28 April 2008
The House of Lords held in Corr (Administratrix of the Estate of Thomas Corr (deceased) v IBC Vehicles Limited [2008] UKHL 13 that an employer was responsible for the physical and psychological injury its employee suffered following a workplace accident and also for his suicide six years later.
As the suicide had stemmed from the employee’s severe depression which was a direct result of being seriously injured during a workplace accident, it was held that the suicide was a reasonably foreseeable consequence of the accident.
Employers are reminded of their potential liability to employees for all reasonably foreseeable consequences stemming from a workplace injury. This apparently now includes for suicide. It is therefore important to make sure that there are appropriate health and safety procedures in place in order to reduce the risk of accidents in the workplace, as well as stress related illnesses such as depression.