Worker loses a hand in work-related accident, gets Dhs150,000 compensation in Abu Dhabi

Aya El Deeb, Staff Reporter

The Abu Dhabi Appellate Court obligated a company to pay a worker Dhs150,000 in compensation for the damages he incurred, after he suffered an injury during work when his hand stuck in a meat grinder, which resulted in the amputation of the palm of the hand.

The details date back to an earlier time when the worker filed a lawsuit, in which he demanded that the company be obligated to pay him Dhs200,000 in compensation for the damages he incurred, as well as obligating it to pay the fees and expenses of the lawsuit and the lawyer’s fees.

The plaintiff explained that while he was working for the company, his right hand got stuck in a meat grinder, which resulted in the amputation of the right palm.

He stressed that this was due to the company's failure to provide the appropriate security and prevention means necessary to protect him from the dangers of work.

He also indicated that the court had previously convicted the company and fined it Dhs10,000, and obligated it to pay him Dhs100,000 in compensation for losing his hand.

Before the Court of First Instance, the worker requested the involvement of new litigants in the lawsuit, including the company’s manager and 3 other companies, and requested a ruling obligating all of them to pay him jointly Dhs1million in material and moral compensation for the damages he incurred, besides the legal interest at 12% from the date of filing the lawsuit until full payment.

He also demanded that he be referred to forensic medicine to determine the degree of disability and its impact on him in the future.

The Abu Dhabi Court for Family and Civil and Administrative Cases (first degree) obligated the company to pay the worker Dhs100,000 in compensation for the material and moral damages he incurred, in addition to the fees and expenses of the lawsuit.

The two parties appealed the verdict, where the worker affirmed that the compensation is not commensurate with the degree of the damage he incurred, as he lost his right hand, his work with the company, and the opportunity to get another job in the future, especially since he relies on his hands for work and does not have any other profession or trade.

He added that he supports a family consisting of his mother and son, and they have no other breadwinner.

The court asserted that the company's mistake resulted in damages for which compensation is due, indicating that the forensic's report affirmed the complete amputation of the right hand, causing permanent disability of 100% of the original capacity of the right hand.

The court then accepted the worker's appeal and rejected the company's and obligated it to pay him Dhs150,000 in addition to paying the fees and expenses of the two appeals.