A construction worker who was injured at Mater Dei Hospital was awarded more than €16,000 compensation after a judge found his employer responsible for the accident.

Saviour Agius injured his back and suffered a slipped disc while lifting heavy metal rods on September 6, 2002. A crane should have been used. However, the one on site was not available at the time because it had to be used by a number of other contractors and the time allocated to Kalaxlokk Company Limited, which employed Mr Agius, was short, Madam Justice Anna Felice heard.

Workers, therefore, had to lift the metal bars onto a higher level using ropes. On the day of the accident, the ropes were not being used and, as a result, Mr Agius injured his back causing a 10 per cent permanent disability.

The judge said that although it was argued that a health and safety officer belonging to another company was on site, this did not exonerate the injured worker’s employer from any responsibility.

She said the way the job was being done showed lack of guidance and organisation on the part of the employer. If the work was done in a serious way, the company would have scrupulously taken care of its employees, especially due to the dangerous nature of the operation in hand.

Madame Justice Felice set compensation at €16,344 after taking into account the amount due on the basis of his gross salary and the cost of living increase.