Oksana had worked at her Galway office for three years without incident. One ordinary Tuesday afternoon, she was walking through the main corridor when her foot caught on a raised door threshold between two rooms. She fell forward, catching herself against a wall but not before her shoulder took the impact. The pain was immediate and sharp. Her colleagues helped her up, concerned and apologetic, but Oksana knew something wasn't right. Within hours, swelling set in. She spent the next six months in physiotherapy.
When Oksana raised the matter with her employer, they were dismissive. They told her she should have been paying more attention to where she was walking. The threshold had been there for years, they said, and no one else had complained. Oksana felt blamed for her own accident, but she also felt angry. The threshold was a genuine hazard—it was higher than standard building code, and there were no warning markings or signs. She decided to seek legal advice about her options.
It turned out that her employer's argument didn't hold water. The law is clear: employers have a duty to maintain safe working conditions. A raised threshold that creates a tripping hazard is exactly the kind of thing that must be properly managed. The fact that other employees hadn't tripped on it didn't mean it was safe. In fact, it was simply a matter of time and bad luck. With proper legal support, Oksana's case was established, and the employer accepted liability. She received compensation for her medical costs, ongoing physiotherapy, and lost earnings during her recovery.
What the law says: Employers in Ireland have a legal obligation under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to ensure the safety of their employees while at work. This includes maintaining safe premises and identifying and managing hazards. If an employer fails to do this, and an employee is injured as a result, the employer can be held liable for negligence. It doesn't matter whether other employees have been injured by the same hazard—the employer's duty exists to prevent injury, not to wait until someone gets hurt.
If you've had a slip, trip, or fall at work, you must act quickly. In Ireland, you generally have two years from the date of your accident to issue legal proceedings. This deadline is strict and cannot be extended except in very rare circumstances.
Don't wait: The sooner you seek legal advice, the sooner evidence can be gathered, witnesses can be interviewed, and your case can be properly prepared.
Tell Sarah what happened. She will explain your options and match you with the right solicitor in your county — free.