Charges against six men after fatal construction accident in Leimen!

Charges against six men after fatal construction accident in Leimen!

The tragedy on the construction site in Leimen casts a shadow over the entire industry. In November 2023 there was a terrible accident in which a 21-year-old archeology student died. He was working in a historic vaulted cellar during archaeological excavations for the large-scale “Treffpunkt Leimen” project, which also includes an underground car park, when the accident occurred. Loud SWR The student, who came from the Zollernalb district, was hit by falling stones from a height of around four meters and later died of his injuries in hospital.

The public prosecutor's office has now brought charges against six men, including the responsible architect and the construction manager who were responsible for compliance with the safety measures. In your opinion, there is sufficient evidence that breaches of duty of care have occurred. This claim is supported by a report prepared as part of the investigation. Work on the basement had already been going on for two weeks, and the excavation had progressed to such an extent that overhanging remains of the wall remained, which posed a significant risk of falling. Despite the ban on entering the vault, several people worked there.

Responsibility on construction sites

Construction sites in Germany are dangerous terrain. Although regulations exist to improve safety, reality shows that these are not always sufficiently observed. This is how she emphasizes Construction portal that every worker has a duty to cooperate in ensuring safety and health. Although this is not explicitly anchored in the BetrSichV, responsibility is assumed not only formally, but also through active organization. A bricklayer, acting in a “de facto kapo position,” gave instructions and was responsible for safety on the scaffolding, although this responsibility was not spelled out in a formal contract.

In the construction industry, working conditions are characterized by constant changes, unfavorable weather conditions and high time pressure. Loud BMAS The accident rate in the construction industry is particularly high - it reached its peak in 2018. In order to combat occupational accidents and illnesses more effectively, numerous legal regulations have been issued. This includes, among other things, the workplace regulations, which focus on safety and health protection.

As you can see, responsibility on construction sites doesn't take things by halves. It is important to both protect the employers' obligations and to increase workers' personal responsibility. The tragic case in Leimen shows where this leads, which will certainly resonate for a long time and raises the question: How safe are construction sites really?