The death toll from workplace accidents in Greece has reached 107 since the start of the year, with six people losing their lives between Saturday and today, and 170 others seriously injured, according to the Federation of Workers' Associations in Technical Enterprises (OSETEE).

In a statement, the Federation expressed deep concern, criticising the authorities for prioritising public relations over tackling the “pandemic” of dangerous working conditions. “Instead of addressing the crisis of workplace accidents by mitigating hazardous conditions, the authorities are more focused on promoting a positive image of a reduction in incidents, which is far from reality,” the statement noted.

The six fatal incidents over the past three days:

102. 05/10/2024, Etoloakarnania – A 52-year-old security guard was found dead after being swept away by floodwaters while on duty at a quarry during the heavy rains of Storm Cassandra. He was unable to react in time to the torrent of rainwater that formed in the area.

103. 05/10/2024, Achaia – A 36-year-old man died from electric shock while working at a cheese factory. It is believed he was struck by a power cable affected by the rain, leading to his death.

104. 05/10/2024, Naoussa – A 75-year-old farmer was killed when his tractor overturned in Naoussa.

105. 06/10/2024, Etoloakarnania – A 45-year-old man died instantly after being crushed by a tractor in the Makrynia area.

106. 06/10/2024, Menidi – A motorcycle courier was fatally injured after his bike collided with a truck. He was trapped under the wheels of the truck during the crash, leading to his death.

107. 07/10/2024, Larissa – A 25-year-old woman tragically lost her life in a ginning plant when she became trapped in a machine. The accident occurred in the early morning hours, and emergency responders were called to the scene to recover her body.

Calls for action

OSETEE, which has worked alongside health ministry experts since 2019, pointed to the persistent issue of agricultural accidents. Despite efforts to highlight the problem, “hundreds of lives have been lost in agricultural work without any meaningful measures taken to halt this tragic trend,” the Federation said.

They also noted that just this past June, a labour accident involving a machine explosion occurred at the same Lepenou quarry where one of the recent fatalities took place.

In its statement, OSETEE offered condolences to the victims’ families and urged the authorities to take immediate action. “We call on the state to implement appropriate policies and measures without delay to prevent further loss of life,” the Federation concluded.

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