If you have experienced an injury at work relating to the use of chemicals, you may be eligible to make a claim against your employer. If you have experienced chemical burns, chemical inhalation, or a chemical eye injury, this page will help you to ascertain your rights and the responsibilities of your employer.
Bringing a chemical burns claim
In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries the most obvious risk factors that present themselves are things like chemical burns and exposure to hazardous materials, which may often be inherent in the nature of the industry.
In this context, the provision and use of appropriate safety goggles and protective clothing and equipment will be vitally important. Of course, provision is only one aspect. If all necessary clothing and equipment are made available but the system or culture of work is such that it is very difficult or impossible to attain the targets which have been set when using the equipment provided, an employer will not escape liability for their employees’ injuries.
Shift work tends to be commonplace in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, with skeleton crews in place at certain times of the day or night. This may result in there not being sufficient numbers of staff on duty as might be required by best practice. In addition, working long or unusual shift patterns out of sync with natural circadian rhythms can result in excessive levels of tiredness by an individual or their co-workers, which can contribute to accidents.
If you believe any of the above scenarios may be true to your situation, you may have grounds to bring a chemical burns claim against your employer. Our experienced solicitors will be able to help you ascertain if have good grounds to make a claim.
Common scenarios resulting in chemical injuries
In addition to the aforementioned, there is a multitude of other scenarios that can lead to life-changing chemical burns or inhalation injuries. This includes the following:
- Unsafe storage of chemicals in your place of work.
- Work equipment that has not had regular checks and safety inspections.
- The use of cheap protective work clothing and gear that does not meet compliance standards.
- The spillage of chemicals whilst in transit.
- Over-exposure to corrosive cleaning products.
There may, of course, be many other scenarios where you have the legitimate basis to initiate bringing a compensation case.
Useful resources
If you have suffered a chemical burn, inhalation or eye injury, you may find the following links useful.
- Healthline – Chemical Burns Causes & Symptoms
- MSD Manual – Gas and Chemical Exposure
- US National Library of Medicine – Ocular chemical injuries and their management
About McCarthy + Co
With more than 30 years of experience in dealing with personal injury claims, McCarthy + Co. has expertise in a wide variety of fields including industrial accidents and chemical burns claims. We are a family-run business, and we pride ourselves on offering honest, impartial, and helpful advice.
Our offices are based in Dublin and Cork but we work with clients throughout Ireland in locations ranging from Galway to Waterford. If you have experienced a chemical injury in the workplace, you can count on us for legal advice, guidance, and assistance to pursue your claim.
Testimonials for McCarthy + Co. Solicitors LLP
I would fully recommend McCarthy + Co. Solicitors to anyone that needs legal services. They were very efficient and professional at all times. They gave very helpful advice and ensured to explain everything in simple terms so I could understand. Their communication was excellent at all times, kept me informed throughout the entire process. Also they were very understanding and did not force or rush me to make any decisions. They were very accommodating when I was working and unable to reply to them straight away. John, Aga, Maeve, Emma & Co. were all excellent to deal with. Thanks!
Read more verified reviews about us on Trustpilot.
Contact Us
Get in contact with our personal injury solicitors today to make a start on your claim or gather more information. Call us on 1800 390 555 and an experienced member of staff will discuss your situation and potential next steps. You can also email on info@mccarthy.ie and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
In contentious business, a legal practitioner shall not charge any amount in respect of legal costs expressed as a percentage or proportion of any damages (or other moneys) that may become payable to his or her client or purport to set out the legal costs to be charged to a junior counsel as a specified percentage or proportion of the legal costs paid to a senior counsel. A legal practitioner shall not without the prior written agreement of his or her client deduct or appropriate any amount in respect of legal costs from the amount of any damages or moneys that become payable to the client in respect of legal services that the legal practitioner provided to the client.
