A day of mourning and deep anger for Naples, shaken by yet another workplace tragedy. Three workers lost their lives this morning in Rione Alto, falling from a height of over 20 meters while working on a basket.
The Naples Prosecutor's Office immediately opened an investigation into manslaughter and sent the first notices of investigation to allow for the carrying out of unrepeatable acts. This has truly accelerated the investigation because they want to understand how this could have happened.
The Naples Public Prosecutor's Office, led by Deputy Prosecutor Antonio Ricci of the VI Section specializing in crimes against public safety and workplace accidents, and with Deputy Prosecutor Stella Castaldo, has opened an investigation into the incident. The primary objective is to determine whether the elevator or the basket failed structurally, and whether overloading may have contributed to the tragedy.
First, they want to understand whether the elevator basket was suitable for supporting the weight of the workers, given that it overturned, causing them to fall from a height of twenty meters.
Then because the workers weren't wearing helmets, much less the harnesses that would have saved their lives. And then there was a regular subcontract in the rental of the freight elevator, which wasn't supplied to the company that won the contract to repair the roof of the six-story building.
In short, there are many points to clarify and all those responsible for the companies that were carrying out the work will be called to answer.
The tragedy has reignited the debate on workplace safety, with unions and political forces raising their voices in protest.
A flight of over 20 meters: the victims and the dynamics of the accident
The victims of the accident, which occurred around 9:40 a.m. on Via Domenico Fontana, are Vincenzo Del Grosso, 53 , from Naples; Ciro Pierro, 61 , from Calvizzano; and Luigi Romano, 66 , from Arzano. The three workers were performing maintenance on a seven-story building.
According to initial reports, they were riding on a basket of a freight elevator used to reach the building's roof when the structure suddenly overturned, sending them plummeting into the void. They fell more than twenty meters, leaving them with no chance of escape.
Residents reported hearing a loud bang. Those who witnessed the scene immediately called emergency services. Emergency medical services arrived on the scene, but unfortunately could only confirm the death of the three men. Firefighters began operations to secure the area, while State Police officers began initial investigations to reconstruct the incident and determine its causes.
Unanimous condolences and appeal for safety
The news sparked a wave of grief and outrage across Italy. UIL General Secretary Pierpaolo Bombardieri expressed "enormous sorrow and anger at yet another workplace tragedy," recalling another fatal accident that occurred the same day in Brescia and calling for "immediate decisions and concrete action."
Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi, who canceled several engagements, called it a "silent massacre" to which "we cannot and must not resign ourselves." He reiterated his concrete commitment to stopping workplace deaths, calling for "more safety, more inspections, and more training."
A heartfelt appeal also came from Cardinal Mimmo Battaglia , Archbishop of Naples, who called the tragedy "not only a cause for grief, but also for indignation and the courage to say 'enough.'" "It is unacceptable to die not 'on' the job, but 'from' the job," he declared. "Let no one call them accidental deaths anymore, because they tarnish our consciences. There is no more time to waste."
The Prefect of Naples: "This tragedy calls us to account; we need urgent answers."
In the afternoon, the Prefect of Naples , Michele di Bari, visited the scene of the accident, expressing his deepest condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims. "This is a time of mourning and pain, of human suffering. It is a time when we are all called to reflect," the Prefect stated. "These tragedies challenge us as citizens and as institutions. And we are called to provide urgent responses."
The Prefect emphasized the ongoing commitment of the Prefecture of Naples, which has long established a dedicated discussion forum with all relevant institutional stakeholders. The goal is to implement a strategy of effective and targeted controls at construction sites, through a program of access and inspections in collaboration with the Labor Inspectorate, trade unions, the Campania Region, and the Municipality of Naples.
"Work is a right. And you can't die just to earn your living," Di Bari reiterated, emphasizing that workplace safety primarily concerns the construction sector, but that other areas are also being addressed to ensure legality and prevent tragic incidents. For the Prefect, however, inspections alone, "which exist and will continue to exist," are not enough; a "conventional effort" is needed to spread "a culture of safety and prevention." Safety and prevention, he concluded, "should not be considered a cost but an investment for the community."
The situation is truly sad and difficult to accept, but we need to understand how it happened to prevent it from happening again. I don't understand why adequate safety measures weren't in place. Let's hope the investigation yields useful results.