A factory employee whose latex glove allegedly burst while being removed, emitting a loud ‘boom’ which damaged the left ear of a nearby colleague has been ordered to pay some €30,000 by way of compensation.

The victim, Conrad Montebello, filed a case for damages against Neil Cilia, the worker said to have sparked off the trouble, and the employer company Actavis Ltd, claiming damages over the incident which took place inside the Bulebel factory in September 2010.

The whole episode had probably revolved around a prank which went wrong. The suspected prankster, Mr Cilia had burst the rubber glove close to his colleague’s ear as the latter bent over his tool box. Mr Montebello, a technician employed by the company, had been asked to see to some technical fault in a machine close by.

As he bent down unawares, he heard a sudden loud noise similar to a firework explosion or a metallic clang. Turning around, he caught sight of Mr Cilia holding the ripped glove. The latter insisted that the glove had burst as he twirled it around, letting off a ‘pop’ which only lasted seconds.

The First Hall, Civil Court, presided over by Mr Justice Silvio Meli, heard a medical expert testify that the ear problem, known as ‘tinnitus’, could indeed develop as a direct effect of a sharp sound similar to that experienced by the victim in this case.

The court was told that ever since the mishap, Mr Montebello was left with a 4% permanent disability which caused him to hear a ringing sound in his head.

It was declared that the company was not to be held accountable for the incident since it had provided its workers with appropriate training on gowning procedures and hygiene. Moreover, it took all necessary measures to create ‘a safe system of work’ and therefore it was not to take blame for the irresponsible action by one of its employees.

The court therefore held the author of the ‘practical joke’ responsible and ordered him to pay €29,885 by way of damages to the victim of the incident. It was observed that although it had not been proved that the suspected prankster had purposely popped the glove, yet he had certainly mishandled it.

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