Should an injury occur to an employee the costs the are:
- Time off work – financial implications
- Health care costs
- Loss of mobility – short term or unfortunately long term
- Mental Health concerns with long term illness and pain
Should an injury occur, the costs to employers are with:
- Replacing an injured employee with another
- Possible court proceedings and associated costs
- Compensation pay-outs if a case is successful
€153,150 awarded
Slavomir v Windcanton Ireland Ltd [2016]
The plaintiff employee worked in a retail distribution centre as a ‘picker’. His job involved lifting goods from pallets and placing them on trolleys. He suffered an injury to his back while attempting to lift five trays of yoghurts onto a trolley. The plaintiff although had undergone Manual Handling training, was never properly trained as to the correct technique when twisting or turning while carrying a heavy load.
The judge deemed the training not sufficient to the actual day-to-day activities the defendant was carrying out.
€85,255 awarded
Meus vs Dunnes Stores (2014) IEHC 639 (High Court, Barr J, December 17th, 2014) The High Court awarded damages of €85,255 to an employee of a large retail chain due to back injuries suffered by her while lifting a large box, on the basis that the employer had not provided her with adequate manual handling training or supervision.
€100,000 settlement
Shop worker received a settlement in the region of €100,000 from Debenhams Ireland. Ms. Kosciuk was asked to lift a box which was “of an excessive weight” and had suffered acute right lower lumbar back pain as a result.