Malta Shipyards Ltd today was ordered to pay €38,214 in damages to a former employee who suffered a permanent disability due to an on-the-job injury.

On 5 May 2005, Mark Grech Mallia worked at the Marsa site workshop in what was previously known as the Malta Shipbuilding Company Ltd, and was seriously injured when a crane being operated by another worker hit and dropped a iron beam onto Grech Mallia.

As a result, Grech Mallia suffered a permanent disability in his left leg.

Grech Mallia, who was employed as a ship wright tradesman and worked with the company for 25 years, claimed that Malta Shipyards Ltd did not provide a safe system of work, and that the other employee was negligent. Grech Mallia asked the courts to order the company and the other employee to pay damages.

Malta Shipyards Ltd said that Grech Mallia as well as other employees had the skills to execute their job, that they had the necessary facilities and tools, and were duty bound to take all precautions. “Consequently, they need to personally respond for any possible negligence or failure that can result from their actions.” Malta Shipyards Ltd argued it is not responsible for any damages.

The court noted that no evidence was brought forward to show that the other employee was to blame for the incident.

The court noted that the company did not take enough precautions to assure against any peril that workers were exposed too, both from the overhead crane operating close by, nor from the beam that was neither tied not stuck in place.

Malta Shipyards Ltd was ordered to pay the aforementioned amount in damages.