A ship mechanic tragically died after jumping overboard in an agitated state during a scheduled break, an incident witnessed by his colleagues.
Initially, the company classified the event as not work-related, citing that it occurred during non-working hours. Consequently, the widow and her minor children were denied survivor’s benefits.
The widow challenged this decision in court, arguing that the employer had violated labor laws by failing to conduct mandatory psychiatric evaluations and on-the-job training for the employee. She also contended that the ship’s captain, observing the employee’s distressed state, failed to isolate him, which contributed to the tragic outcome.
The courts sided with the plaintiff, ordering the company to pay compensation based on the following findings:
- The Labor Code mandates employers to ensure safe working conditions and protection for their employees.
- In the event of an employee’s death due to a work-related accident, the employer is obligated to provide compensation to the family members.
- The employee was permitted to work without the required psychiatric evaluation and on-the-job training, which, given the circumstances, was directly linked to the incident and influenced it.
- The accident investigation commission improperly classified the incident as non-work-related. Furthermore, the act of suicide, including under the influence of psychotropic substances, was not definitively proven.
- The incident occurred on a ship, which is a source of increased danger. Although the employee was on an inter-shift break at the time, the employer’s failure to comply with psychiatric evaluation and training requirements contributed significantly to the event.
