By Bon Peters
Indorama, Petrochemicals Limited, Eleme, Rivers state says its commitment to workplace safety is unwavering.
This was disclosed during a Media briefing on Friday at the company’s head office in Eleme Rivers state by the Head of corporate Communications of the organization, Dr Jossy Nkwocha to refute an alleged negligence by one Mr David Diepreye, an injured site worker of one of its contractors.
The accident victim our Correspondent learnt, was working for SPEO Nig. Limited, a service contractor to Indorama Fertilizer Limited before the said accident.
Nkwocha admitted that an accident had occurred on the 23rd of December 2020 involving Diepreye, a Masher employed by SPEO Nig. Ltd and deployed to Indorama loading bay.
He said the victim during the accident sustained injury on both legs.
The Company’s Spokesperson, Nkwocha noted that Indorama was the first responder to the incident as it administered necessary first aid to the victim at the company’s clinic from where he was transferred to Rehoboth Medical Hospital an SPEO retainer hospital where he was given arthopedic treatment.
He also added that at the time of the accident, SPEO was not registered with the National Social Insurance Trust Fund and as such was not covered by the Employee Compensation Act which also deprived the victim of accessing accruable benefits of workplace accidents.
“Consequently, on compassionate grounds, Indorama took over the victim’s medical bills and also ensured that he remained on its payroll till date, and his salary has been paid up to date,” Nkwocha said.
He further explained that the victim continued taking treatment as an outpatient after over two years of receiving corrective surgery cosponsored by his direct employer (SPEO) and Indorama.
Speaking further, Nkwocha however, revealed that the victim had instituted a lawsuit against his parent company (SPEO) and Indorama demanding further medical attention valued at N8M and a five hundred thousand naira legal fee.
He stated that further investigation with the Claimant’s lawyer, SPEO, and the University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) which was expected to handle the corrective surgery revealed that the cost implications of the surgery were N1.9M.
According to him, dissatisfied with the process chosen for his surgery, the victim resorted to allegations and maligning Indorama’s reputation even when he was not a direct employee.
He, on behalf of the company, expressed surprise over an attempt by the victim to extort Indorama using the Industrial Court, praying the court to compel SPEO and Indorama to pay a compensation of N12M out of court settlement.
Our Correspondent reports that Diepreye had accused Indorama of neglect in his medical battle from a workplace accident.
