Fincantieri shipyard accident kills worker, critically injures another

Worker Dies, Another Injured in Fincantieri Shipyard Accident in Ancona, Italy

Details of the Fincantieri Shipyard Accident

Incident Overview

ROME, Sept 30 (Reuters) - A man died and another was seriously injured after an accident at a shipyard operated by Italy's Fincantieri in the port city of Ancona, the shipbuilder and police said on Wednesday.

The accident occurred late on Tuesday when a fire broke out as the two workers were carrying out welding work on a vessel.

Investigation and Cause

Police are investigating the cause of the blaze, which local unions said may have been due to a fault involving a welding machine.

Both men were employed by a subcontractor, Fincantieri said.

Victims of the Accident

The victim was a 54-year-old Tunisian who died from severe burns, a local union official said, while the critically injured worker is a 29-year-old Bangladeshi.

Local media reported that he is due to be transferred from Ancona's regional hospital to a specialist burns unit in the Tuscan city of Pisa.

Union Response

Immediate Actions

Italy's main metalworkers' unions - Fiom, Fim and Uilm - staged a protest at the shipyard and began immediate eight-hour strikes covering the day's shifts.

National unions called for a two-hour strike across all Fincantieri's shipyards from Wednesday.

Union Statements and Demands

Safety Concerns

"Safety culture needs to change, it is too often viewed solely as a business cost," a local union statement said, calling fro greater investments in training and protective equipment.

Review of Contracting Practices

The unions also called for a review of Italy's contracting and subcontracting practices, saying workplace accidents were more common in places where subcontractors worked.

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti in Rome, editing by Gavin Jones)