The truck driver Johan had only worked for a week at the haulage company when he got the drive to Orrefors in June 2022.
After getting the wood loaded into the trailer, he and the truck driver from Södra who loaded him would sign the shipping slips. Both of them were standing a couple of meters from a six meter high stack of wood packages that fell on them. The truck driver died immediately, Johan survived.
Long healing process
The healing process has taken a long time. Johan’s pelvis was broken in three places, his femur was broken and his foot was crushed, among other things. To this day, it still hurts too much to walk long distances and he can’t work.
And also psychologically, it has been a difficult road back. The feeling of guilt that he survived is what has been the most difficult to process, says Johan.
– I know it wasn’t my fault, but you still feel guilty. One could have thought more about safety, not to go near wood that is stacked.
Södra was fined
The police investigation determined that it was flaws in the way the timber packages were stacked that caused the accident, and flaws in the employer Södra’s work environment routines, and they were sentenced to a corporate fine of SEK 14 million.
However, those affected in the accident do not receive any compensation, which is the practice in workplace accidents in Sweden. Instead, the victim must be reimbursed by insurance.
Did not receive compensation from the insurance
But a year and a half after the accident, Johan has still not received any large sums from the insurance.
Nothing from their own private health insurance, and smaller sums from the workers’ compensation insurance for loss of income during sick leave.
He is still waiting for compensation from his employer’s insurance company and is now forced to live on savings.
– I think it feels unfair that the state gets 14 million but those affected get nothing, he says.