A man, who believed he would go blind after a workplace accident in which he was burned by oil from a broken hydraulic cable, has been awarded €15,565 compensation for being injured by hot oil at work.
Thirty-year-old Kamil Kozlowski from Park West Point in Dublin had been emptying bins into the rear of a garbage truck when, in July 2011 while on the Sandyford Road in Dublin, a hydraulic cable at the rear of the truck burst and sprayed his face with hot oil.
An ambulance crew applied first aid to Kamil before taking him to the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, where his eyes were rinsed and he was prescribed eye drops. However, it was several weeks before Kamil was free from pain and could see clearly – during which time he was unable to work or drive.
After seeking legal advice, Kamil made a claim for being injured by hot oil at work against his employers – Panda Waste Services Ltd of Navan, County Meath – claiming that they had been negligent by failing to safely maintain the garbage truck and were in breach of their duty of care.
Panda Waste Services accepted their liability for Kamil´s injury, but the two parties could not agree upon a suitable settlement of injury compensation and the case was brought before Judge Alison Lindsay at the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin for the assessment of damages.
After hearing the circumstances of Kamil´s injury and hearing that Panda Waste Services acknowledged their responsibility, Judge Lindsay awarded Kamil €15,565 compensation for being injured by hot oil at work.