WorkClaim UK Editorial · June 2026 · ~5 min read
Quick Summary
- Ladder accidents are governed by the Work at Height Regulations 2005 — employers must avoid work at height where reasonably practicable and use the safest equipment for the task
- Common employer failings include defective ladders, no footing, untrained users, ladders used for the wrong task, and no fall protection
- Injuries from ladder falls range from minor sprains to spinal, head and life-changing injuries
- Compensation reflects the injury severity, the long-term prognosis, and the financial losses including future earnings
- The three-year limitation period applies from the date of accident
What duties do employers have when workers use ladders?
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 set a clear hierarchy of control:
- Avoid work at height where reasonably practicable
- Prevent falls using collective measures (scaffolding, MEWPs) before personal measures (harnesses)
- Minimise the distance and consequences of a fall where it cannot be prevented
A ladder is only suitable for short-duration, low-risk work where the task does not justify a safer alternative. Where used, the ladder must be:
- Of suitable type and class for the task (BS EN 131)
- In good condition, with no missing or damaged rungs or feet
- Secured against slipping (tied at the top, footed, or lashed)
- Positioned at the correct angle (1 in 4)
- Long enough to extend at least 1 metre above the landing
- Used by a competent, trained worker
Failure in any of these areas can give rise to a claim.
What injuries are common in ladder accidents?
The HSE reports that falls from height remain the leading cause of fatal injury to workers in the UK. Even non-fatal ladder falls commonly cause:
- Wrist, elbow and shoulder fractures from breaking the fall
- Ankle and lower leg fractures from landing impact
- Spinal injuries — including compression fractures and cauda equina injuries
- Head and brain injuries
- Multiple injuries where the worker strikes scaffolding or equipment on the way down
How much compensation can you claim?
General damages depend on the injuries sustained. Examples from the Judicial College Guidelines (17th edition, 2024):
| Injury | Indicative range |
|---|---|
| Wrist fracture, full recovery | £4,000 – £7,500 |
| Wrist fracture with permanent stiffness | £7,500 – £15,370 |
| Moderate back injury | £14,290 – £30,910 |
| Severe back injury | £38,780 – £160,980 |
| Less severe brain damage | £15,580 – £43,060 |
| Moderate to severe brain damage | £43,060 – £344,150 |
Special damages — past and future loss of earnings, rehabilitation, care, equipment, and home adaptations in serious cases — are calculated separately.
What evidence is needed?
- The accident book entry, recorded on the day where possible
- Any RIDDOR report (employers must report falls from a height of more than two metres)
- Photographs of the ladder, the surface, and the surrounding area
- The ladder itself, retained as evidence where possible
- Inspection and maintenance records for the ladder
- Risk assessment and method statement for the task
- Training records for the worker
- Witness statements
- Medical records and a specialist medical report
Frequently asked questions
What if I was using my own ladder?
The employer still has duties. If the employer required the work, did not provide a safer alternative, did not inspect the equipment, or did not assess the risk, the claim lies against the employer. You may also have a claim against the ladder manufacturer if the ladder was defective.
What if I refused a harness?
Workers cannot opt out of safety measures the employer is required to provide and enforce. A finding of contributory negligence may reduce the award but rarely defeats the claim where the employer should have insisted.
Is two metres still the threshold for work at height?
No. The two metre rule was replaced by the Work at Height Regulations 2005. The regulations apply to any work at height from which a person could fall a distance liable to cause injury — including falls below two metres.
Find out if you have a ladder accident claim
Free case assessment — or call 01228 272395 to speak to Edward & Amaury Solicitors (SRA number: 800525).
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