Factory Workers Electric Shock
Wednesday August 05 2009 Sligo Champion
A 44 years old man who was electrocuted in an incident at a Sligo factory was awarded damages of €16,900 with costs at a sitting of the Circuit Court.
The award was made to William Kelly, Chestnut Court, Strandhill who had taken an action for damages against G Bruss GMBH Dichstungtechnik Ltd, Finisklin Road.
The plaintiff was represented by Mr. Kerida Naidoo B.L. instructed by McGovern Walsh and Co., Solicitors while MacSweeney and Company Solicitors, Galway appeared on behalf of the defendant company.
The court was told that Kelly, a machine operator at the factory, was winding in a blade from the machine he was operating on October 4th 2006 when the accident occurred.
The plaintiff was winding the blade with his right hand and his left was resting on the machine.
A wire from the machine came into contact with the belt of the machine causing an electric current to travel along the belt through the arm and back of the plaintiff.
Kelly was disorientated after the incident and was brought to A and E where he was placed on a heart monitor for a number of hours before being released.
He took some days off work but on his return he began to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.
His sleep pattern was disturbed and he also suffered from shortness of breath.
He also had lower back pain which affected the lower left limb and he had some muscle spasm in the lumbar region.
The pain affected the plaintiff in particular when at work or when sitting down.
He was prescribed medication for the pain and has been advised to continue physiotherapy.