Accidents in the workplace are still a common occurrence despite improvements in employers adhering to Irish and European health and safety regulations. Although typically associated with construction or building site injuries, work injury claims can include slips, strips and falls caused through negligence on behalf of the employer.
Another common scenario is where staff have not received sufficient training for their positions or suffer an injury as a result of carrying out a task with which they are unfamiliar wit, such as moving furniture or equipment in an office setting.
If your employer is found liable for your injury at work then you may be entitled to compensation. Personal injury awards can range from large amounts for catastrophic injuries to smaller amounts for minor, recoverable injuries like bone fractures or light back injuries.
Each employer must conduct a risk assessment to ensure that their workplace is safe, free from potential hazards, and that any risk of injury to employees it kept at a minimum. Some jobs will always carry some element of risk, such as operating heavy machinery. Nevertheless, your employer must provide appropriate safety equipment and ensure that all staff are both properly trained and capable of performing tasks safely.
If an employer fails in these responsibilities, it is considered a failure in his/her “duty of care” to employees.