ThyssenKrupp relatives get pay- out

| Tue, 07/01/2008 - 03:27

Relatives of seven workers who died last year in a fire at the ThyssenKrupp steelworks in Turin reached a compensation agreement with the German multinational on Monday.

Lawyers for the relatives said sums agreed were different for each family but that the total pay-out was 12.97 million euros.

''It's not about the money because nothing and no-one can give me back my son, but our lawyers have explained it's about respecting the laws,'' said the mother of 32-year-old victim Roberto Scola, signing the agreement in tears.

One of the worst workplace accidents in recent years, the fire broke out at the steelworks on December 5-6, killing four men on site while three others died later in hospital.

A preliminary hearing for six ThyssenKrupp directors is set to open on Tuesday following an investigation by local prosecutors into emergency training and anti-fire equipment at the steelworks.

The industrial conglomerate has denied charges of failing to keep adequate fire-fighting systems in place at the plant.

Scola's mother, Ida, on Monday said she hoped the trial would result in an ''exemplary'' conviction.

In the wake of the ThyssenKrupp tragedy and a series of other workplace accidents, the previous government passed new health and safety reforms which includued a tough revision of penal and administrative sanctions for employers.

The current government has pledged to continue the crackdown and an emergency security decree being discussed in parliament includes a measure to give absolute priority to workplace accident-related trials.

But according to ANMIL, an association representing injured workers, the country needs far more work safety inspectors for the reforms to make any difference.

The association said that if every Italian business were to be checked by the number of staff currently available, each would receive a visit once every 23 years.

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