Two men were yesterday awarded more than €111,000 in damages between them after a court ruled they had suffered injuries due to the lack of a safe system of work at the Malta Freeport.

Emmanuel Borg and Emmanuel Dingli filed their writ for damages in the First Hall of the Civil Court against Malta Freeport Terminals Ltd and against Joseph Gauci and Gordon Grech. The latter two men were Malta Freeport employees.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco heard that the men were injured when they were untying merchandise that was being carried by a gantry crane in 2009. The crane was operated by Mr Gauci while Mr Grech was supposed to have been directing Mr Gauci’s work.

According to the two men, the gantry crane operator could not see them as he was some 10 storeys above the level of the quay. They also claimed that the Freeport did not always provide a radio operator to direct the crane operator. They further added that no safety officer was present when the accident occurred.

The court heard that the accident took place when the crane operator raised the crane even though the merchandise was not yet untied. The merchandise slipped and fell onto the two men who tried to leap out of the way. Both men suffered injuries as a result of the accident.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said that an internal report prepared by the Freeport had concluded that the accident had occurred as a result of unsafe work practices.

The Freeport was therefore solely responsible for the injuries the two men had suffered. The court ordered the Freeport to pay Mr Borg €50,211.80 and Mr Dingli €61,488.66 in damages.