Scaffolding Collapse Leaves Worker Trapped With Severe Injuries At Shipyard

A tragic event occurred at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy on January 19, 2024, when scaffolding collapsed while the company was building Mein Schiff Relax, a future ship for TUI Cruises. The event happened at around 8:30 a.m. and left a 25-year-old Bangladeshi worker trapped underneath the collapsed scaffolding with significant injuries.

The trapped worker sustained major chest injuries, and emergency response personnel, including the Monfalcone Fire Brigade and state police, arrived at the scene immediately. The problematic circumstances rescue workers have to cope with on a rainy and wet day can be seen in video footage taken at the accident scene. A diving team from Trieste was sent out, and the collapsed scaffolding was extensively examined for any possible casualties to ensure no other workers were injured or trapped. After being quickly taken to hospital facilities in Trieste, the injured worker is said to be in critical condition, with no imminent threat to his life.

The tragic incident has prompted an investigation into what caused the scaffolding to fall, and one possible contributing factor is the weather, specifically the strong winter gusts known as boras. Authorities have taken control of the entire disaster scene to investigate the event thoroughly and ascertain whether any safety procedures were broken. The investigation will determine details that have yet to be revealed, such as the scaffolding height, the number of workers present, and the project they were working on.

Trade unions that represent shipyard workers are calling for an emergency strike to raise awareness of safety concerns in response to the disaster, which raises concerns regarding safety procedures at the shipyard. The unions stress that contracting firms must guarantee the safety of their employees, noting earlier inquiries into labour abuses at the shipyard Monfalcone that brought to light issues with low pay and insufficient training. If the inquiry takes longer than expected, TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Relax, the largest ship in the fleet at 161,000 gross tons and a member of the InTUItion class may have delays in its planned maiden voyage in May 2025.

The incident highlights the inherent risks of ship construction despite strict safety standards and regulations. It is one of several recent incidents in the shipbuilding industry.

Reference: Cruise Hive

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