On Wednesday 6 November, the Cyprus Labour Inspectorate announced the launch of another major campaign to ensure safety on construction sites.
According to the announcement, raids will be carried out on all construction sites on the island. Mass inspections to check compliance with safety measures during the work process will begin as early as next week.
Senior public sector and municipal officials have been assigned to oversee the implementation of these obligations. All offenders will receive a stern reprimand with recommendations on how to improve safety measures, as well as a ban on further work until all deficiencies have been rectified.
Failure to pay a fine on time will be treated as a criminal offence. In exceptional cases, the most severe measures will be applied, up to and including the complete closure of the site.
It should be recalled that construction accidents are not uncommon in Cyprus.
The construction sector is one of the three sectors with the highest number of accidents, including fatalities. However, it should be noted that the number of accidents at work is gradually decreasing. For example, in 2023, 1 328 accidents were recorded on construction sites in Cyprus. Compared to previous years, this is a significant decrease.
Incidents involving falls from a height (around 31% of all accidents), particularly in the construction sector (33.3% of all cases), top the list. Such incidents are most common among workers aged 63 to 76, with 74- and 76-year-olds at highest risk. This is followed by injuries caused by working with machinery - cranes and lifting equipment. Accidents involving the collapse of materials or buildings come third.
The Cyprus Labour Inspectorate investigates every accident and if violations are found, those responsible are taken to court. Companies are often found guilty of negligence that caused the accident.