Office staff get highest work claim payouts

OFFICE clerks were in receipt of the highest workplace compensation payouts last year — netting an average of €38,285 for accidents on the job.

This was almost €10,000 more than skilled agricultural and fishery workers.

The most common cause for complaint by office workers was a fall, making up 48% of the claims.

Mark Fielding, chief executive of ISME (Irish Small and Medium Enterprises) said it seemed very strange that clerical workers were in receipt of more compensation than agricultural or building workers.

“It certainly does seem strange that people in an office environment are getting more money than an outdoor worker.

“Labour workers would certainly have more serious injuries, but those are the figures.”

Men accounted for 71.5% of awards for workplace accidents, while 48% of awards were made to claimants aged between 30-49.

According to the Injuries Board, €29 million was paid out by insurance companies for workplace accidents. This included €2.8m for loss of earnings. The total compensation for all accident victims was €181m.

The Injuries Board maintains it has saved two-thirds of personal injury claims from unnecessary litigation.

Yet this year’s Court Service annual report states the number of personal injury cases that came before the High Court in 2007 represented a 700% increase on 2005.

But the ISME boss backed the board saying Ireland’s compensation culture over the past number of years had really changed. “In the past five years, after a lot of lobbying by groups like ourselves, the culture has finally changed,” he said.

Patricia Byron, chief executive of the Injuries Board said, thanks to the board, 30,000 victims of personal injury accidents no longer have to be subjected to years of unnecessary litigation, and the exorbitant associated costs to simply access their right to compensation.

“This is good news for victims of accidents and of course good news for society where these costs were driving the price of insurance through the roof just four years ago,” she said.

* www.injuriesboard.ie