Dramatic construction site accident: Construction workers falls into death 30 meters

Dramatic construction site accident: Construction workers falls into death 30 meters

Gänserndorf, Niederösterreich, Österreich - A dramatic work accident occurred on Friday morning on a construction site in the Gänserndorf district, Lower Austria. A 49-year-old Slovak construction worker fell from a lifting platform and still succumbed to his serious injuries at the scene of the accident. The crash took place from a height of around 30 meters. Despite the immediate attempts to rescue, the worker could no longer be helped. The labor inspectorate was immediately informed about the incident and will examine the exact circumstances of the accident.

causes of the accident and security aspects

accidents when using aerial work platforms are common. The operator of the lifting platform could possibly have fallen victim to one of the most common risk factors: misconduct in the event of operation and use. According to a new info portal, which was published by the BGHW in cooperation with several institutions, the dangers are pointed out when dealing with mobile liable work platforms. Critics from the work basket are particularly critical, which are often caused by surviving or exceeding the railing.

The info portal contains around 60 theme pages, 170 image materials and 70 videos, which in particular should inform those responsible in companies about the risks. It is recommended to thoroughly check the traffic routes before use and to use personal protective equipment against crash.

statistics and trends in the construction industry

The tragic incident is part of a major problem. Every year there are over 700,000 accidents of work in Germany, of which the construction industry has one of the highest rates of fatal accidents. In 2021, for example, 56 accidents of work were registered per 1,000 employees, which means a probability of 5.6 % for one work accident per year. On average, there are over 320 accidents on construction sites every day, with every fourth week a fatal incident reported.

According to statistics, crashes are the most common cause of fatal work accidents that make up 43 % of all fatalities on construction sites. The most common injuries are bruises, sprains and bruises. Technical, organizational and personal measures are crucial to prevent such accidents. This also includes the provision of secure work equipment and the qualification of the staff, especially for dealing with dangerous machines.

The accident of the Slovak construction worker will not only be remembered as a tragic event, but also makes a highlight of the urgent need to improve security standards on construction sites and to take the dangers seriously when working.