Colleague injured
Construction worker dies by electrocution in incident at Kalar housing project
KALAR — A worker died and another was injured by electrocution at a housing project in Kalar, Sulaymaniyah, on Wednesday morning.
Rizgar Latif, director of Shahid Hazhar Emergency Hospital in Kalar, informed 964media, “Two individuals were brought to our hospital after being electrocuted while working.” One of them succumbed to his injuries after initial medical treatment, while the other remains injured and has been transferred to Sulaymaniyah for further care. The deceased’s body has been sent to Kalar’s forensic department.
In a separate incident earlier today, a construction worker died in a fire in the Ashti neighborhood of Sulaymaniyah. The blaze, which originated on the roof of a building where the worker was welding, has been brought under control, according to officials.
The Kurdistan Construction Workers’ Organization reported 19 worker fatalities in the Kurdistan Region and one in Kirkuk governorate from January to April 28, 2024. In Sulaymaniyah alone, eight workers lost their lives, while Erbil reported nine deaths and Duhok two.
The organization attributes these fatalities to the absence of fundamental workplace safety standards, lack of protective equipment, and minimal safety training provided by employers. The primary causes of these deaths included electrocution, building collapses, falls from heights, machinery accidents, and severe bleeding.
In 2023, the Kurdistan Workers’ Union reported a total of 53 worker fatalities in the region, including 39 local workers and 14 foreigners. This marked an increase from 2022, which saw 41 worker fatalities, including 31 local workers and 10 foreigners.
Erbil, Sulaymaniyah witness same-day fatal construction site accidents
