Workplace Tragedy in Italy as Two More Workers Lose Lives

Rome: Italy’s long spate of accidental workplace deaths continued with two more worker deaths Monday afternoon and night.

According to Ansa News Agency, a quarry worker died after being submerged by a landslide that swept away the excavator he was riding on. The tragedy occurred Monday afternoon at a company located in the Fonte Lepre district of Corridonia, in the province of Macerata.

Firefighters responded immediately to try to extract the body. However, operations lasted approximately 10 hours before the man’s body could be extracted. The other fatal accident occurred in the Catania area.

Tuesday night, a 57-year-old Tunisian worker died at the Cannizzaro Hospital in Catania. He was seriously injured after falling from a height of approximately four meters. Workplace deaths are a major problem in Italy and Premier Giorgia Meloni’s government has said boosting health and safety is a priority.

Work-related deaths in Italy rose by one last year to 1,202, workplace accident and occupation illness insurance agency INAIL said in its annual report in July. At recent labour protests, trade unions have said three workers currently die each day in Italy.