After the drama at the Hallein pulp mill in June 2021, the ex-boss and the company itself have now been found guilty and fined.
“It could have been prevented,” explains prosecutor Christoph Wancata, referring to the death of a worker (54) in the pulp mill of the AustroCel company in Hallein – an accident that occurred on June 2, 2021. The ex-boss (60) and three senior engineers had to explain why the company was using pipe that was far too thin and whistled for conditions.
Only the ex-boss admitted partial guilt
At that moment the gas pipe had exploded. Sulfur dioxide at a temperature of 147 degrees Celsius killed the workers who had worked there for decades. “We knew about the potential danger,” the director said at the time, pleading partially guilty. However, the technicians protested their innocence. Despite spending millions on security, a regulation on the supervision of pressure equipment was ignored: the Public Prosecution Service therefore speaks of gross negligence.
In the end, only the ex-boss and the company were guilty of the Association Responsibility Act: the ex-boss was fined 8,400 euros for negligent homicide. The company, represented by lawyer Lukas Kollmann, must pay 150,000 euros. The engineers were acquitted, defended by Salzburg lawyer Kurt Jelinek, among others. The judgments are not final.
Source: Krone
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