AN IMMIGRANT worker who was dismissed after a pile of recycled timber caught fire at a Co Wicklow flooring company has been awarded over €19,000 by an Employment Appeals Tribunal.
The tribunal found that Valeriu Chirtoaca, Deerpark Court, Blessington, Co Wicklow was unfairly dismissed by Stresslite Floors of Hempstown, Blessington.
In a determination issued yesterday the tribunal said there was no proper system of warnings or interviews in existence in the company. Nor was there a contract of employment of any description and such attempts as were made by the company to investigate the fire were "totally inadequate".
Mr Chirtoaca, who denied he had started the fire, said the company had handed him a letter to the effect that he would have to pay the company €30,000.
This represented €15,000 for the timber and €15,000 for the fire brigade.
The company's foreman told the tribunal Mr Chirtoaca had been given a written warning about not wearing protective equipment two weeks before the fire on May 28 last.
A forklift driver had told him a fire brigade was in the yard dealing with a fire involving recycled timber that was to be reused.
He said he asked Mr Chirtoaca what had happened and he told him he did not know.
When he asked him a second time, he said Mr Chirtoaca told him he had been smoking and he had flicked the cigarette on top of the timber.
Mr Chirtoaca, who gave evidence through an interpreter, said he had been on a tea break in the canteen and when he returned the fire was in progress.
Mr Chirtoaca said he had told the foreman a cigarette could not have started the fire as the timber had been there for two years.
He said the foreman told him to "f*** off" and sent him home.
The company said the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) had been consulted and correct procedures were used to dismiss Mr Chirtoaca.
The tribunal awarded Mr Chirtoaca €16,000 for unfair dismissal and €3,200 as compensation in lieu of notice.