A mechanic employed on a vessel suffered a sudden mental breakdown during his off-duty hours, inexplicably jumping overboard in full view of his colleagues. Tragically, the man died as a result of this incident.
Initially, the company classified the event as a non-work-related accident, citing that it occurred outside official working hours. Consequently, the deceased’s wife was denied compensation for their minor children, who were left without a provider.
Disputing the company’s decision, the widow pursued legal action. She argued that the employer had violated labor laws by failing to provide the mechanic with a mandatory pre-employment psychiatric evaluation and proper workplace induction. Furthermore, she contended that the ship’s captain, despite witnessing the employee’s erratic state, failed to take appropriate measures to secure or assist him, which ultimately contributed to the fatal incident.
The courts sided with the plaintiff, upholding her claim for compensation based on several key findings:
- The Labor Code mandates employers to ensure safe working conditions and protect their employees.
- In the event of an employee’s death due to a workplace accident, the employer is obligated to pay compensation to the family members.
- The employee was permitted to work without the required psychiatric evaluation and workplace induction, deficiencies that, given the circumstances, were directly linked to and influenced the incident.
- The accident investigation commission improperly classified the incident as non-work-related. Crucially, there was no conclusive evidence to prove the employee committed suicide, nor that his actions were solely under the influence of psychotropic substances.
- The fatal incident occurred on a ship, an environment inherently classified as a source of increased danger. While the employee was on an off-shift break, the employer’s failure to adhere to psychiatric evaluation and induction requirements contributed significantly to the tragic event.