Posted: November 1st, 2018
A factory worker who experienced a fall to the ground resulting a severe ankle injury when he attempted to shift a trapped bin has been awarded €224,000 workplace injury compensation at the High Court.
Tomasz Zdejszy was employed at a refuse collection business when he suffered permanent damage on his ankle. Mr Zdejzy experienced fall of nine feet to the ground on April 2012 at the business park in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.
In passing judgement Justice Michael Hanna stated that the 37-year-old man had climbed up a waste paper container to release a bin by kicking it. The Judge said that Mr Zdejszy had begun to climb down when a colleague gave him a metal bar to help with moving the bin.
In his workplace injury compensation case against his employer Stewart Foil Ltd, Tomasz claimed that there had been a failure to ensure the safe and proper removal of an obstacle to waste collection when Mr Zdejszy was required to work at a dangerous height.
In the workplace fall compensation action taken against Panda Waste Services, said that he was asked to remove or move a rubbish bin on a waste container while working at a height. He also said that he was given an inappropriate tool, a metal bar, to accomplish this task.
Justice Hanna found there was 20% contributory negligence charged to Mr Zdejszy as he did not employ sufficient care with regard to his own safety. The judge stated that Stewart Foil Ltd were 66% responsible and Panda Waste Services 33% responsible for the accident.
Judge Hanna remarked that Mr Zdejszy had suffered a typical injury for the fall in question, with a severe break of the right side of his foot, down into his ankle joint. This fracture resulted in him developing arthritis on the joint, which required surgical fusion. Mr Zdejszy had permanent loss of movement in his ankle, a loss of heel height of approximately one inch on the injured side and has been left with constant pain.
Categories: Accident at Work Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation, Work Injuries Compensation
