Pretoria - A machine operator who worked at a Rosslyn company which manufactures, among others, motor parts, is claiming R2.8 million from his former employer after he lost four fingers on his right hand when it was crushed in a pressing machine.
Vincent Moleya, 25, is blaming his former employer - Praga Technical Ltd - for his misfortune. But the company said he only has himself to blame for the accident.
Moleya and six other workers at this factory - who lost their fingers, allegedly while working with the pressing machines - have instituted damages claims against the company. Four of the machine operators have already issued summons, while two more are in the process of doing so. Each operator is launching his own application. These will be heard independently, as each case is based on different incidents.
Moleya’s case was due to start in the High Court in Pretoria on Monday, but it had to be postponed to a date still to be determined. This is because the trial is expected to now run much longer than anticipated and a judge will specially have to be allocated to deal with the matter.
Moleya’s hand was smashed when a metal sheet presser came down on it on August 12, 2013.
He said his employer was negligent for failing to have adequate safety measures in place to prevent such incidents. There should have been warning signs close to the press machine to explain the dangers in operating the machine. The company also failed to adequately train the machine operators, he said.
As a result of his right hand being crushed in the machine, his ring, index and middle fingers, as well as his thumb, had to be amputated. Moleya said he is now disabled and not able to work.
He is claiming about R2m for loss of income, R500 000 for future medical expenses and R300 000 in general damages.
At the time of the incident he was employed by a labour broking company, which appointed him to work at the Rosslyn factory.
Denying liability, the factory said Moleya suffered the injuries due to his own negligence. He failed to adhere to the safety instructions and inserted his hand in the machine at a time when it was not safe to do so, it said.
It was claimed he was “horsing around” with a fellow worker, when he lost his balance and reached out for the machine to break a fall. The machine was already operating at the time and thus crushed his hand, the defendant said.
Several of the other machine operators who claimed they, too, were injured at this plant were in court to support Moleya. Most of them had several fingers missing.
Pretoria News