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Call for protection from extreme heat as worker dies on Italian construction site

An Italian trade union has called for construction companies to prioritise the protection of workers from extreme heat, after a worker died on a site in the country amid sweltering temperatures.

A Hardworking Construction Worker Takes A Refreshing Break, Quenching His Thirst Under The Intense Midday Sun On A Bustling Building Site With Bright Sunlight And Heavy Machinery In The Background Image: JG Studio via AdobeStock (generated using AI)

The worker, named by Cgil and Fillea-Cgil Bologna as Ait El Hajjam Brahim, aged 48, was reported to have collapsed on a site yesterday (30 June), as Europe suffers some of the hottest June temperatures on record.

The union said he collapse “presumably due to illness, exposed to the sun” during a concrete pour.

While the precise cause of his death has not yet been determined, the union nonetheless called on employers to prioritise the health of workers as the “climate emergency has clearly worsened the conditions of those who work outside every day”.

It said companies should implement precautionary measures to protect workers from the risk associated with exposure to heat.

“We call on all the bodies responsible for the maximum commitment to ensure that the ordinances are respected,” the union said.

Parts of Europe have experienced temperatures well above average for the time of year, hitting up to 46.6C (116F) in parts of Spain.

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