ArcelorMittal has to pay compensation of 330,000 euros to the employee who becomes blind in the event of an industrial accident (inland)
© Reuters
Steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal was sentenced by the Ghent court on Wednesday to pay a compensation of 330,000 euros. An employee was blindly in the event of an accident in the Ghent company.
The victim, a Portuguese man, worked in 2016 via a subcontractor at Staalreus ArcelorMittal, in the port of Ghent. He accidentally got a jet of hydraulic oil in the eyes and therefore became blind. Before that industrial accident, the steel manufacturer was ordered in a process. Subsequently, legal proceedings were filed on the compensation.
At the session of March, lawyers explained the impact of the work accident on the life of the man, from physical to domestic incapacity. « From one day to the next, Mr. has become blind. He can no longer see his partner. He can no longer move independently. Every day it is difficult to live. »
The victim therefore requested an allowance of 700,000 euros. « The insurance also paid an amount of 110,000 euros at the beginning of this year, » the lawyers also indicated.
« Tragic facts »
Evelien van Poucke, the lawyer of ArcelorMittal, agreed the « tragic » facts. « Sir has become blind because of what happened there and he must be reimbursed for that. »
But according to the company, the compensation was a bit lower. « At a few points there is a dispute, such as the reimbursement for administration costs and the legal costs. »
The Ghent court eventually limited the compensation at 330,000 euros. « That amount is still increased by interest, » the judge indicated on Wednesday. The court also pointed out that the man was already partly reimbursed by the accident insurance.
