Salvatore Calignano's employer arrested on the day of the funeral

On the day of the final farewell to Salvatore Calignano, the worker who died after falling from the roof of a warehouse in Caivano, the first judicial breakthrough in the investigation into his death came. The Carabinieri executed a house arrest warrant, with the use of an electronic bracelet, against the victim's employer, a 37-year-old man and resident of Caivano.

The order was issued by the preliminary investigations judge of the Naples North Court, as part of the investigation coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office. The man is seriously suspected of willful failure to take precautions against workplace accidents and manslaughter aggravated by violation of accident prevention regulations.

The precautionary measure comes at the end of an investigative effort that allowed investigators to reconstruct, through video surveillance footage, witness statements, and emergency response investigations, various stages of the accident that cost the worker's life.

Salvatore Calignano fell on October 2nd while carrying out construction work on the roof of a warehouse. He was taken to San Giuliano Hospital in Giugliano, Campania, where he died the following day.

Falling from the roof and the lack of protection

According to the investigative reconstruction, still under investigation, Calignano was working on the roof of the warehouse with two other workers who, according to the investigation, were employed illegally. It was in that context that the fatal fall apparently occurred.

A key aspect of the investigation concerns the safety conditions under which the work was carried out. The images recorded by cameras installed in the area, acquired and analyzed by the Carabinieri of the Caivano station with the support of the local company, reportedly revealed a complete lack of safety measures and precautions to protect workers working at height.

This is a crucial aspect for determining the potential liability of those who should have ensured the safety of the construction site and implemented the necessary measures to prevent the risk of falls from a height.

Cameras to overcome the wall of reticence

Reconstructing the accident wasn't immediate. Investigators initially faced difficulties in finding people with knowledge of the facts who were willing to cooperate.

The breakthrough came with the acquisition of surveillance video footage. The recordings allowed the Carabinieri to identify people who had witnessed the incident, allowing them to interview numerous witnesses.

According to investigators, after an initial phase characterized by fear and reticence, several people decided to collaborate, contributing to the reconstruction of the dynamics and the moments immediately following the fall.

This was an important step for the investigation, which was able to compare the testimonies with the objective evidence collected on site.

The rescue and the initial hypotheses

Among the aspects being investigated by investigators is the location where Calignano was found after the fall. Initially, hypotheses were raised regarding the possibility that the injured person was moved by other people and a presumed failure to provide assistance.

These leads, as far as the investigations are concerned, have not been confirmed.

The reconstruction was also aided by the acquisition of recordings of calls made to 118 and the analysis of GPS data from the ambulance that responded. The evidence gathered indicates that the location where the worker was rescued coincided with the location where he fell to the ground.

The investigations also revealed that Calignano was promptly rescued by people unrelated to the incident who were present on the scene, who called the emergency services and waited for the ambulance to arrive.
The investigators, therefore, have not found any evidence to support the hypothesis that the injured man had been moved or that someone had failed to provide assistance.

The intake recorded after the accident

Another key point in the investigation concerns Calignano's employment status. According to the Carabinieri's reconstruction, the employer subject to the precautionary measure was present at the scene of the accident.
On the same day, but at a later time than the tragic event, he would have formalized the worker's hiring, making it effective from the previous day, the day of the accident.

Investigators believe this circumstance could be attributed to the simulation of a regular employment relationship. This fact adds to the investigations into the safety conditions and the presence of the other two workers, who were also found to be irregular.

The victim's employment status is therefore particularly important in reconstructing liability, along with verifying accident prevention obligations and the conditions under which the work on the roof was carried out.

The owner of the warehouse is also under investigation

The investigation doesn't just concern the arrested employer. The contractor, the owner of the warehouse from which Calignano fell, is also under investigation for aggravated manslaughter due to violation of workplace accident prevention regulations.

The North Naples Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the potential responsibilities of those involved in carrying out the work and managing safety conditions.

The measure taken against the 37-year-old represents a step in the investigation, but it does not exhaust the investigation into the circumstances that led to the worker's death. Further investigations and any subsequent trial proceedings will clarify the individual positions.

As specified by the judicial authorities, the precautionary measure was adopted during the preliminary investigation phase, is appealable, and does not constitute a declaration of guilt. All suspects must be presumed innocent until a final sentence is reached.