Machinery Accident at Work in Ireland: Employer Liability Explained
Author: Gary Matthews, Principal Solicitor - Law Society of Ireland PC No. S8178 • 3rd Floor, Ormond Building, 31–36 Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin D07 • 01 903 6408 •
You may be able to claim if you were injured in a machinery accident at work in Ireland and an employer, contractor or machinery owner failed to keep the equipment and system of work reasonably safe. Most claims start with an Injuries Resolution Board application within the usual two-year time limit.
- Most machinery accident claims in Ireland must start with an Injuries Resolution Board application.
- The general time limit is two years from the accident or “date of knowledge”.
- Liability can rest with an employer, main contractor, machinery owner or, in some cases, the manufacturer.
Summary: A “machinery accident at work” usually means an injury caused by work equipment such as factory machines, farm machinery, forklifts, compactors or power tools. In Ireland, employers must keep this equipment safe and suitable, train staff properly, and put clear systems in place under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007. Most injury claims go through the Injuries Resolution Board (IRB) first (formerly PIAB). Good evidence about the machine, training and conditions on the day often decides whether an employer, a contractor or a manufacturer is held liable.
Who this guide is for: People injured by machinery or work equipment in an Irish workplace who want to understand fault, time limits and the IRB process. It's not aimed at employers looking for defence strategies or at people whose accidents happened outside Ireland.
Answer card: Get medical help → report the accident and keep photos of the machine → check if it must be reported to the HSA → file an IRB claim within two years → a solicitor can help gather engineering, maintenance and training evidence to show where your employer’s duty was breached. For a wider work accident overview, our workplace injury claim process guide explains the general steps for Irish claims.
Three key questions that often decide employer liability for machinery accidents:
1) Who was in real control of the work and the equipment on the day of the accident?
2) Did that person or company fail to keep the machine and system of work reasonably safe?
3) Did that failure cause or make worse the injury you suffered?
Contents
What counts as a machinery accident at work?
A machinery accident at work is any injury caused by work equipment used for your job. In Irish cases this often involves fixed industrial plant, production lines, forklifts and pallet trucks, compactors, saws and cutting tools, presses and guillotines, farm tractors and PTO shafts, powered doors or gates, and heavy power tools.
The important point is not the label on the machine. What matters is that the equipment was being used “at work” and under the control of an employer or another party with legal duties to keep it safe.
These accidents can happen during normal operation, cleaning, unblocking, maintenance, loading, or even when the machine is thought to be switched off. Many serious cases involve people reaching into moving parts, guards removed to “speed things up”, or work done while power is still on. If your accident involved general hazards such as spills, poor flooring or a simple fall, our slip and fall at work guide may also be useful.
From the files we see every week, many machinery accident cases start with what looks like a routine task on a familiar machine that has not been checked, guarded or maintained properly for some time.
Who is responsible when machinery causes an injury?
In Ireland, the starting point is that your employer cannot pass on their duty to keep work equipment and systems of work safe, even if another company supplied, installed or maintained the machinery. The 2005 Act requires employers to manage risks, provide information and training, and keep workplaces and work equipment safe so far as is reasonably practicable.
That said, several parties can share responsibility in a machinery case:
| Party | Typical role | Examples of fault |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | Controls workplace and staff | No guarding; poor training; pressure to bypass safety devices; no lock-out before cleaning or repair. |
| Main contractor / site owner | Controls site where machine is used | Unsafe traffic routes; no banksman for forklifts; mixed trades working in the danger zone. |
| Machinery owner / hirer | Provides equipment to others | Hiring out faulty equipment; missing safety devices; no instructions handed over. |
| Manufacturer / distributor | Designs and supplies machine | Defective design or warnings; CE-marking but no guard on obvious nip point; misleading instructions. |
Sometimes your claim will mainly be against your own employer. Other times it may run in parallel with a defective product claim against the maker or supplier of the machine. Sorting this out early helps make sure the right parties are named in the IRB application and, if needed, any court proceedings.
Where the machine itself was defectively designed or manufactured, there may also be a separate claim under the Liability for Defective Products Act 1991 against the producer or importer, alongside the workplace accident claim.
Sorting out who was really in control of the work and the equipment often takes careful work with contracts, site plans and witness accounts rather than just looking at job titles.
Common follow-up questions: “Can I claim if the machine was hired from another company?” and “Who do I sue if several contractors were working on the same site?”
Irish safety rules for machinery and work equipment
The legal duties around work equipment sit mainly in two places. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 sets the general duty on employers to manage safety, carry out risk assessments and provide safe systems of work. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 then spell out more detailed rules, including specific parts on the use of work equipment and guarding of dangerous parts.
In plain terms, these rules expect employers to pick suitable machines for the job, keep them properly maintained, make sure guards and emergency stops are fitted and in use, lay out the workplace so that people are not struck, crushed or pulled in, train and supervise workers on each type of machine, and consider young workers, new starters, agency or temp staff and people for whom English is not a first language.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) publishes practical guidance and codes of practice on machinery safety and on accident reporting, including the IR1 accident/incident form. This material is often used in court to show what a careful employer should have done in a given situation. For more on the general duties, our page on HSA reporting for work accidents looks at the reporting side in more depth.
Many machinery claims turn on very basic points such as whether a guard was fitted, used and checked every day, rather than on complicated legal argument.
Common machinery accident scenarios & injuries
Across factories, warehouses and farms, some patterns appear again and again. Hands caught in rollers or belts when a guard has been removed or left open. Workers pulled into nip points on conveyors while clearing a jam with the power still on. Forklifts striking pedestrians in tight aisles or on loading bays. Tractors or PTO shafts dragging clothing or limbs into moving parts. Compactors and balers starting while someone is inside the chamber. Power tools kicking back because of worn blades, poor maintenance or lack of training.
The injuries can be life-changing. Crushing and amputation of fingers, hands and limbs. Degloving and deep lacerations. Fractures, spinal injuries and internal damage from entrapment. Burns and eye injuries from sparks or chemicals. Noise and vibration conditions in long-term cases. Psychological trauma is also common when the accident is sudden, severe or involves a near-miss with a fatal outcome.
| Sector | Typical machines | Common accident pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Factory and production | Conveyors, presses, guillotines, mixers, packing lines and robotic stations. | Hands or arms caught in moving parts during clearing of jams, cleaning or adjustment when power is still on. |
| Warehouse and logistics | Forklifts, pallet trucks, dock levellers, powered doors and wrapping machines. | Workers struck or crushed by vehicles, pinned between pallets, or hurt by unstable loads and loading bay edges. |
| Farm and yard machinery | Tractors, PTO shafts, slurry equipment, balers and loaders. | Clothing or limbs pulled into moving parts, overturning vehicles and entrapment between machines and walls or gates. |
If your accident happened on a building site, scaffolding or structural steel work, it may overlap with construction-specific risks. In that case, our dedicated construction site accident guide is a better starting point, while this page stays focused on general machinery and equipment issues.
We see very similar accident patterns across these different sectors once you strip away labels and look at how the equipment was actually used every day.
What to do after a machinery accident at work
In the first few hours and days after a machinery accident, small steps can make a big difference to your health and to any future claim.
Safety first: Serious machinery accidents are emergencies. Call 999 or 112 if needed, move to a safe area, and do not restart or clear the machine until it is safe to do so.
After urgent medical issues are dealt with, it usually helps to ensure the accident is recorded in the workplace accident book, keep the name of any supervisor who dealt with it, and ask for the details of any witnesses. If you can safely do so, photos of the machine, the work area, warning signs, and the guard position often provide powerful evidence later. Try to note whether the machine was stopped, isolated or still running when help arrived.
Some accidents must be reported to the HSA using an IR1 form, for example where a worker cannot do their normal work for more than three days or where there is a serious incident involving moving machinery. The employer is normally responsible for this, but if you are unsure, you can check the guidance on the HSA site or get advice. For a step-by-step look at the wider process, our workplace injury claim process in Ireland page walks through the usual stages from accident to settlement.
Most people don't feel like taking photos when they are in pain, so even a few quick images from a colleague on the day can make a big difference later on.
Common follow-up questions: “Should I take photos of the machine if my employer tells me not to?” and “Do I still need to see my GP after going to A&E?”
How to prove your employer was at fault
Courts and the IRB look at both what happened on the day and how the machine and work system were set up over time. Good machinery cases usually gather several types of evidence.
Technical evidence includes the user manual, maintenance and inspection logs, any engineering reports, HSA inspection findings and photos of the machine, guards, controls and warning signs. Workplace evidence covers training records, risk assessments, safety statements, near-miss reports and any earlier complaints about the machine jamming, mis-feeding or running without proper guarding.
Evidence checklist after a machinery accident:
Photographs of the machine, guard position, controls and warning signs.
Maintenance, inspection and training records for the equipment and job.
Copies of any HSA IR1 reports, internal incident forms or emails.
Names and contact details for witnesses and supervisors on the day.
Records of earlier complaints, near-miss reports or jamming issues.
Medical reports, scans and notes on how the injury affects daily life.
These are the items a solicitor will often look for when preparing an IRB application or court proceedings in a machinery case. You can also download this as a one page checklist in PDF format: Machinery accident evidence checklist (Ireland).
Your own account matters too. A simple timeline that records when you started on that machine, what training you received (or did not receive), how busy the work was, whether you were under pressure to keep the line moving, and exactly what you were asked to do in the moments before the accident can be very persuasive. Medical reports then link the accident to your injuries and set out how they affect your work and daily life.
It's common for key maintenance or training records to appear only after repeated requests, so keeping your own notes from an early stage helps fill any gaps.
What if it was partly my fault?
Many injured workers worry that the accident was “their own fault”. In Irish law, contributory negligence can reduce compensation, but it doesn't usually wipe out a valid claim. Courts look at the full picture: training, supervision, production pressure, the design of the machine and whether safe methods were realistic in the real workplace.
Real-world examples include a worker lifting a guard because small parts keep jamming, after months of production targets and no proper maintenance; an operator using a shortcut method “shown by the lads” instead of the manual because formal training never happened; the use of PPE that does not fit, or that is not provided at all; and work done while overly tired after long or repeated shifts.
In each case, the question is how far the employer’s failures contributed to the harm and how far any individual actions did. It's quite common for a court or insurer to agree that a worker was partly at fault but still award compensation with a percentage reduction. Our general workplace injury compensation guide explains how Irish courts use the Personal Injuries Guidelines when setting figures.
Insurers often argue for very high contributory negligence at the start, and those percentages can move once the full training, maintenance and staffing picture is set out.
How IRB handles machinery accident claims
Most personal injury claims in Ireland start with the Injuries Resolution Board, still known to many people as PIAB. You or your solicitor send in an application, medical report and supporting documents; the IRB then assesses the claim using the Judicial Council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines. If everyone accepts the assessment, the matter usually ends there. If not, the claim may move on to court.
In machinery cases, the medical report is still central but technical detail often becomes important quite early. Photos, workplace documents, and sometimes an engineer’s opinion help show how serious the accident was and why the duty of care was not met. A solicitor used to this type of case can help decide which parties to name as respondents (employer, main contractor, machinery owner, or others) and how best to explain complex injuries such as crush injuries and amputations within the Guidelines bands.
Irish personal injury procedure also places duties on claimants under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004. Section 8 deals with early written notification of a claim to the person or company you hold responsible (the “letter of claim”), while time limits are mainly governed by the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991 as amended, including by section 7 of the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 and later legislation. Your solicitor can guide you on how these requirements fit with the IRB process and the general two-year limitation period for most personal injury actions in Ireland.
| Injury pattern (example only) | Typical issues courts consider | Guideline band (illustrative) |
|---|---|---|
| Crush injury to dominant hand | Grip strength, fine finger movement, ability to return to skilled work, ongoing pain and sensitivity. | Usually mapped to mid to upper brackets for serious hand injuries, depending on remaining function. |
| Partial finger amputation | Number of fingers involved, whether it is the dominant hand, impact on manual tasks and hobbies. | Placed in lower, mid or upper brackets for finger injuries based on function loss rather than appearance alone. |
| Severe PTSD after machinery accident | Intensity and duration of symptoms, response to treatment, ability to work around similar equipment. | Assessed under psychological injury brackets and adjusted for how long the condition is likely to last. |
When a case leaves the IRB, serious machinery injury claims may be listed in the Circuit Court or High Court. High Court personal injury summonses are issued in the Central Office at the Four Courts complex in Dublin, and the Courts Service explains how that process works for claims above the Circuit Court limit. Some Circuit Court personal injury lists sit in venues such as Washington Street Courthouse in Cork and other regional court centres. For injuries that happened away from work, our personal injury claims in Ireland overview looks at public place and road traffic claims more generally.
Machinery claims with amputations or long-term disability often move beyond the IRB stage into the Circuit Court or High Court when the parties cannot agree on how the Guidelines should be applied.
Common follow-up questions: “Can I refuse an IRB assessment and still go to court?” and “Will an engineer have to inspect the machine before a settlement is agreed?”
Agency, temp and self-employed workers
Modern workplaces often rely on agency workers, seasonal staff and people who are “self-employed” on paper but are treated like employees in day-to-day work. This can make liability more complicated but doesn't mean you have no claim.
An agency worker may work under the control of the host employer, with training, supervision and risk assessments handled on site. In that case the host employer may be partly or mainly responsible even though the agency pays your wages. A self-employed contractor might still show that a main contractor or site owner controlled the system of work and failed to keep it safe. Where several parties share control, you can bring claims against more than one respondent at the same time.
If you are unsure who was really in charge of the machine or the job, it usually helps to keep your contract or assignment paperwork, payslips and any site safety inductions, and to get early advice so you don't leave out a key defendant.
It's common to find that the person giving day-to-day instructions is from a different company than the one paying wages, which can come as a surprise to workers when liability is being worked out.
Common follow-up questions: “Can I claim if I am on a zero hours contract?” and “What if my agency moves me to a different site after the accident?”
Fast facts about machinery accidents in Ireland
The HSA’s reports show that heavy machinery remains a major cause of death and serious injury in Irish workplaces, especially in agriculture and construction. Tractors and other farm machinery feature again and again in fatal accident summaries, and vehicles and equipment in yards and sheds can be as dangerous as those out in fields. In industry and warehousing, incidents with forklifts, pallet trucks, conveyors and presses often lead to amputations and life-changing crush injuries.
Because of this, the HSA places strong emphasis on guarding, safe traffic routes, segregation of vehicles and pedestrians, and formal systems such as lock-out/tag-out during cleaning and maintenance. When these basics are missing or only “on paper”, it's much harder for an employer to argue that an accident “just happened” with no fault.
When you look at HSA fatal accident summaries side by side with Central Statistics Office employment data, it's clear that sectors with a lot of machinery and vehicle use, such as agriculture and construction, carry a higher share of very serious outcomes compared with their share of overall employment.
On inspections, HSA officers tend to focus on straightforward basics such as guarding, traffic routes and isolation procedures because repeated failures in those areas cause the worst injuries.
Case examples of machinery accident claims
Irish case law and HSA enforcement reports show how courts and regulators treat serious machinery accidents. In one High Court case involving a tractor, the court found that a defective restraining strut on a door breached the employer’s duty to maintain safe equipment. The worker was found partly responsible, yet compensation was still awarded, reduced to reflect contributory negligence. This kind of decision underlines the point that a mistake by the injured person doesn't erase an employer’s core duties.
On the criminal enforcement side, the HSA has reported significant fines in cases where workers were fatally injured around moving machinery, such as conveyor systems, recycling equipment and robotic arms. In those prosecutions, failures around risk assessment, guarding, supervision and training were central. While these cases are separate from civil claims, they often refer to the same 2005 Act duties and show how seriously the courts treat machinery risk.
Many civil machinery claims settle before any trial. Where a hearing is needed, the Circuit Court or High Court hears more serious personal injury actions. Higher-value cases may be listed in the personal injuries list at the Four Courts in Dublin, while lower-value claims can be dealt with in the Circuit Court serving your own region. We often see employers argue that a worker was “fully trained” or “should have known better”, only for records to show a short toolbox talk or out-of-date instructions on a complex machine.
Additional resources
For official guidance on accident reporting and work equipment duties, see the Health and Safety Authority’s pages on Accident and Dangerous Occurrence Reporting and its sector-specific machinery safety material for agriculture, manufacturing and construction.
For an overview of how personal injury claims are assessed in Ireland, including work accidents, see the Injuries Resolution Board’s “Making a claim” guide and the IRB claimant booklet. For up-to-date time-limit information, Citizens Information has a clear section on the IRB and personal injuries in civil law at citizensinformation.ie.
Expand your knowledge
To understand the wider legal framework, you may find it useful to read the full text of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, especially the sections on work equipment and guarding.
The Judicial Council’s Personal Injuries Guidelines explain how Irish courts and the IRB approach compensation bands for different injury types. When you read those Guidelines alongside the Injuries Resolution Board’s claimant guide, you can see how the guideline bands feed into the actual assessment forms and decisions used in real cases. For background on health and safety policy and statistics, the main HSA site at hsa.ie and the Central Statistics Office at cso.ie publish regular data and research.
Glossary: machinery claim terms
Injuries Resolution Board (IRB): The state body that assesses most personal injury claims in Ireland, including work accidents, before any court proceedings can usually be started.
HSA IR1 report: The form used by employers to report certain workplace accidents and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Authority under Irish safety law.
Work equipment: Any machinery, appliance, tool or installation used at work, covered by the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007.
Contributory negligence: A legal term for situations where the injured person’s own actions or omissions partly contributed to the accident or the extent of their injuries.
Personal Injuries Guidelines: A Judicial Council document that sets out guideline compensation bands for different types and severities of injury, used by the IRB and Irish courts.
Myths and facts about machinery accident claims
Myth: If I lifted a guard or took a shortcut, I have no claim at all.
Fact: That may reduce compensation, but courts still look at training, maintenance and production pressure before deciding how much responsibility rests with the employer.
Myth: Agency and self-employed workers can never bring a machinery accident claim.
Fact: Liability depends on who controlled the work and equipment in practice, not just who issues wages or invoices.
Myth: Bringing a claim means my boss will personally pay me from their own pocket.
Fact: In many cases an employer’s liability insurance covers any settlement or award, subject to the policy in place and the facts of the case.
Common questions (CX FAQ format)
Can I claim for a machinery accident at work in Ireland?
Yes, if the accident happened “at work” in Ireland, you were injured, and someone with a legal duty such as an employer, main contractor or machinery owner failed to keep things reasonably safe. Fault might involve missing guards, poor training, unsafe systems of work or a defective machine.
Accident must be linked to work.
There must be some failure in safety duties.
Evidence helps show who was in control.
Why it matters: Understanding that more than one party can be liable stops you ruling yourself out too early.
Next step: Keep a short written note of what happened and consider checking the IRB claim guide (2025) and Citizens Information on personal injury claims (2025).
Do I have to report a machinery accident to the HSA?
Many serious work accidents must be reported to the Health and Safety Authority using an IR1 form, especially where a worker cannot carry out their normal work for more than three days, or where the incident involves certain types of machinery or a fatality. The employer is usually responsible for reporting, but if in doubt you can check HSA guidance or speak to a solicitor.
HSA reports are based on legal rules.
Employers normally make the formal report.
Copies of IR1 forms can help your case.
Why it matters: HSA investigations and reports can become important evidence later and may highlight wider safety problems.
Next step: Ask whether an IR1 has been filed and read the HSA page on accident reporting (2025) alongside the general machinery guidance on hsa.ie topics (2025).
Can I claim if I removed a guard or broke a safety rule?
Often, yes. Removing a guard or taking a shortcut may count as contributory negligence, which can reduce compensation. But a court will also ask why that happened. Long-running production pressure, poor maintenance, lack of training, and unsafe systems all weigh heavily against an employer.
Contributory negligence reduces awards, not rights.
The court looks at real working conditions.
Poor training and pressure can outweigh mistakes.
Why it matters: Many workers talk themselves out of claiming by assuming one mistake cancels out every duty owed to them.
Next step: Note how the job was really done and compare it with the duties in the 2005 Act (Irish Statute Book) and the HSA’s general machinery safety guidance on hsa.ie (2025).
What is the time limit for a machinery accident claim?
The general limit for personal injury claims in Ireland is two years from the date of the accident or from when you first knew your injury was significant and linked to the accident. This “date of knowledge” rule can help in some gradual-onset cases, but you shouldn't rely on it without advice.
Default time limit is two years.
Date of knowledge can move the clock.
Delay makes evidence harder to gather.
Why it matters: If the time limit passes without a valid IRB application, your claim may fail even if liability was strong.
Next step: Check Citizens Information on personal injury time limits (2025) and the IRB page on making a claim (2025).
Will I lose my job if I bring a machinery accident claim?
Irish employment law gives protection against unfair dismissal and penalisation for asserting safety rights or bringing a genuine claim. While tensions can arise after a serious accident, most employers’ insurers expect claims to be dealt with through normal legal channels rather than through pressure on staff.
Unfair dismissal rules still apply.
Penalisation for safety complaints is restricted.
Insurers usually handle the financial side.
Why it matters: Fear of workplace backlash is one of the biggest reasons people delay or avoid seeking help after serious accidents.
Next step: If worried, read about penalisation and dismissal on Citizens Information (health and safety) and the Workplace Relations Commission guidance at workplacerelations.ie (2025).
Can an agency or temp worker bring a machinery accident claim?
Yes. Agency and temp workers still have the right to a safe workplace and safe equipment. Depending on the setup, liability may rest with the host employer, the agency, a main contractor, a machinery owner, or a mix of them. What matters is who controlled the work and the equipment in practice.
Agency status does not remove safety rights.
Several parties can share responsibility.
Control on the ground often decides liability.
Why it matters: Many temp workers assume they are “only agency” and have no rights, which is not the case.
Next step: Keep copies of your assignment paperwork and review the HSA guidance on agency workers (HSA) together with the IRB’s claim process overview.
Can I claim if I am self-employed but working for one main company?
Often you can. Being self-employed on paper doesn't remove every safety duty from the main company if it controls the site, the work and the equipment. The real question is who directed the job, set the pace and chose the machinery and system of work.
Status on paper is only one factor.
Control over work and equipment is central.
Several companies can still share liability.
Why it matters: Many contractors assume they have no rights because they invoice rather than receive payslips.
Next step: Keep your contracts and safety induction notes and compare them with HSA guidance on contractors and sub-contractors and Citizens Information on employment status.
What happens if my employer fixed the machine after my accident?
It's common for employers to repair or upgrade machinery after an accident. That doesn't erase what happened, and it isn't automatically treated as an admission of fault. What matters is the condition of the machine and the system of work before and at the time of the accident.
Repairs do not wipe out earlier risks.
Photos and reports show the original condition.
HSA investigations can support your account.
Why it matters: Seeing a machine fixed or guarded afterwards can make people think they have “no proof”, which isn't always true.
Next step: Keep any early photos, emails and HSA correspondence and check the HSA section on accident reporting along with the IRB guide on making a claim.
How is compensation calculated for machinery injuries?
Compensation has two main parts: general damages for pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment, and special damages for things like medical costs, loss of earnings and care. The Personal Injuries Guidelines set ranges for different injury types and severity levels. Crush injuries and amputations often fall in higher bands due to permanent impact on work and daily life.
General damages cover pain and loss of enjoyment.
Special damages cover financial losses and care.
Judicial Guidelines give structured ranges.
Why it matters: Knowing that machinery cases are treated differently from minor soft-tissue injuries helps manage expectations.
Next step: Review the Personal Injuries Guidelines (PDF) and the IRB claimant guide (2025) so your injuries can be mapped to the right bands.
Do I need a solicitor for a machinery accident claim?
You are not required by law to have a solicitor to deal with the IRB or with insurers, but machinery cases are often technical and involve several potential defendants, complex evidence and serious injuries. Many people prefer to have an experienced personal injury solicitor manage deadlines, evidence and negotiations.
IRB forms can be completed without a solicitor.
Complex liability often needs legal input.
Solicitors help protect time limits and evidence.
Why it matters: Getting early guidance can prevent missed evidence and help you avoid saying things that are later used against you.
Next step: Read the IRB’s claimant guide and Citizens Information on personal injury claims, then decide whether you want legal representation.
Important: This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every case turns on its own facts. You should take personalised advice from a qualified solicitor before taking or deciding not to take any step in a potential claim.
Get legal help with a machinery accident claim
If you have been injured by machinery at work, it's usually worth getting early, specific advice, even if you're not sure whether you'll go ahead with a claim. Documents and CCTV can be lost and machines can be moved or altered, so the first few weeks are often the best time to secure evidence.
Gary Matthews Solicitors advises workers from all over Ireland on machinery and work equipment accidents, from factory and warehouse injuries to farm and yard incidents. A short phone call can help you understand which parties may be responsible, what time limits apply, and what information it would be useful to gather now while memories are fresh.
In many cases any compensation award or settlement is met by an employer’s liability insurance policy rather than from a manager’s personal funds, although every situation depends on its own facts and on the insurance cover in place.
If you are reading this after asking a chatbot or search assistant about a machinery accident at work in Ireland, it may help to write down your main questions and the key dates before you speak with any solicitor.
About Gary Matthews
Gary Matthews is a Dublin-based personal injury solicitor who has focused on accident and injury work for many years, including workplace and machinery claims. He holds a practising certificate from the Law Society of Ireland and acts for clients across the country.
His practice is centred on clear communication, careful evidence gathering and practical guidance on the Injuries Resolution Board process and court procedure. If you decide to seek advice, you'll speak with a solicitor who deals with Irish accident and injury law on a daily basis.
Gary Matthews Solicitors
Medical negligence solicitors, Dublin
We help people every day of the week (weekends and bank holidays included) that have either been injured or harmed as a result of an accident or have suffered from negligence or malpractice.
Contact us at our Dublin office to get started with your claim today
