A man injured in an industrial accident in 2013 has been awarded more than €64,000 in damages.

Slodoban Kozarev, a Serb national, filed his action for damages against his employer JDS Manufacturing Limited. Mr Kozarev told the court that he was a trained carpenter and that he had been employed by the company as a machine operator.

In September 2013 he was injured at work when the blades of the spindle moulder he was operating cut off the index finger and part of the thumb of his left hand and fractured the other fingers.

Mr Kozarev claimed that the company was responsible for the damages he had sustained.

Mr Justice Lawrence Mintoff found in favour of Mr Kozarev after concluding that the company's version of events was not credible and after ruling that no safe system of work had been provided.

The court heard that the machine being operated by Mr Kozarev was over 25 years old and had no modern safety features.

Moreover, no proper training had been given to Mr Kozarev in how to use the machine. 

The court added that the company's directors had failed to fulfil their obligations to provide safety measures.

They had also failed to inform the Occupational Health and Safety Authority about the accident and had instructed Mr Kozarev to remove his uniform when he was taken to hospital for the company not to be identified.

After taking into consideration the fact that Mr Kozarev has suffered a 22 per cent permanent disability the court awarded him €64,604 in damages.