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Limerick near top of workplace accident list E-mail
Written by David Raleigh   
Wednesday, 24 December 2008

LIMERICK is in the top five counties for the most serious workplace accidents, according to the latest published figures.
The most serious injuries at the work place last year arose 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, total compensation of €25 million was awarded for accidents in the workplace in 2007.
Limerick accounted for 7.1% of all compensation awards for workplace accidents with claimants in this county receiving an average award of €23,282.
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. The highest average awards of €31,472 and €31,034 respectively were made for injuries arising from defective equipment and machinery.
Additional findings of the study include: Counties Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford were the top five counties in terms of the proportion of overall awards for accidents in the workplace.
Counties were Carlow, Roscommon, Cavan, Sligo and Leitrim the lowest five.  
The figures suggest that labourers in a variety of sectors accounted for 30% (almost 1/3) of all workplace awards and that trade workers in building and mining, as well as drivers and mobile plant operators accounted for a further one in six awards.
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.
Machinery and defective equipment were responsible for seven of the highest 11 awards in excess of €100,000.
Falls in the workplace accounted for 30% of all awards and the remaining four of the highest 11 awards.
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 employer liability. 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,” said 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.”

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