Juan Jimenez: BPK Property Services cleaner ‘abandoned’ by employer after shocking workplace accident
A young man says he has been “abandoned” by his boss after a horrific work accident left him with crippling injuries and debt.
South East
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A Narre Warren cleaner claims he has been “abandoned” by his employer after a freak work accident left him with a severe brain injury and mounting debt.
Student Juan Jimenez, 25, is at constant risk of suffering an epileptic fit and has been barred by doctors from working for a year after a faulty floor strip and seal machine he was driving malfunctioned and slammed into a concrete wall at Southbank’s Wrap Hotel on December 17.
Mr Jimenez told the Leader he had contacted employer BPK Property Services about the machine’s faulty brakes in the days before the incident, however it was not fixed and he was cleared to continue driving.
The Colombian national, who came to Australia on a student Visa for a new life with wife Vanessa in November 2019, was thrown into the wall and suffered a fractured skull, arm and thumb.
Mr Jimenez required a three-hour surgery to clear a bleed on his brain and was put into a coma for 10 days at The Alfred hospital.
He remained at the hospital for five weeks and now requires tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of ongoing treatment with a neurologist, psychologist and physiotherapist as he battles crippling pain.
“I’m in pain all day with headaches …(the pressure) gets worse when I become sad or angry,” Mr Jimenez told the Leader.
“I struggle to control my emotions … I haven’t been the same since. In the hospital I felt like I was dead.”
Mr Jimenez said his insurance claim with Employers Mutual Limited — which was rejected on January 27 on the grounds he was not a deemed worker — was knocked back because his employer told the company he was a contractor and not a part-time employee.
“My employer told me to contact StudentCover and not WorkCover … I haven’t heard from them since December,” Mr Jimenez said.
“(Referencing) the figure my employer used to pay me, they said that I was a contractor.”
The English and German student, who had worked for the business since June last year and stopped after the accident, is now being forced to relocate to a smaller share house with his wife as he faces mounting medical bills and unemployment.
Mr Jimenez’s wife has taken on more work as cleaner to support the couple, with friends and family contributing to help via a GoFundMe fundraiser which has raised more than $8500 in donations.
Mr Jimenez said he had engaged with a lawyer and was preparing to make an appeal to receive WorkCover support.
“I fled corruption in Colombia and I want to stay in Australia … I love this country and I don’t give up easily,” Mr Jimenez said.
“I was trying to find the right way, making improvements with my language and starting something new.
“When something like this happens it changes your life completely.”
BPK Property Services was contacted for comment.
To donate to Mr Jimenez’s medical fund, click here.
