty to plan and supervise the work safely.
How long do I have to make a fall from height claim?
You usually have 3 years from the date of the accident to start court proceedings. For anyone injured under 18, the 3 years starts on their 18th birthday, and there are different rules for people who lack mental capacity. See our guide to accident at work time limits.
Injured in a fall at work?
Falls from height often cause serious injuries. Talk to our team for free, with no obligation. We'll look at what happened, work out who was responsible and tell you whether you have a claim. Eligible claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.