Painters in Ireland face the same occupational hazards as other construction workers. These hazards can include:
Toxic Exposures – many of the chemicals painters have to work with everyday including paints, thinners and brush cleaners can be dangerous when inhaled. Exposure to these chemicals can cause chronic illnesses after decades of working with them.
Eye Injuries – the same chemicals can also pose a serious danger to painter’s eyes and even a brief contact can cause temporary or permanent blindness.
Falls – painters frequently have to climb ladders and work on scaffolds and other elevated heights to cover walls and ceilings. This creates the risk of a fall from a height which can cause serious injuries or death.
The injuries that painters often suffer include chemical burns, fractured limbs, spinal cord injuries, neck and shoulder injuries and brain injuries.
Can an injured painter pursue a claim for compensation?
Any painter who sustains personal injuries as a result of the negligence of a third party is entitled to pursue a claim for compensation. For example, if a ladder provided to the painter by a homeowner was defective and the painter falls and injures himself as a result the home owner will be liable to compensate the painter for those injuries.
A reasonable homeowner should have warned the painter about the danger of using a defective ladder and should not have provided it to the painter in the first place. Furthermore, if a painter is not provided with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in the course of his work and is exposed to a toxic chemical and is injured as a result he/she would also be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Moloney Solicitors continue to represent injured painters and have recovered compensation for many painters through the Irish legal system. It is important that you instruct an experienced solicitor in the area of personal injury law who can make sure that you are fully compensated for your injuries and other losses. Call us today to discuss your injury claim at 045 – 898000 or simply email the details of your injury to info@moloneysolicitors.ie
