How the construction site of the former US Embassy in Belgrade claimed two lives

Foto: Marko Jovanović

When the foundations were being dug at the site of the former US embassy for the Kneza Milosa Residence, a worker died when a wall and soil collapesed onto him. Now, as the construction of this large complex between Kneza Milosa and Sarajevska streets advances, another worker has lost his life after falling from a height.

Thus, within a year and a half, two workers died at the same construction site.

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A man aged 61 was killed yesterday, most likely when he fell from the sixth floor.

As they told us at Energogroup, the worker who died at their construction site was employed by a company that was hired as one of the subcontractors.

"He had a valid employment contract and exercised all the rights guaranteed by law," Energogroup said, adding that the worker, like everyone else at this construction site, used protective gear.

Still, an investigation will show what caused the accident.

"An investigation is underway by the competent state authorities and only that can shed light on every detail regarding the tragedy that has occurred. At this point, it would be irresponsible towards the late worker’s family to come forward with any arbitrary judgments and interpretations. What we can say is that we have every assurance from our subcontractor whose responsibility this is, that all measures have been taken to ensure full safety of every construction site workers and that there have been no omissions in this regard," said Energogroup.

The place where a worker died in 2018; Photo: Marko Jovanovic

The first death at this construction site occurred on August 29, 2018, during excavation works for the foundations. Worker T.N, 58, died after a wall, and then soil collapsed onto him.

The worker who died at the time was employed by a company that was a subcontractor and, as the Labor Inspectorate stated at the time, he had no employment contract, nor was he registered in the compulsory social insurance system.

In Kneza Milosa Street in Belgrade, a luxury residential complex is being built on the site of the former US embassy. Although the main entrance will be from this street, the entire complex will cascade down to Sarajevska, along Vojvode Milenka Street.

Worker died on national holiday

When it comes to the tragic incident that took place on Saturday at the construction site in Kneza Milosa Street, it should also be noted that it happened on Serbian Statehood Day Day.

"You know, the moment we start to fight for Sunday to be a non-working day, and for national and religious holidays to be non-working days, then we face backlash about us from trade unions demanding the impossible, and then when something like this happens, the correctness of our initiative becomes evident," Ranka Savic from the Association of Independent Trade Unions told Telegraf.

However, working on a national holiday is a possibility and whether or not it is done is a decision of the employer. In that case, the worker receives 110 percent of the daily wage.

"Of course, such things don't happen only on public holidays, we cannot tie it to that, instead it points out that safety and protection measures for workers at construction sites are inadequate and that the inspection did not produce the desired results. Prevention is important here, not to start looking for omissions after something happens. Prevention is the essence, and in order for it to be good, there needs to be a far greater number of inspectors. While the situation is such as it is, unfortunately, we will witness such events in the future as well," Savic said.

She added that the family of the deceased worker should seek compensation because the employer is under obligation to compensate the victim's family, not only for humanitarian and humane reasons, but also legally.

(M.B./V.B.)