300,000 Shekels: Compensation for Furniture Giant Employee

The Haifa Magistrate's Court ordered the furniture company 'Keter' to compensate a maintenance worker whose finger was severed in a workplace accident in January 2022, after another employee operated a machine without coordination. The court awarded 245,000 shekels in damages and an additional 50,000 shekels in expenses, while determining 15% contributory negligence on the part of the worker.

The Haifa Magistrate's Court ordered the furniture company 'Keter' to compensate a maintenance worker whose finger was severed in a workplace accident in January 2022. The worker, now 35, had been employed at the company for about ten years. During a shift, he inserted his hand into a machine to retrieve a stuck product, and at that moment another employee activated the machine without coordination. As a result, his ring finger was crushed and partially severed. The National Insurance Institute recognized the incident as a work accident and determined a disability rating. The judge, Majeda Jubran Marcos, rejected the company's claim of the worker's sole responsibility, ruling that the primary responsibility lies with the employer due to lack of coordination. However, the plaintiff was assigned 15% contributory negligence due to his experience. Court experts determined a medical disability, but the judge set the loss of earning capacity at only 8%, as the psychological disability has no significant functional impact. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the court ruled that 'Keter' would pay 245,000 shekels for loss of wages, assistance from others, and additional damages, as well as 50,000 shekels in attorney fees and reimbursement of legal expenses. The worker was represented by attorney Amer Ghanam, and the company by attorney Erez Bloch.