Alam Jahangir v Mega Metal Pte Ltd: Negligence, Contributory Negligence, and Employer's Duty of Care in Workplace Injury
In Alam Jahangir v Mega Metal Pte Ltd [2018] SGHC 198, the High Court of Singapore addressed a negligence claim by Alam Jahangir against his employer, Mega Metal Pte Ltd, for injuries sustained while operating a metal recycling machine. The court, presided over by Choo Han Teck J, found Mega Metal liable for breaching its duty of care by not providing sufficient safety measures. However, the court also found Alam Jahangir 50% contributorily negligent for his actions. The court dismissed Mega Metal's counterclaim for reimbursement of medical expenses, accounting for the apportionment of damages.
1. Case Overview
1.1 Court
High Court1.2 Outcome
Judgment for Plaintiff; damages apportioned with Plaintiff found 50% contributorily negligent; Defendant's counterclaim dismissed.
1.3 Case Type
Civil
1.4 Judgment Type
Grounds of Decision
1.5 Jurisdiction
Singapore
1.6 Description
The High Court held Mega Metal liable for negligence but found Alam Jahangir 50% contributorily negligent for a workplace injury involving a metal recycling machine.
1.7 Decision Date
2. Parties and Outcomes
| Party Name | Role | Type | Outcome | Outcome Type | Counsels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alam Jahangir | Plaintiff, Defendant in Counterclaim | Individual | Judgment for Plaintiff | Partial | Namasivayam Srinivasan |
| Mega Metal Pte Ltd | Defendant, Plaintiff in Counterclaim | Corporation | Counterclaim Dismissed | Dismissed | Ramasamy s/o Karuppan Chettiar, Simone B Chettiar |
3. Judges
| Judge Name | Title | Delivered Judgment |
|---|---|---|
| Choo Han Teck | Judge | Yes |
4. Counsels
| Counsel Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Namasivayam Srinivasan | Hoh Law Corporation |
| Ramasamy s/o Karuppan Chettiar | Central Chambers Law Corporation |
| Simone B Chettiar | Central Chambers Law Corporation |
4. Facts
- The plaintiff, Alam Jahangir, was employed by the defendant, Mega Metal Pte Ltd, as a metal melter, caster, and rolling mill operator.
- On 16 May 2016, the plaintiff was injured while operating a machine that separated aluminum cans from other metal cans.
- The plaintiff attempted to dislodge a stuck can with his hand while the machine was running, resulting in his arm being caught in the rollers.
- The machine lacked sufficient fencing to prevent workers from reaching into the rollers.
- The plaintiff was an experienced worker and trainer of new workers on the machine.
- The power-off switch was within arm's reach of the plaintiff.
5. Formal Citations
- Alam Jahangir v Mega Metal Pte Ltd, Suit No 388 of 2017, [2018] SGHC 198
6. Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Alam Jahangir came to Singapore to work as a construction worker. | |
| Alam Jahangir began employment with Mega Metal Pte Ltd. | |
| Mega Metal Pte Ltd acquired the machine. | |
| Accident occurred at Mega Metal Pte Ltd's premises. | |
| Alam Jahangir was sent to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for emergency treatment. | |
| Alam Jahangir was discharged from National University Hospital. | |
| Alam Jahangir underwent a secondary wrist fusion surgery. | |
| Suit No 388 of 2017 filed in the High Court of Singapore. | |
| Hearing date. | |
| Hearing date. | |
| Hearing date. | |
| Judgment delivered by Choo Han Teck J. |
7. Legal Issues
- Negligence
- Outcome: The court found the defendant liable for negligence.
- Category: Substantive
- Sub-Issues:
- Breach of duty of care
- Causation
- Damages
- Contributory Negligence
- Outcome: The court found the plaintiff 50% contributorily negligent.
- Category: Substantive
- Breach of Duty of Care
- Outcome: The court found that the defendant breached its duty of care to the plaintiff by not having sufficient fencing to stop workers reaching into the rollers.
- Category: Substantive
8. Remedies Sought
- Monetary Damages
9. Cause of Actions
- Negligence
- Breach of Duty of Care
10. Practice Areas
- Personal Injury
- Workplace Injury
11. Industries
- Metal Recycling
12. Cited Cases
| Case Name | Court | Affirmed | Citation | Jurisdiction | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No cited cases | |||||
13. Applicable Rules
| Rule Name |
|---|
| No applicable rules |
14. Applicable Statutes
| Statute Name | Jurisdiction |
|---|---|
| No applicable statutes | |
15. Key Terms and Keywords
15.1 Key Terms
- Contributory negligence
- Duty of care
- Workplace injury
- Metal recycling machine
- Apportionment of damages
- Nip points
- Metal melter
- Caster
- Rolling mill operator
15.2 Keywords
- negligence
- contributory negligence
- workplace injury
- metal recycling
- duty of care
16. Subjects
- Tort Law
- Employment Law
- Workplace Safety
- Negligence
17. Areas of Law
- Tort
- Negligence
- Contributory Negligence
- Employment Law