The 6 September deaths of 10 construction workers when a lift failed at a development in Istanbul has been condemned as ‘occupational murder’ by a union confederation. The elevator carrying the workers plunged to the ground from the 32nd floor.
The incident occurred at the construction site of a luxury high-rise residential building. Eight people, including an occupational safety specialist, were detained. They were released the following day after giving statements to a public prosecutor.
On 7 September, a union organised demonstration calling for improved workplace safety was met by police with tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannon. “This is not an accident, this is not destiny, this is murder!” was the protest’s main slogan.
The tragedy was not the first at the construction site. In April, a 19-year-old man died at the same site when a primitive elevator carrying him fell from the 17th floor.
A news release from the trade union confederation DISK described the deaths as “occupational murder.”
It added that “in first seven months of 2014, as many as 1,100 workers have been reported dead as a result of work-related accidents. More than 12,000 people died in work accidents since 2002, when the Justice and Development Party government rose to power.”