Hand and finger injuries are common in the industrial workplace and if you’re a skilled employee, suffering an injury of this kind can have a far-reaching impact on your ability to do your job post-accident.
Health and safety
While it’s not realistic to expect a risk-free environment, your employer is required by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to protect you from hazards in the workplace. Due to technological advancements, the nature of a person’s work can change over time and involve new machinery or processes, increased workload or changes in staff levels or training. If machinery that is capable of causing injury can be used in a dangerous way, it’s the employer’s duty to train their staff on its safe operation. The employer is also required to make appropriate safety equipment available and ensure maintenance schedules are followed. What steps need to be taken to minimise risk will depend on the work itself and the environment in which it’s done. In some cases, the employee will not have any power to control the safety practices in use and may be in a position of having to work in less than safe conditions.
Types of hand/finger injuries
Many hand and finger injuries are relatively minor and are followed by a full recovery. In other cases injuries may be complex, potentially affecting use of the hand or its manual dexterity. Injuries include:
- bruising;
- ligament damage;
- broken or crushed bones;
- nerve damage; and
Recovery may require surgery followed by physiotherapy or other specialist treatment. If you use your hands for work you may be unable to do your job as a result of the accident. On top of recovering from an injury, being unable to work can add additional stress to an already unpleasant and unexpected event.
Hand / Finger Injury Lawyers in Dublin
At Sherwin O’Riordan, our specialists can describe the process to you in a clear way.. Our team has access to a wide network of doctors and consultants who can provide expert opinions on your condition and prognosis. While an injury of this kind can be distressing, legal advice is available. You can call us on +353 1 663 2000
