The effect of the recession has led to an increase in the number of serious injuries at work as a result of employer’s inability to maintain high safety standards.
The most serious injuries at work arise from accidents involving machinery and defective equipment, an analysis of personal injury awards have shown.
Since 2004, all personal injury claims in Ireland must be processed through the Injuries Board.ie. The Board is the Statutory Body which provides independent assessment of Personal Injuries Claims for victims of workplace, motor and public liability accidents.
The average compensation award for workplace accidents is €26,000.00. In terms of accidents, the most common types of accident are “falls” which accounts for about a third of all awards made by the Injuries Board. The average award in the case of a fall is about €27,000.00.
The Injuries Board made awards of over €25,000.000.00 in 2007 for workplace accidents.
Speaking today, Liam Moloney, Personal Injury Solicitor, whose firm in Naas specialises in Personal Injury Litigation said “many employers feel that during the current difficult economic times that they are entitled to cut costs in relation to the safety and health of their workers. Indeed many employers are continuing to pay lip service to workplace safety regulations. If employers continue to do so, they will be found liable if workers are injured in workplace accidents. Failure to comply with Statutory Regulations is a serious offence”.
