Worker left disabled after forklift accident in Dubai receives damages

A warehouse worker who was left with permanent injuries when he was struck by a forklift has been awarded damages by a Dubai court.

The Ghanaian suffered irreparable damage to his hip and leg after the accident at his workplace in Jebel Ali in late 2019.

He had been sleeping on the floor when an Indian co-worker reversed over him.

The victim was awarded Dh200,000 in compensation after a hearing at the Dubai Civil Court.

A report by Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality found that the accident was the result of negligence on the part of the company, which makes industrial products such as lubricants and other fluids, as safety procedures were not followed.

Workers were allowed to rest and sleep in areas of the workplace that were frequently crossed by vehicles, with no proper barriers in place.

Additionally, the person driving the forklift was not properly qualified and there was poor supervision and a broader lack of training about safety procedures, the court heard.

The victim said it was 1pm when he went to rest in a corridor leading to the food court.

“I put a paper on the ground and slept. I was surprised when the forklift hit me,” the Ghanaian said, according to court records.

Prosecutors said there were no warning signs within the workplace.

The victim was left with 30 per cent disability, the court found, which is expected to negatively affect his work prospects and quality of life.