Three workers dead after dramatic gondola in Horber Neckartal!

Three workers dead after dramatic gondola in Horber Neckartal!

On Tuesday, May 21, 2025, a tragic misfortune occurred at 12:30 p.m. on a bridge construction site in the Horber Neckartal, in which three workers died. These terrible events were observed by Irina Laiker, the landlady of the “Da 'Lucio” restaurant. She reported a loud crash and the screams of the victims, who crashed from a gondola that was attached to a crane. According to the rescue workers, they could only determine the death of the men who had already died.

The gondola had fallen from great altitude after the steel rope was torn. It remains unclear whether an overload of the gondola has led to the accident with three workers, which is why the public prosecutor is now investigating. The police ask eyewitnesses and employees of the construction site to clarify the exact course of the accident. The exact age range of the victims is unknown, but they were both middle -aged.

consequences of the accident

The construction site remains closed until further notice without information about the duration of the closure. Emergency pastors are on site to look after eyewitnesses and survivors. Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder described the incident as a "terrible accident". In a joint statement, Transport Minister Winfried Hermann and Mayor Peter Rosenberger also commented on and described the incident as one of the most serious work accidents on a road construction site in Baden-Württemberg.

The tragic incident once again throws a light on the security situation on construction sites. According to the Deutsche Handwerks-Zeitung , the accident frequency on construction sites is twice as high as at other workplaces. Incorrect on construction sites often lead to more severe consequences. The sources of danger are versatile, including due to the constant changes in the work environment, the high physical stress and unpredictable weather influences.

statistics and safety regulations

Statistical surveys show that an average of around 118,000 accidents of work occurs on construction sites annually, which corresponds to over 320 accidents per day. It is particularly worrying that the construction industry is the highest rate of fatal accidents, with every seventh work accident happening there. Over 85 such fatal accidents per year are documented, which means that every four days a person dies in the construction industry, as the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports.

In order to improve security on construction sites, basic work and protective measures must be observed. This includes regulations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Workplace Ordinance and the Construction Service Ordinance. These regulate, among other things, the risk assessment and the necessary security measures. Responsibilities such as architects and construction managers must ensure that all security standards are observed.

Since construction sites represent a high risk of accidents, particularly effective occupational safety is of great importance. Technical, organizational and personal measures should be taken to avoid accidents. These include instructions on hazard areas, the provision of secure work equipment and the use of personal protective equipment (PSA).