INJURIESBOARD.IE: ANALYSIS OF WORKPLACE ACCIDENT AWARDS
Injuries from machinery and defective equipment generate highest awards
One in three accidents at work result from falls
Smart employers know that it pays to invest in health and safety
The most serious injuries at work arise from accidents involving machinery and defective equipment, according to a new analysis of almost 1,000 personal injury awards made in 2007 by InjuriesBoard.ie. The analysis indicates that men have more workplace accidents involving injuries of greater severity than women.
According to the study released today (Tuesday, 2nd December 2008), total compensation of €25million was awarded for accidents in the workplace in 2007. The highest average awards of €31,472 and €31,034 respectively were made for injuries arising from defective equipment and machinery (see Table 2).
In 2007, the average compensation award for a workplace accident was €26,038. Half of all awards were for less than €20,000 and over 90% were for less than €50,000.
Additional findings of the study include:
- Labourers in a variety of sectors accounted for 30% (almost 1/3) of all workplace awards. (see Table 1)
- Trade workers in building and mining, and drivers and mobile plant operators account for a further one in six awards. (see Table 1)
- Men accounted for 70% of workplace awards, securing average awards of €27,659, some 25% higher than their female colleagues who received average compensation of €22,181. (see Table 4)
- Machinery and defective equipment were responsible for 7 of the highest 11 awards in excess of €100,000. (see Table 3)
- Falls in the workplace accounted for 30% of all awards and the remaining 4 of the highest 11 awards. (see Tables 2 and 3)
Since 2004, all personal injury claims in Ireland (excluding medical negligence) must be processed through InjuriesBoard.ie.
"In line with our ongoing claims profiling, we have analysed some 953 personal injury awards made in 2007 involving workplace accidents. The results provide a valuable insight into workplace accidents in Ireland and specifically highlight the most significant causes of accidents and those categories of workers most at risk" commented Patricia Byron, Chief Executive of InjuriesBoard.ie.
Commenting on the latest InjuriesBoard.ie figures, Martin O'Halloran, Chief Executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said, "During these difficult economic times employers may be tempted to cut costs in relation to the safety, health and welfare of their employees. Apart from the legal and moral duties all employers have, the figures from InjuriesBoard.ie illustrate that such an approach is not a wise one. Smart employers know that it pays to invest in health and safety."
"Compensation totalling €25m was awarded by InjuriesBoard.ie in 2007 for workplace accidents. Using the InjuriesBoard.ie model, these claims were delivered at a cost of €1.75m (7% of total awards) and within an average seven month timeframe. Prior to the establishment of InjuriesBoard.ie, an additional cost of €11.5m (46% of total awards) and a timeframe of three years would have been necessary to resolve these claims through the legal system. These figures clearly demonstrate the extent to which consumers can benefit from the InjuriesBoard.ie non-adversarial service which will continue to deliver on cost and efficiency. InjuriesBoard.ie operations are funded entirely by fees charged to respondents and claimants and do not involve any draw on the Exchequer," concluded Ms Byron.
Ends
Tuesday, 2nd December 2008
For reference:
InjuriesBoard.ie
Sorcha Coady 01 4634551
Murray Consultants Limited
Pat Walsh 01 498 0352 / 087 226 9345
Avril Collins 01 498 0340 / 086 396 4368
*Note for Editors
Table 1: Top 5 Occupations by No. of Awards/ Average Award Value:
| Occupation Category | % of Awards | Average Award | Maximum Award |
|---|
| Labourers (in Construction, Manufacturing, Mining and Transport) | 30% | €27,925 | €412,515 |
| Trades Workers (in Building and Mining) | 9% | €29,771 | €163,220 |
| Sales & Services/ Elementary Occupations (e.g. domestic helpers, cleaners, caretakers, porters, garbage collectors) | 9% | €22,982 | €73,778 |
| Personal & Protective Services Workers (catering staff, security officers etc.) | 8% | €21,656 | €64,450 |
| Drivers and Mobile Plant Operators | 7% | €26,681 | €87,195 |
Table 2: Accident Types by No. of Awards / Average Award Value
| Accident Type | % of Awards | Average Award |
|---|
| Fall | 31% | €27,293 |
| Struck | 20% | €25,701 |
| Cuts/Burns | 17% | €19,774 |
| Lifting/Handling | 11% | €25,770 |
| Defective System/Equipment | 9% | €31,472 |
| Machine | 7% | €31,034 |
| Other | 5% | €24,257 |
Table 3: Highest 11 Awards by Value (>€100,000) and Accident Cause
| Accident Cause | Awards in Excess of €100,00 |
|---|
| Defective Machinery | €412,515 |
| Slip & Fall | €268,516 |
| Machinery fell from a height | €197,850 |
| Struck by Machinery | €163,220 |
| Defective Equipment | €160,000 |
| Defective Equipment | €141,405 |
| Fall from a height | €132,815 |
| Fall from a height | €117,186 |
| Defective Equipment | €115,799 |
| Fall from scaffold | €108,721 |
| Trapped in machine | €107,174 |
Table 4: Gender Breakdown of Employer Liability Awards by Volume / Average Award
| Gender | % of Awards | Average award |
|---|
| Male | 70% | €27,659 |
| Female | 30% | €22,181 |