Worker plunges 21m to his death

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after a worker fell 21 metres from scaffolding at a construction site in İskele on Thursday. The incident happened at around 4pm when Dündar Arda, 49, “lost his balance” and plunged onto a concrete floor, a police statement said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police yesterday said that they had arrested one person on suspicion of “negligence”.

Labour and Social Security Minister Hasan Taçoy said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” by Mr Arda’s death and that he has instructed his officials to carry out the “necessary inspections and investigations”.

Güvenç Yüksel, head of the Occupational Health and Safety Experts Association, said that according to the International Labour Organization, construction site jobs and those involving working at height are among the most dangerous jobs in the world.

He said that 98 per cent of such tragedies can be prevented with “simple measures, basic instructions, and checks and inspections”.