On the construction site of the Faculty of Construction in Bucharest, the rules of construction protection are not respected

​In Romania, 800 accidents were registered and 38 people died because they did not wear protective equipment, according to official data. The Technical University of Construction Bucharest (UTCB) is in full construction in Bucharest, with several of its buildings to be consolidated. What happened on the construction site after HotNews.ro reported the situation to the authorities.

The works at the Technical University of Constructions in the Lacul Tei neighborhood, started about a year ago, are complex, walls are being demolished to strengthen the resistance structure, new floors are being built and attics are being erected.

There are many workers on this construction site, from different construction companies. HotNews.ro monitored the construction site over several weeks. The images we publish show that the majority of people are working at heights without protective equipment.

799 accidents and 38 deaths are the consequence of not wearing personal protective equipment in the last 5 years. These are only the cases in the database of the Labor Inspection, according to a response from the institution to HotNews.ro.

How workers walk on roofs without harness and hard hat

The images taken by Hotnews.ro show, for example, how on the roof of a newly erected attic, workers are working without any kind of protection, without a helmet, without a rope, without a harness. Day after day, the picture was the same: people working at heights without protective equipment.

Another day, some workers in street clothes, shorts and sneakers climbed onto the roof of a building whose walls had been torn down to uncover the old resistance pillars.

The Faculty of Civil Engineering says it is teaching its students “occupational safety courses”

HotNews.ro sent the University of Construction images from its own construction site. With people working at height, without protective equipment, on construction sites in his yard, requesting a point of view. The Technical University of Construction replied that it is not its responsibility to protect the workers.

“Considering that UTCB is carrying out contracts for consolidation works, capital repairs, attics and over-storeys at three of the buildings located in B-dul Lacul Tei 122-124, we inform you that the responsibility for the employees on these construction sites belongs to the builders”, UTCB replied .

When asked if in its curriculum, UTCB has occupational safety courses in construction, the institution replied: “Regarding the students’ curriculum, we inform you that specialized OSH courses are conducted (n.ed. Safety and Health in Work) at both study cycles (bachelor’s and master’s)”.

The construction companies Rom Service and Rotary do not comment

HotNews.ro has identified two of the construction companies working on the site: Rom Service Construct and Rotary Construcții.

I contacted them. Initially, the representatives of the construction company Rom Service Construct stated that some of the images transmitted by HotNews.ro are not from their construction site. Later, after sending other photos, they stopped responding.

It is interesting that, a few days ago, following the actions of HotNews.ro, one of the companies started sending its workers to the site with protective equipment.

The Labor Inspectorate sends control to UTCB construction sites

The images were also sent to the Labor Inspectorate, with a request to comment.

“Regarding the situation reported by you with reference to the organization of the site aimed at consolidating and expanding the buildings of the Technical University of Construction Bucharest, we inform you that the labor inspectors from the Territorial Labor Inspectorate Bucharest will carry out a specialized control according to the powers provided in the Law 108/1999 on the establishment and organization of the Labor Inspectorate, with subsequent amendments and additions, to send the Labor Inspectorate an information regarding the results of the checks”, the Labor Inspectorate replied.

According to the Labor Inspectorate, one of the causes of the phenomenon that injures and kills people is of a financial nature. In order to make savings and record lower costs, employers do not purchase the necessary equipment to protect workers, the Labor Inspectorate believes, in a response to the editorial office.

In the last few days, after HotNews.ro asked both the Faculty of Construction, the companies concerned and the Labor Inspectorate, the workers appeared on the scaffolding of the Faculty of Construction buildings wearing protective equipment.