Apprentice falls on construction site when working: fire brigade in use!

Apprentice falls on construction site when working: fire brigade in use!

On May 19, 2025, around 3:10 p.m. in the Spittal/Drau district, a serious work accident occurred when a teenager fell from a roof. The young man was busy preparing roof tiles when he slipped and fell. In doing so, he contracted injuries of an indefinite degree and was flown to the Spittal hospital on the Drau in a critical condition. The Greifenburg volunteer fire brigade used a lift to rescue the accident from the roof, reports [Klick Kärnten] (https://www.klick-kaernten.at/1309922025/ apprentice-stuerzt-auf-baust-vom-dach/).

The incident once again throws a light on the risks associated with work on roofs. When it comes to security work on roofs, it is crucial to take preventive measures in order to avoid such accidents. According to information from Bauportal BG Bau, skylights made of plastics, which are usually used on roofs, are often not permanently fall-proof. It is particularly dangerous that such light plates are often more difficult to recognize and can therefore be an additional risk.

safety precautions on construction sites

According to the guidelines, only skylights with fall-proof glazing according to DIN 18008-6 must be considered safe. For all other skylights, fixed fall protection such as railings or grids should be set up. It is also recommended to use permanently installed overnight grilles when working on open skylights. If this is not possible, the use of mobile fall protection systems is used in accordance with EN 795, or personal protective equipment is necessary for crash on site.

accident statistics in the construction industry

A comprehensive problem in the construction industry is also visible through the current accident statistics. In 2022 there were a total of 99,380 reporting accidents in construction and building services, which represents a significant decline compared to 2021 with 103,525 accidents. This is the first year in which the number of reporting accidents in the construction industry has fallen under 100,000, reports [BG BAU Aktuell] (https://bgbauaktuell.bgbau.de/bg-bau-aktuell-32023/cuts statistics). The thousand-person quota is 45.51 in 2022 and shows that the decline in the accident frequency can be determined per 1,000 full-time employees.

The security measures on construction sites must be the focus of companies in order to prevent accidents such as the latest fall of an apprentice. The incidents remind you that compliance with safety precautions and the equipment of the workers are crucial for their protection.