Italy faces surge in workplace accidents and fatalities

Italy is facing a wave of workplace accidents and fatalities that have prompted calls for urgent safety reforms. In Ancona, five workers were hospitalized after inhaling toxic substances, including carbon monoxide, during a building renovation. Two workers were found unconscious and required rescue by firefighters using winches.

In Mazara del Vallo, 55-year-old worker Marcello Erbini died after falling from a tanker at a winery. His death has sparked intense criticism from local officials and unions, who demand stricter inspections and better prevention in the agri-food sector.

Other recent incidents include a worker dying from a sudden illness at a construction site in Viterbo and a serious injury at the Gioia Tauro port involving a straddle carrier. Amedeo Bozzer, president of Anmil, described these recurring tragedies as a “national emergency,” arguing that safety measures often remain only on paper and that responsibility must be clearly established to protect vulnerable workers.