British Man Dies Working on Qatar World Cup Stadium
Posted on February 22, 2017
A British man has died after falling off a suspended platform while working on a World Cup stadium in Qatar. Construction conditions have come under sharp scrutiny since the country was awarded the 2022 football tournament.
The man, 40, reportedly fell when the platform, used to manage sound and lighting, collapsed at the Khalifa International Stadium, its construction firm contractor said ‘the man’s safety harness was cut during the fall’.
The project to renovate the stadium, which is described by organisers as “Qatar’s most historic stadium,” is being supervised by Belgium company Besix in partnership with local company Midmac Contracting, the BBC said.
A statement from construction firm Midmac-Six Construct said that a lever hoist supporting the platform failed “for unknown reasons”, adding that it was working with the local authorities to investigate.
“All of the partners involved in this project are devastated by such a tragic loss of life and we extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family, friends and colleagues,” the statement said.
Rights group Amnesty International says it is the second death reported by the organisers related to a workplace incident at a Qatar stadium in the last three months.
Labour’s shadow sports minister Rosena Allin-Khan said “Fifa and the Qatari authorities are putting profit before safety.”
She said: “My thoughts go out to the friends and family of the person who tragically died working on a construction site in Qatar.
“It is unacceptable that basic health and safety precautions are not being followed. Fifa and the Qatari authorities should not be putting profit before safety.
“Fifa President Gianni Infantino needs to show where his priorities lie, launch an urgent investigation and ensure everything is done to protect workers.”