The wife of a worker in England who killed himself because he couldn't bear the health effects of a workplace accident has failed in a bid to win compensation for his death, according to a report on personneltoday.com.

Thomas Corr was 31 when he severed most of his right ear at the Luton IBC car factory while working on the production line.

He subsequently suffered from headaches, tinnitus and post-traumatic stress disorder, which resulted in severe depression, and he took his own life in May 2002.

His wife, Eileen Corr, asked for 750,000 pounds (US$1,359,599) in damages because of the pain and suffering caused after the industrial accident.

IBC Vehicles admitted liability for the workplace accident, but denied that its responsibility extended to cover him taking his own life six years later.

Deputy judge Nigel Baker QC said that the company was in breach of its duty to take reasonable care to prevent injury to Mr Corr, however that duty did not extend to taking care to prevent his suicide.

“The damages sought to be recovered in relation to the suicide falls outside the scope of the defendant's duty of care,” said Baker.

Mrs. Corr was awarded 85,520 pounds (US$155,030), which is less than she was offered to settle out of court.

There are reportedly hundreds of work-related suicides in the UK each year that go unrecognized and uncompensated, said the report.