Erik Schack seeks legislative change in Copenhagen for compensation after workplace injury in Denmark

Erik Schack faces significant challenges due to paralysis on the left side of his body, resulting in difficulties with mobility. As a consequence, he relies on home care and is now a disability pensioner. A severe brain injury from a workplace accident a decade ago has left him waiting for compensation, prompting him to travel to Copenhagen in hopes of influencing legislative changes.

“I hope we can break through to Parliament so they can understand the toll this situation takes on both me and my family,” Schack expressed. Currently, he is in conflict with his local municipality over the provision of an electric wheelchair equipped with a joystick.

To grasp Schack’s situation, one must look back to August 4, 2014, when he was performing his duties as an emergency responder for a rescue operation involving a fishing vessel. Tragically, two fishermen died due to toxic fumes from decaying fish, and Schack suffered a stroke, resulting in a 19-day coma.

It took seven years for the court to declare his condition a workplace injury, yet more than a decade later, he is still without any compensation. His insurance company, Tryg, is currently in litigation with the National Social Appeals Board, pushing the case back to its origins in the legal system.

Accompanying Schack on his trip are representatives from his union, 3F Midtvendsyssel, who will meet with the Employment Committee to advocate for reducing the lengthy process of handling workplace injury claims.

The aim is to ensure that no individual should wait over ten years for compensation. Schack believes that timely compensation could have significantly improved his life, allowing him to avoid selling his home and access necessary rehabilitation services. As he continues to face challenges, Schack is hopeful that lawmakers will take their plight seriously and enact reforms to expedite such cases.