In addition to the 15 people who tragically lost their lives in the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, three workers have also died during the reconstruction of the railway line from Novi Sad to Hungary, according to a recent report by Forbes Serbia.
Previous monthly reports revealed that Goran Ljubisavljević (1963) died in an unfortunate accident near Novi Sad. However, the most recent documentation released by the Novi Sad Public Prosecutor’s Office provides more details about the deaths of two other workers.
A Chinese citizen, Wang Jun (1971), died when a 19.5-ton concrete beam fell on him at a construction site in Zmajevo in September 2023. Just a few days earlier, a 29-year-old security guard, Ramiz Dacić, died at a construction site in Rumenci.
How the Chinese worker died
According to a report by the health and safety coordinator, the Chinese worker was involved in dismantling formwork and scaffolding on a bridge in Zmajevo on September 6th. The work being carried out had not been approved by the supervisor and was done ahead of the scheduled deadline. During the work, the transverse beam’s stability was compromised, causing it to fall. The beam weighed 19.5 tons and fell from a height of six meters.
One injured, one dead
The report also reveals that another Chinese worker was injured in the incident. Wang Jun (1971) died from his injuries, while Chen Jianhui (1967) suffered minor injuries. Chen was immediately taken to a hospital in Vrbas where he received first aid and is now in a stable condition.
The report also states that both workers and the construction site had up-to-date health and safety documentation. The incident was reported to the supervisory team, and the Novi Sad Public Prosecutor’s Office, labor inspector, and forensic team were on site.
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Security guard fatality
Security guard Ramiz Dacić (1994) died during the night between September 3rd and 4th, 2023. According to the report, he had turned on a generator in a room to charge his mobile phone and fell asleep. He died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Safety issues on construction sites
The representative of Utiber, a supervisory company, has repeatedly pointed out safety issues on the construction sites in their reports. Despite measures being taken, such as removing workers from sites and suspending work until issues were resolved, numerous problems persisted.
Common issues included improper installation of scaffolding, temporary electrical installations, and problems with fencing and site organization. There were particular challenges with new subcontractors who were not properly registered or notified. These subcontractors often lacked the necessary health and safety documentation.
The problems with the application of safety and health regulations were especially pronounced on the northernmost section near Subotica. The supervisor regularly pointed out the challenges faced when dealing with the Chinese company Shandong.
After the publication of these documents, it can be concluded that the railway reconstruction project from Novi Sad to the Hungarian border has claimed a total of 18 lives.
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Source: Forbes Srbija, Photo: BETAPHOTO/DRAGAN GOJIC