Overview

• On August 4, crews responding to an alarm found two workers aged 23 and 30 dead inside a biological waste tank at a site in Veternigo di Santa Maria di Sala, Venice.
• Firefighters and SUEM paramedics spent nearly an hour recovering the bodies, while 118 medical teams, carabinieri and Spisal inspectors attended the scene.
• Carabinieri investigators and Spisal safety inspectors will examine whether inhaled fumes or improper cleaning procedures led to the suffocation.
• The incident is the latest in a series of deadly workplace accidents this year, including lift collapses and falls that have underlined ongoing safety gaps.
• Official INAIL figures recorded a 0.4% rise in workplace injury claims in 2024 and a 10.5% jump in student reports, fueling union demands for dedicated prosecutors and tougher inspections.