Increase in Claims for Burn and Scald Accidents at Work

by | Nov 15, 2013

A press release by the Injuries Board has revealed a 50 percent increase in injury claims for burn and scald accidents at work in Ireland.

The increase is described as “worrying” by Stephen Watkins – the Director of Corporate Services at the Injuries Board – who, in the press release, compares figures from 2011 and 2012 during which time the number of accepted Injuries Board assessments in respect of claims for burn and scald accidents at work increased from twenty-eight to forty-two (1).

Mr Watkins noted that assessments with a total value of €1.33 million were accepted by plaintiffs over the two years, with the average compensation award being €19,066. He also listed the most frequent causes of accidents in the workplace which resulted in burn and scald injuries:

  • An overflow of hot or boiling water
  • Splashes from hot sauces and liquids
  • Acid and chemical burns
  • Clothing catching fire
  • Electrical scalds from faulty equipment

The highest individual accepted assessment over the two-year period amounted to €106,949 and related to a plaintiff who had been badly burned in an acid spill – but Mr Watkins commented that the highest frequency of injury claims for burn and scald accidents at work were made by plaintiffs working as caterers and cleaners.

It was also highlighted in the press release that tasks as straightforward as making a hot drink could result in a burn or scald injury at work; and Mr Watkins urged both employers and employees to be vigilant when in the presence of any substance or equipment that could result in a painful injury if a workplace accident occurs.

Earlier this year, the Health and Safety Authority published the results of their “Chemicals Usage Survey”, in which it was revealed that 67 percent of companies in Ireland who use chemicals capable of delivering a burn or scald had no formal training program in place to advise employees of how to handle such substances.

It was also revealed in the 2012 “Summary of Workplace Injuries” (published by the Health and Safety Authority that female workers are three times more likely to sustain burns and scalds in the workplace than their male counterparts, primarily due to the higher percentage of females employed in catering and cleaning.

(1) in 2012, the percentage of accepted Injuries Board assessments decreased from 37.2 percent to 32.7 percent – suggesting that there may have been a further 80+ injury claims for burn and scald accidents at work which were settled outside of the Injuries Board process.

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