A struggle for recognition: Friedhelm's tragic story at VW

A struggle for recognition: Friedhelm's tragic story at VW

In a sad but significant development, the case of a former VW employee in Kassel has triggered a wave of discussions about working conditions and employee rights. The tragic loss of Friedhelm, who worked for almost three decades in the foundry of the Volkswagenwerk, not only raises questions about security at the workplace, but also illustrates the challenges for affected workers.

The importance of occupational diseases

Friedhelm, which has been in direct contact with potentially dangerous materials for many years, was diagnosed with cancer in 2003, which puts the health risks of certain professions in the spotlight. It is particularly noteworthy that his heat shoes contained asbestos fibers that are the main cause of his illness. This discovery leads to a demand for more protection for workers, especially in industries in which dangerous materials are used.

The struggle for recognition of a professional disease

Friedhelm's disease led to a long and difficult legal dispute with the professional association, which at the beginning did not recognize its illness as an occupational disease. Despite the medical report, the BG saw no clear connection between its work in the foundry and its illness. This shows how important comprehensive documentation and traceability of working conditions and health states is in order to avoid such struggles for future employees.

The role of women and the community struggle

After Friedhelm's death in 2010, his wife continued the struggle for the recognition of his illness. Your tireless commitment and determination are an example of cohesion in the community and the support that relatives can offer. She took various legal steps in hand and committed lawyers to support her husband and other affected people, which in turn encourages many to fight for their rights in similar situations.

VW and the changes in occupational safety

Volkswagen itself has not commented on the case directly, but emphasizes the high priority that is attached to the health of employees. It is important to note that working conditions in the 70s and 80s were very different from today, which stimulates us to appreciate the progress in occupational safety, but also to recognize responsibility to continue to urge improvements.

New research and the future

in 2024, many years after Friedhelm's death, it was finally recognized that his illness was actually related to working in the foundry, which is also due to new scientific knowledge. This could possibly lead to similar demands from other former employees, which could pave the way for changes in dealing with occupational diseases.

The case of Friedhelm is not only a personal tragedy, but also a call to awareness of the rights of employees and the need for suitable safety precautions. It is due to society to learn from such cases and to ensure that future generations can work in a secure and recognized work environment.

- Nag