According to statistics released by InjuriesBoard.ie, both the number of claims for workplace injury compensation and the volume of compensation awards assessed by the government body fell in 2011 compared to previous years.
To mark “World Day for Health & Safety at Work”, a review of workplace injuries in Ireland was published by InjuriesBoard.ie which showed that the number of claims for workplace injury compensation had fallen from 889 assessments (2010) to 830 last year, while the value of assessments accepted by the injured party and defendant decreased from 25.1 million Euros (2010) to 22.5 million Euros.
In total, workplace injury compensation claims in Ireland accounted for just 8.4 percent of the total number of assessments processed by the InjuriesBoard.ie yet, while those figures may indicate a decline in injuries and accidents at work, InjuriesBoard.ie Chief Executive Patricia Byron admitted she was “continually surprised by the volume of such foreseeable and preventable claims.”
Insisting that the statistics should be considered alongside the declining workforce in Ireland, Ms Byron said “While our figures point to a downward trend in the number of claims for workplace accidents, the main driver for this is a contracting workforce rather than any notable advances in workplace health and safety programmes. We understand that businesses today are under constant pressure to drive efficiencies, often operating with scarce resources, but cutting corners on employee safety is a cut too far.”
The workplace health and safety statistics also revealed that the percentage of workplace injury claims for women had increased – a fact attributable to a higher number of women in employment during the recession – while assessments for workplace injury compensation in Limerick outnumbered the rest of Ireland per head of population (Assessment applications for workplace injury compensation in Roscommon were the lowest).