Jason Andrew Smith (41), who worked for Jersey Monumental Company Ltd, claims that at times he was required to lift and work with headstones and monuments that ‘could weigh in excess of 400 kg’ sometimes with just one other member of staff or on his own if colleagues were absent.
In papers submitted to the Royal Court, Mr Smith claims that he began to suffer back pain in 2008.
He also said that in 2013 he was signed off work after he ‘felt something give’ in his back while lifting a kerb weighing more than 100 kg.
The papers state: ‘The plaintiff’s daily work involved manual handling of some description and he would be frequently required to lift and manoeuvre weights in excess of the safe limit.’
In papers responding to Mr Smith’s allegations, Jersey Monumental Company Limited says that headstones typically weigh between 50 kg and 400 kg and that the plaintiff had access to a flatbed lorry, forklift truck and other specialist equipment to aid with lifting headstones and monuments.
The company also claim that the plaintiff was never required to take the full weight of the monuments without mechanical aids or the help of other workers. Jersey Monumental admit that Mr Smith had two days off work in 2013 ‘reportedly for a back injury’ but say no incident was ever reported.
Mr Smith is claiming for damages and says the defendant’s breach of duty caused injury to his back and psychological injuries.
The case continues.
