Industrial court orders PHED to pay N20m in damages to electrocuted staff

Justice Muhammad Hamza of the National Industrial Court, Port Harcourt Division, has ordered the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Plc (PHED) to pay N20 million in general damages to Mr. Robert, a staff member who suffered severe electrocution while on duty, leading to permanent disfigurement, trauma, and long-term discomfort.

In addition, the court awarded N500,000 as the cost of action, to be paid within one month.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Hamza declared that PHED breached its duty of care towards Mr. Robert, an action that directly led to his life-threatening workplace accident and resulting permanent injury.

The court further criticized the company’s conduct as “disturbing and insensitive” for issuing a query to Mr. Robert while he was still hospitalized and recovering from the electrocution.

According to court documents, Mr. Robert had been employed by PHED on a temporary basis for over two years without confirmation of permanent status. He told the court that the near-fatal incident occurred due to a superior officer's negligence, and that despite his critical condition, PHED showed a lack of concern for his welfare.

Mr. Robert claimed that although the company eventually paid N2 million, an amount borrowed by his father to fund emergency medical treatment, PHED failed to fulfill additional promises and terminated his employment while he was still bedridden.

In its defence, PHED denied any wrongdoing, asserting that it had met its duty of care. The company alleged that Mr. Robert was responsible for the accident due to his failure to use essential safety equipment, including a temporary grounding device and safety belt.

Justice Hamza, however, ruled in favor of the claimant, citing the company's negligence and poor handling of the incident.