Compensation for Being Electrocuted by Office Equipment Due to Faulty Wiring

Can I claim compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring in an electric fan? When I gripped the fan to move it I was electrocuted. I have not been able to work since and I am in constant pain from nerve and muscle damage.

Eoin P. Campbell, LL.B., Solicitor

Editor in Chief

Eoin P. Campbell

You should be entitled to claim compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring, as the office fan was clearly faulty and resulted in you sustaining a serious electric shock at work. The problem with making claims for compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring is establishing who was to blame for the accident, and proving that a third party has been negligent.

When faulty equipment causes an accident in an office, employers are often quick to remove the equipment to prevent other members of staff from suffering a similar fate. The problem in your case is that a faulty office fan is probably not of a sufficient cost to warrant repairs being made. This could mean that the fan has been disposed of, which will make it hard to prove where the fault with the fan was and who was to blame for that fault.

Although your employer should not have allowed a fan with faulty wiring to be used in the office, it may not necessarily be your employer who is liable for your injuries. If the wiring was faulty, it could be a manufacturer’s fault which caused you to be electrocuted at work. If this was the case, it may only be possible to make a claim for compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring against the manufacturer of the fan.

However, even if the fan has been disposed of it does not necessarily mean that you will not be able to claim compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring. There may be a case against your employer for failing to install a circuit breaker in the office to reduce the risk of injury caused to anyone who came in contact with live electrical office equipment.

Since you have not been able to return to work since the accident, gathering evidence of negligence is likely to be difficult. We recommend first speaking to a personal injury solicitor about your case, as a solicitor will be able to assist you with collecting evidence. Your claim will be thoroughly assessed, and if it is possible to claim for compensation for being electrocuted by office equipment due to faulty wiring, your solicitor will complete all the legal processes and paperwork, and will submit the application for assessment to the Injuries Board on your behalf. You can then concentrate on recovering from your injuries while your claim is professionally handled.