A man who suffered an extensive injuries when he fell from a ladder while working on a cattle shed extension has settled his High Court case for damages.
The injured man, who was the owner of a 60 acre farm and was also a building contractor was asked by a neighbour to assist in the construction of a cattle shed. The High Court heard that the injured man’s Family and the Family of the farm on whose cattle shed he was working at the time of the accident had been friends for generations and had helped each other out on their farms in the traditional way.
On the morning of the accident the injured man was engaged in fixing corrugated sheeting and cladding to the walls of an outside structure. To do this he went up on a ladder to take some measurements and just as he reached the roof, the ladder slipped and he fell on to a concrete floor suffering fractures to his right arm, left wrist and left leg. There were plastic shoes on the ladder but there was nobody footing the ladder which is a breach of the Health and Safety Act 2005.
The Defendants claimed that the man was not their Employee and was not employed in a contractual capacity.
The case was subsequently settled so no decision was reached by the Court with regard to negligence or causation in the case. However, it highlights the dangers posed in working at heights and in particular the obligation on Employers to ensure that ladders that are provided are safe, secure and comply with health and safety and legislation.
Moloney Solicitors specialise in personal Injury actions and can be contacted at 045 898000 or by email at info@moloneysolicitors.ie
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