Two injured dock workers awarded €186,000

Two men injured in an accident at Malta Drydocks in 1993 were yesterday awarded almost €186,000 (Lm79,765) between them by Mr Justice Philip Sciberras in the First Hall of the Civil Court.

Joseph Fenech and his wife Maria, together with Anthony Camilleri and his wife Grace filed their writ against the Malta Drydocks Corporation. In 2005, the government continued the case on behalf of the Drydocks.

The two men told the court that they had been employed with the Drydocks as shipwrights and that they had both been seriously injured while working in a Drydocks' workshop in May 1993.

The court-appointed legal expert confirmed that the Drydocks was responsible for the accident as it had been the result of a lack of maintenance on the hydraulic platform that the two men were using in the course of their work.

Mr Justice Sciberras said that it was the duty of the employer to provide a secure place of work for the employees.

Not only had the employer to provide protective clothing and equipment, but had to ensure also that all equipment was well maintained.

Once the Drydocks had not properly maintained the hydraulic platform, the Drydocks was responsible for the accident and for the damages resulting from the accident.

The court awarded Mr Fenech €105,019.80 (Lm45,085) and Mr Camilleri €80,782.67 (Lm34,680) in damages.