personal injury

PERSONAL INJURY

Workplace Injury

A lady who worked for a nursing home took an action in the Circuit Court for an injury she incurred while

operating a dishwasher. She claimed that the dishwasher was faulty and that she developed a repetitive

strain injury from loading and unloading the dishwasher. Her job was specifically dishwashing duties at

 a private nursing home in Blackrock, Co. Dublin.

She claimed that the machine she had to use was defective and required extra physical strength to load and

unload the dishes. This had resulted in her developing a repetitive strain injury to the left side of her body.

She claimed that in September 2017, she developed pain symptoms in her neck, ribcage, and groin for which she

had to take painkiller and anti-inflammatory medication. She further claimed that three months later her back had

‘given up’ to the extent that she was no longer able to do her job. She attended a medical specialist who diagnosed

soft tissue strain. This injury has affected her life, and she can no longer enjoy her pursuits of the gym, cycling and

hill walking.

The parties reached a settlement of €60,000 which was approved of by the judge. As she left her employment a few

weeks after incurring the injury there was no claim for loss of earnings. The defendant nursing home had entered a

full defence and made the settlement without admission of liability.