In July 2022, the 51-year-old ordered a risky repair of a thermal power plant, during which a colleague ultimately died a horrible death. He has now been convicted by the Innsbruck Regional Court.
It involved a particularly tragic industrial accident that took place last year at an industrial company in Tyrol. The shift leader (51) of a blast furnace had instructed a worker to weld a broken grate.
Formwork panels as protection against snails
“Instead of having industrial climbers remove the slag from the cooled furnace before the repair work began, the defendant simply placed so-called formwork plates in the furnace to protect the worker from falling slag,” the prosecutor said in the court in Innsbruck.
“I thought this security measure would last,” the 51-year-old said, contrite and visibly upset. But the planks did not hold up at the time: they buried the worker under them, who died of serious head injuries. “It could have hit me too, it was just a game of chance,” the Tyrolean said in a soft voice. “I’m sorry, but I can’t take it back.”
Gross negligence during the night shift
According to three witnesses, judge Martina Eberherr ultimately did not take into account the fact that he acted carelessly during the night shift in which the accident occurred. “You should have told your colleague to leave the oven no later than after the first load of falling slag.”
The lawyer and the public prosecutor also followed a similar approach. “A different course of action would have been desirable and possible,” said his lawyer, while the prosecutor also saw mitigating reasons in the entire tragedy: “He has taken full responsibility and is already being punished in view of these events .”
Unconditional fine and bereavement compensation
Judgment not legally binding: 15,000 euros fine and 5,000 euros funeral compensation for the widow.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
