CAMPI BISENZIO. Another death at work, this time in one of the companies symbolic of the fight for safety in the workplace.
The victim
A 61-year-old man, Kumara Gedera, originally from Sri Lanka and residing in Prato, lost his life. He is the fourth person to die at work in less than 48 hours in Italy, the second in Tuscany: on Thursday in Reggio Calabria a man in his forties was struck by an electric shock while installing lights; also on Thursday in Pistoia a 24-year-old felt unwell after the last delivery for a butcher shop, while on Friday in Modena a 60-year-old bricklayer was crushed by a forklift.
The reconstruction
According to an initial reconstruction, Gedera was on the forklift in the company yard when he got off for reasons to be clarified and was crushed by the overturning of a pallet adjacent to the forklift. The alarm was raised around midnight. Rescuers, Asl operators from Pisll (Prevention, hygiene and safety in workplaces) and the Carabinieri of Campi Bisenzio arrived on the scene. The worker reportedly died about half an hour after the arrival of the emergency services despite resuscitation attempts.
Kumara Gedera was married and had two children. On social media, colleagues and friends remember him for his kindness and politeness. The fatal accident occurred right in that company, Capp Plast of Campi Bisenzio, so committed to promoting workplace safety.
The company
“We are shocked by the tragedy that occurred – reads a statement from the company management –. Investigations are underway by the judicial authorities to reconstruct the dynamics of the accident: at the moment it is not possible to add anything else. Now we can only stand by the family, their loved ones and all the colleagues who shared the professional and human journey with him. A man who had been working with us for a long time, who was an integral part of our staff. We want to remember him for his commitment, professionalism and the contribution he offered every day with dedication.”
Capp Plast also recalls that “in 66 years of activity nothing like this had ever happened. A tragedy even harder to accept because we have always been at the forefront of courses and training for workplace safety: once a year we close the plants in Prato and Capalle to give everyone the opportunity to participate in Safety Day.”
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The Capalle company, a European leader in the production and regeneration of flexible packaging, containers and bottles, in April during Safety Day – the day for the prevention of workplace accidents – stopped production for an entire day, allowing the 85 employees to participate in the focus on prevention and safety.
The unions and reactions
“We ask for clarity on the dynamics of the event,” reiterate in a statement Cgil Florence and Filctem Cgil Florence, expressing deep condolences for the death of the worker: “We cannot resign ourselves to considering accidents and deaths at work as a tragic fatality. One must live from work, not die. Every death at work represents a defeat for everyone and reminds us how much still needs to be done in terms of prevention and safety. We always say in general that more controls, more prevention, more training and greater attention to work organization and the risks present in every activity are needed. Safety can never be subordinated to production times or considered a cost.”
The Archbishop of Florence, Monsignor Gherardo Gambelli, also intervened: “Together with the entire Florentine Church we pray for him, for the consolation of his loved ones to whom we express closeness and condolences. The tears and pain for the death of yet another worker should be a warning to everyone to consider the protection of life as the absolute value, and to commit to ensuring that the safety of those who every day strive to live a dignified life and support their family is guaranteed everywhere in every way.”
The regional presidency of the Christian Workers Movement of Tuscany concludes: “From January 1 to today Tuscany records 29 fatal accidents. A very heavy and unacceptable figure on which all institutions and competent bodies, without exception, should conduct a conscience examination and ask themselves if they are really doing everything possible and necessary in terms of safety, prevention and controls.”
Finally, the mayor of Campi Bisenzio, Andrea Tagliaferri, anticipating yesterday, August 8, the moment of gathering this morning at 9 at the company to express the pain and closeness of the entire community: “Every life lost forces us to do more, so that no one has to leave home to go to work without the certainty of being able to return. Dying at work cannot and must not be considered an inevitable fact. We go to work to live, not to die. Today, August 8, also marks the anniversary of the Marcinelle tragedy, in which 262 miners lost their lives, 136 of them Italians. The municipal administration – assures – will follow the developments of the ongoing investigations, certain that the causes of the event must be fully clarified.”
