Bangkok: A customer at the Sai Mai Must Survive restaurant in Bangkok has filed a complaint following a serious incident where a jaew hon stove fell on him, resulting in severe scalding from hot water.
According to Thai News Agency, the victim, Mr. Toel, 34, reported that he was dining with family and friends at a well-known Isaan restaurant in the Ratchada-Sutthisan area on November 27th when the incident occurred. The restaurant staff had brought a damaged jaew hon pot to the table, and despite attempts to stabilize it, the pot overturned, causing boiling soup to pour onto Mr. Toel's leg, resulting in a second-degree burn.
The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the victim seated at a long table with others as the restaurant staff placed the jaew hon pot on an unstable stove. The footage revealed that the staff had attempted to secure the stove using folded paper under its stand. However, the makeshift solution failed, and as Mr. Toel began to eat, the stove toppled, causing the hot liquid to spill onto his right thigh. Despite attempts by staff and fellow diners to assist, the injury was significant.
Mr. Toel expressed his dissatisfaction with the restaurant's response, stating that no first aid was provided, and the staff simply offered a new pot of jaew hon without charging for it, which he refused. Initially, the restaurant indicated that they had accident insurance covering 100,000 baht and provided 20,000 baht for the first treatment, but further compensation discussions stalled.
The restaurant has since refused to pay additional compensation, directing Mr. Toel to liaise with their insurance agent. The insurance company has claimed that the incident resulted from joint negligence, asserting that the customer's handling of the food contributed to the accident. They further noted that as Mr. Toel is a full-time employee, he does not require further compensation.
Frustrated by the lack of resolution, Mr. Toel took to the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page to demand accountability from the restaurant for his injuries, lost opportunities, and the cancellation of personal plans due to ongoing medical treatment. He emphasized the need for restaurant safety and expressed disappointment in the establishment's response.
Mr. Ekkapop Lueangprasert, founder of the Sai Mai Must Survive Facebook page, addressed the incident publicly, urging similar businesses to ensure the stability and safety of their equipment to prevent such occurrences. He revealed plans to coordinate with local authorities for an inspection of the restaurant's compliance with safety standards and to facilitate a police report, given the severity of Mr. Toel's injuries.