Lifted a bag and injured his back — how much will Bituah Leumi pay

The Be'er Sheva Labor Court recognized the back injury of a Soroka hospital employee as work-related and ordered Bituah Leumi to pay 4,000 shekels in legal costs. The employee, a warehouse team leader and cleaner, was injured in 2023 while lifting laundry bags. Bituah Leumi objected, but the court found the worker's version credible, supported by the supervisor's testimony and medical documents. Further health status and case developments remain to be determined.

The Be'er Sheva Labor Court recognized the back injury of a Soroka hospital employee as work-related and ordered the National Insurance Institute of Israel (Bituah Leumi) to pay 4,000 shekels in legal costs. The employee, who works as a warehouse team leader and also as a cleaner, was loading laundry bags onto a service cart during a shift in 2023. He needed to lift a third bag from a height of about 30 centimeters to about 150 centimeters, and during the lift he felt a sharp 'blow' in his back. Bituah Leumi objected to recognizing the case as a work injury, arguing that the incident occurred within the scope of regular work. The court found the worker's version credible, supported by the supervisor's testimony and medical documents. The court noted that performing the bag lift within regular duties does not in itself preclude recognizing the injury as work-related. The act of lifting the bag can be considered an external factor that led to the damage. The employee's health condition and further case developments remain to be determined; before appointing a medical expert, the court requested Bituah Leumi's position.