An accident at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, left one worker in a severe condition and led to industrial action.
The contract worker was trapped under fallen scaffolding during the construction of the cruise ship Mein Schiff Relax.
Injury Not Thought to be Life-Threatening
Trade unions at the shipyard called for a strike to highlight contract worker safety issues at the shipyard. Firefighters took 30 minutes to free the worker with the help of a mobile crane. He is in hospital in Trieste in a serious but non-life threatening condition.
The area around the accident is sealed off while an investigation is carried out. “Once again, the victim of the accident is a worker from a contracting company. Contract workers are the most exposed and most at risk,” the metalworkers’ trade unions said.
Unions Take Aim at Contractors’ Safety Record
Contract companies working on behalf of the shipyard have been accused of lax worker safety conditions for several years. The trade unions called for a one-day strike and urged Fincantieri to dismiss contractors disregarding safety protocols.
Low pay and poor training are among the issues that contract companies at the shipyard have been accused of in the past few years.
In 2018, a 19-year-old contract worker died at the shipyard after being crushed by a shipment.
The accident could be partly weather-related. The area around the shipyard is exposed to strong winds, reportedly around 60 mph, the day before the accident.
Fincantieri is a leading shipbuilder in Italy and has recently constructed cruise ships for Explore Journeys, Norwegian Cruise Line, Cunard Line, and Princess Cruises.
