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ARTICLE · 13 MARCH 2026

High Court Clarifies Employer Duty In Workplace Accident Claim

Dillon Eustace
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The High Court has dismissed a claim taken by an employee who suffered personal injuries when she tripped over a vacuum cleaner at the dental practice where she worked.

IrelandLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
Siobhan Lane
Siobhan Lane
Audrey Burke
Audrey Burke
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The High Court has dismissed a claim taken by an employee who suffered personal injuries when she tripped over a vacuum cleaner at the dental practice where she worked.

In Walsh v Juniper Orthodontics Limited [2026] IEHC 99, the court referred to the incident as a very unfortunate accident and noted that while steps can always be taken to eradicate any possible accident, an employer is only required to take reasonable steps to prevent an accident that is reasonably foreseeable.

Background

The plaintiff, employed as a dental assistant at the defendant's practice, was vacuuming a flight of stairs and paused to check whether the receptionist was on the telephone, so as not to disturb her. After leaving the vacuum cleaner's rigid arm resting against the banister, it fell, causing the flexible hose to lie across a step. As the plaintiff

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