Despite the best health and safety practices, accidents in the workplace and in schools are an unfortunate inevitability. If you or someone close to you is injured in an accident at work in at school and feel that you were not at fault, you may be entitled to pursue compensation through the courts.
That was the case for a student who had his finger lacerated by an electric saw during woodwork class, who has settled a court action against his school for €42,500.
The student, now aged 17, was 15 when the incident took place in January 2016. The court heard that he had been working on a band saw when another student pushed the piece of timber he had been cutting, causing the index finger of his right hand to come in contact with the running blade.
The student, who was suing the school through his father, has been left with a scar on his finger. He told the court that he had required surgery on the laceration, had missed a number of weeks of school while in recovery and had required hand therapy to regain full movement.
Counsel for the student argued that he had not been given adequate instruction on the use of the band saw. It was alleged that there was a failure to readjust the blade guide and saw guard for each piece of timber being cut and that this played a key role in the incident.
Counsel for the student, who is currently studying for his Leaving Certificate, told the court that his client had suffered a severe laceration and also a minor fracture to the finger. The student and his family are originally from Estonia and are intending to return there once his state examinations are complete, the court heard.
The judge, after examining the teenager’s finger, approved the settlement of €42,500.