An installation company from Alphen aan den Rijn must pay a fine of 25,000 euros for violating the Working Conditions Act. This is the penalty imposed by the Public Prosecution Service (OM) following a fatal accident on November 30, 2023. A 59-year-old employee of the company died after an accident involving a material lift. An investigation by the Dutch Labor Inspectorate revealed that the company had not taken sufficient responsibility to ensure a safe working environment.
Fatal work accident
On the day in question, the employee was engaged in preparatory work for replacing fans in a parking garage in Amsterdam. He was struck by a material lift rolling downwards. The victim was moving the material lift over a slope when he lost control of the lift at the steeper part of the slope. The employee died the same day from his injuries.
Penalty notice
After an investigation by the Dutch Labor Inspectorate, the OM concludes that the company violated the Working Conditions Act. This law places safety, health, and well-being of employees at its center, for which the employer must take care and comply with regulations. In this case, the company failed to take responsibility for ensuring a safe working environment. The OM criticizes the installation company for not having assessed the risks associated with such work and for not adequately informing employees about this risk. The OM imposes a penalty notice on the company in the form of a fine of 25,000 euros.
Adjustments and awareness
In the meantime, the installation company has taken several measures to make work safer for its employees. Improvements have been made in work preparation, training of company emergency responders, and the toolbox talks provided.
The OM finds the penalty notice a suitable resolution, as it concerns a relatively small company and because improvement measures have been implemented.