ZSP Warszaw on the State Labour Inspectorate's Findings Concerning Deaths at the Stadium

Representatives of the State Labour Inspectorate wondered during a press conference how such an experienced company like Alpine Bud could tolerate unqualified workers at their construction site building the National Stadium. They imposed small fines on two subconstracting firms - Żuraw Grohman and PPW Safety - plus on the supervisor who did not do his job. The fines amounted to about 3000 euro for the death of two people.

We would like to ask how it is that the State Labour Inspectorate tolerates all this? After all, they were boasting in the media that they have people on site, making sure all is safe at the Stadium. Yet, according to their own findings, an unsafe crane was being used for several weeks with faulty chains in different parts of the Stadium. So where were the labour inspectors?

Unfortunately, from our observations, the Labour Inspectors are not really interested in inspecting anything. Nor are they really interested in enforcing health and safety regulations on this project. Their role seems to be doing PR for the Stadium Project, and ensuring the public that everything is under control. This is what they answered when workers went on a wildcat strike at the site. Then also, they whitewashed the incident, blaming a few bad subcontractors.

But the fact of the matter is that over 100 subcontractor firms are being used on the site and most people working on the Stadium are not "workers" in the sense of the law since they have no permanent contract. And the State Labour Inspectorate, in the service of the anti-worker system, does not deal with the conditions of these types of people.

At least they should be checking that equipment used at the site is safe - but apparently they haven't. Thus, the subcontractors have been given a slap on their wrists for their disregard of safety measures - but the people who should be overseeing the subcontractors - the main building consortium (Alpine Bud) and the Inspectors, are not to share any of the respsonsibility for this situation.

And they should. Everything points to the fact that two things are endangering the workers: the use of uncontrolled subcontracting firms and the immense pressure to finish the Stadium on a tight schedule. (It must be built in 2 years whereas normally a project of that size would take 3 years.)

Taking into account the fact that construction companies often have contractual penalties for delays, plus they often are on tight budgets, there is huge pressure on the subcontractors to do things fast and cheap. This is a deadly combination.

ZSP also points out that, although the site is practically shut down due to ice, its members observed just last week the use of cranes with baskets in exactly the same place as the tragedy occured. We are concerned that, due to time lost on construction, workers will be forced to go even faster once work resumes and that this will lead to many more incidents of unsafe behaviour.