Worker wins Lm12,000 in damages

Mr Justice Raymond C. Pace yesterday awarded an Enemalta Corporation employee over Lm12,000 in damages after he was injured at work.

Joseph Gauci sued the corporation claiming he was injured in June 2000 when an electricity pole he was working on collapsed.

The court heard that Mr Gauci was carrying out maintenance works on the pole in Busketto Road, Rabat. He was climbing a ladder resting against the pole when this collapsed and Mr Gauci and the ladder ended up on the ground.

He said he had sustained permanent injuries as a result of the incident.

Enemalta denied responsibility for the accident and said Mr Gauci had been negligent in his work.

The court heard eyewitness accounts of the incident and in particular noted that one of the witnesses on the scene had testified that the pole was rusty and had deteriorated. The witness also confirmed that it was after the accident in question that Enemalta had started to take precautions as to where electricity poles were placed and ensuring they did not become rusty.

There was no doubt that the accident had occurred because the pole had been badly corroded due to lack of maintenance and also because of the manner in which it had been erected in direct contact with the soil.

The court added that the pole was not made of galvanised metal.

After finding Enemalta responsible for the accident the court ordered the corporation to pay Mr Gauci Lm12,024.09 in damages.