Accidents in the workplace are still a common occurrence, despite improvements in adherence to Irish and European Health & Safety regulations. Although typically associated with construction or building site injuries, workplace injuries can happen in any industry.
But why do accidents happen in the workplace and what are the consequences of workplace accidents? Let’s find out.
Your responsibilities
As an employer, you must meet the standards set out in the Health & Safety Act 2005. These standards are designed to help prevent your employees from being involved in a work accident.
You must provide:
- A safe way for employees to carry out their work.
- A safe building in which to work.
- Suitable materials and equipment.
- A safe system of work with proper training and supervision.
Your legal duty is to minimise the risk of workplace accidents by taking reasonable care for the Health & Safety of your employees. Failure to provide the above measures may significantly increase the risk of a workplace incident taking place.
Accident reporting procedure in the workplace
Employees who are involved in accidents at work or on the way to work should inform you immediately. You must report these accidents to the Health and Safety Authority when an employee misses three consecutive days of work (not including the day of the accident).
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
Employees in Ireland are entitled to paid sick leave under the Statutory Sick Pay scheme. If your employee is off work for a medical reason, it's important to comply with the Sick Leave Act and ensure that your employees are receiving the correct pay.
If your business has its own sick pay scheme, this policy should be followed and reiterated to all employees on a regular basis.
Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme
The Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme is a group of benefits for employees injured or incapacitated by an accident at work or while travelling directly to or from work. Injury Benefit is a weekly payment made if they’re unfit for work due to the accident.
Employers’ liability insurance
Employers’ liability insurance cover enables you to meet the cost of compensation for an employee injury or illness which occurred at work.
Personal injury claim
When it comes to compensation, employees cannot seek any from an employer under Health & Safety legislation. However, they can make a personal injury claim through the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). If either you or the employee rejects the assessment, PIAB will issue the employee with an authorisation allowing them to make a claim through the civil courts.
PRSI and tax
If one of your employees is out of work, they may qualify for a credited contribution. A credited social insurance contribution is a contribution given to employees and recorded on their social insurance record. Credit contributions are important because they may use them to qualify for a social insurance payment.
Employees may also get a tax refund if they’re out of work due to illness. This will depend on the length of time they've been unemployed, the amount of tax they’ve paid, the amount of tax credits they’ve used and their weekly social welfare payment.
Employees returning to work
Policies and procedures provide your business with cover. A sick leave and return to work policy can prove to be a crucial piece of documentation. The policy will support a safe return for an employee who has had an illness or injury.
You may also require employees to attend a medical expert to obtain medical evidence upon return. If an employee becomes disabled through an accident or illness, you may be required to adapt your workplace and provide special equipment that they need to perform their job.
Need our help?
For further advice on workplace accidents, our expert advisors are ready to take your call any time day or night.
If you are not yet a client of Peninsula, give us a call on 1800 719 230.
