Giugliano, investigation underway into the worker killed at Masseria del Re: the forklift was driven by a colleague.

Giugliano – The next day, silence envelops Masseria del Re. The construction site for the eco-bales storage facility in Giugliano, Campania, is at a standstill. The piles of compressed waste remain covered by tarps, and the area where the tragedy occurred is now the focus of investigations.

Nicola Garofalo, 63, originally from the Caserta hinterland, lost his life. According to initial reports, he was crushed by a moving forklift driven by another worker; however, the exact circumstances are still being investigated by law enforcement. The accident occurred late yesterday afternoon, at dusk, within the operational perimeter of the site.

According to what emerged in the first hours of the investigation, Garofalo was apparently on foot in the work area, likely waiting for his truck to be loaded, when the vehicle arrived.

The forklift has been seized, while the body remains at the disposal of the judicial authorities for the necessary procedures.

The police are investigating the incident, coordinated by the North Naples Public Prosecutor's Office. The Labor Inspectorate has also been activated, investigating any failure to comply with safety procedures, particularly the separation of pedestrian walkways and vehicle transit areas, and the prevention measures adopted at the site.

Yet another workplace death shines a spotlight on numbers that remain stark. INAIL data updated to October 31 indicates 64 deaths in Campania, a figure that—according to recent evidence—has further increased over the past month and a half.

The unions' note: "It cannot be dismissed as a fatality."

The unions' reaction was harsh. In a statement, representatives of Fp Cgil, Fit Cisl, Uiltrasporti, and Fiadel Campania expressed "deep sorrow, indignation, and shock" over what happened at Masseria del Re, emphasizing that the incident "cannot and must not be dismissed as a mere accident."

According to the unions, Garofalo's death "directly calls into question the system of accountability" in a sector—environmental services and waste management—that continues to pay "a very high price," partly due to supply chains and subcontracts that "fragment responsibilities and undermine rights and protections."

Organizations are demanding more resources and controls: investments in technology, ongoing maintenance of equipment, effective site monitoring, strengthening of safety personnel, and increased internal and external audits. Training is also key, which—they emphasize—must not be limited to "formal or documentary" compliance, but be ongoing and tailored to the real risks of the tasks performed.

Finally, the unions offered their condolences to the worker's family: "No words can ease such deep pain, but respect for those who lost their lives working requires a concrete collective commitment to ensure such tragedies never happen again."