Every employer in Ireland has a legal duty to provide a safe place of work. This obligation is set out in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and is supported by detailed regulations covering everything from construction site safety and work at height to the maintenance of machinery and the control of hazardous substances. When employers fail to meet these duties and a worker is injured as a result, that worker has the right to seek compensation for the harm they have suffered.
Workplace and occupational injury claims arise where an employer, a site operator, a contractor or another responsible party fails to take reasonable steps to protect workers from foreseeable risks, and that failure leads to injury. These claims can involve a single incident, such as a fall from height or a machine entanglement, or they can involve gradual harm caused by prolonged exposure to noise, vibration or hazardous chemicals.
Who Is Affected
Workplace injuries affect employees, agency workers, subcontractors and anyone else present on a work site who is owed a duty of care. Certain industries carry a higher risk of serious injury, including construction, manufacturing, warehousing, agriculture and factory work. However, workplace accidents can happen in any setting, from an office to a retail premises to a hospital.
Workers who operate heavy machinery, work at height, handle chemicals or use vibrating tools are particularly vulnerable, as are those who work in noisy environments over extended periods. In many cases, the injury could have been prevented if proper risk assessments, safety measures, training and supervision had been in place.
What Is at Stake
The impact of a workplace injury can be significant. Physical consequences can range from fractures, burns and lacerations to amputation, spinal injury, hearing loss and chronic conditions such as hand-arm vibration syndrome. Many injured workers face extended periods off work, loss of earnings, and uncertainty about whether they will be able to return to their previous role. In the most serious cases, a workplace accident can result in permanent disability that fundamentally changes a person's life and the lives of those around them.
Types of Workplace and Occupational Injury Claims We Handle
Michael Boylan Litigation advises on a wide range of workplace and occupational injury matters, including:
Construction Site Accident Claims
Construction sites are dynamic, high-energy environments that are essential to Ireland’s infrastructure and economy.
Defective Work Equipment Claims
If you have been injured at work because of faulty, poorly maintained, or unsafe equipment, you may have grounds to bring a legal claim.
Electrical Shock at Work Claims
An electrical shock at work can be sudden, frightening, and physically disruptive.
Factory Accident Claims
Factories involve heavy machinery, repetitive processes, and physically demanding work.
Forklift Accident Claims
At Michael Boylan Litigation, we understand that a forklift accident at work can be a life-changing event.
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) Claims
Hand-arm vibration syndrome develops gradually, often over months or years of using vibrating tools at work.
Machine Entanglement and Guarding Failure Claims
Machine entanglement accidents are among the most sudden and serious incidents that can happen in a workplace.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) Claims
Noise-induced hearing loss develops gradually, often over years, and many people only realise the extent of the damage after they have left a noisy working environment.
Roof-Work Accident Claims
Working at height remains one of the most hazardous activities in the Irish construction and maintenance sectors.
Scaffolding Accident and Fall Claims
For a construction worker, your physical health is your livelihood.
Warehouse Accident Claims
Warehouses are fast-paced, physically demanding workplaces where the risk of serious injury is significant.
Work-at-Height and Ladder Fall Claims
Working at height remains one of the most significant risks for workers across Ireland.
How Ciara McPhillips and the Team at Michael Boylan Litigation Can Help
Ciara McPhillips, Principal Solicitor, leads the firm's work in workplace injury claims. Michael Boylan Litigation has extensive experience in complex personal injury litigation, including cases involving serious workplace accidents across the construction, manufacturing and industrial sectors. The firm's approach is thorough, evidence-led and focused on achieving the best possible outcome for each client.
We will review the circumstances of your accident, examine the employer's safety record, risk assessments and compliance with health and safety legislation, obtain your medical records and instruct the appropriate engineering, occupational health and medical experts. We will give you honest, clear advice on whether a claim is appropriate and, if so, guide you through the process from start to finish.
Get in Touch
If you have been injured at work and you believe your employer or another party may have been at fault, contact Michael Boylan Litigation in confidence to discuss your situation.
In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.
