Case Study

Case Summary

Sophie was a staff member of a supermarket chain and had been for a number of years. Throughout her time working at the supermarket, she received no training on the proper methods of performing routine tasks, including lifting heavy items such as online delivery orders.

Sophie’s duties involved manually lifting boxes of varying weights and dimensions into a truck.

Over time, Sophie began to experience intense back pain. This pain then started to impact one leg all the way down to her foot and the other leg as far as her knee.

Sophie went to see her doctor about the pain, and was referred for physiotherapy. The physiotherapist recommended she have an MRI scan of her lumbar spine.

Following the scan, she was referred to a spinal surgeon. Despite undergoing a procedure to remove part of a herniated disc and treat compressed nerves in her spine, she continued to suffer severe pain in her back.

Sophie’s ability to bend and stoop was restricted and her daily walking time was limited to only 20-30 minutes. She was no longer able to take part in routine activities or carry out ordinary tasks, which had a significant impact on her quality of life.

All employers are responsible for the safety and well-being and of their staff and should ensure that they are working in a safe environment.

Sophie’s employers did not provide appropriate manual handling training, or have a safe work system in place for staff who were required to lift stock. This led to Sophie’s injuries which had a serious impact on her life. Supermarket management should have been aware of the risks of manual handling and taken precautions to prevent injuries such as Sophie’s.

Case progression:

Court proceedings were instigated, and the case was brought to a successful conclusion.

Case settlement:

The case was settled in the High Court on the 20th of February 2023 for the sum of €80,000. This was a great result for our client and we are proud of all the work put in by Paul and his team to achieve this brilliant outcome.

*Note: Client name changed for GDPR reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I report a workplace accident?

   It is important to immediately take the following steps after the occurrence of an accident at work.

   • Report the accident immediately to your superior and ensure that an accident report is completed and you are given a copy of it.
   • Seek medical attention immediately and ensure that your doctor or hospital personnel keep detailed records of the accident.

   There are strict obligations on employers under the Health & Safety Acts together with other legislation to ensure that employees have a safe system of work and that employees are properly trained in the tasks that they are carrying out and that they are provided with proper equipment in the course of their employment.

2. What to do after an accident at work?

   After an accident at work and before making a work related claim, your first priority should be to seek medical attention. In minor workplace incidents whereby you have a slip, trip or fall, you may feel as though you are fine, but what you don’t realise is that the minor injury you have suffered could develop into a bigger health issue for you. Assessing your health after an accident is a critical first step.

   Once you have had a medical assessment there are a number of steps you will follow:

   1. Report the accident to your superior

   Before making work related claims it is important that you notify your manager at work as to the accident that occurred. You need you to inform them of the injuries you suffered and the cause of the accident. It is advisable for you to seek confirmation from your superior that you have reported the accident, whether it is written or electronic.

   2. Seek legal advice from a personal injury solicitor

   Once you have reported the accident, it is important that you seek advice from a personal injury solicitor who has experience with accidents in the workplace. They can then talk you through the next steps as to what is involved when making work related claims.

   In the event that you do decide to take a personal injury claim, you are not obliged to personally tell your employer. Your solicitor can write to your employer and notify them of the claim. Some of our clients have told us that they feel that it would be better for them to inform their employer that a claim was being made and that their solicitor would be in touch. This is a matter for each client. Generally, we would advise that all communications regarding the case take place between the legal representatives.

3. What information will my solicitor need to make a claim?

   In order for your solicitor to proceed with a personal injury claim for you they will need the following information:

   • Details of the person who caused the accident.
   • Names, addresses and contact information of any witnesses to the accident.
   • Where available, photographs of the location of the accident, paying particular attention to the item or area where the accident happened.
   • Name of Gardaí/police and station where the accident was reported – names of any Gardaí who attended the scene of the accident (where applicable).
   • Medical records detailing any injuries/treatment following the accident.
   • Details of any costs incurred following the accident (keep your receipts).
   • Details of any loss of earnings and details of any future loss of earnings if you are to be out of work for a long period of time.
   • Cost of medical treatment – details of future medical treatment needed.