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The Cyprus Electricity Authority (EAC) has been ordered to pay a €40,000 fine after being found guilty of serious workplace safety violations linked to a fatal on-the-job accident.
The ruling was issued by the Nicosia District Court following a criminal case brought by the Department of Labour Inspection under the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. Authorities concluded that multiple breaches of occupational health and safety laws contributed to an incident that killed one EAC employee and seriously injured another, while also exposing others to danger.
The accident occurred during technical work that led to a short circuit, causing severe burns to two workers. One of them later died from his injuries on June 22, 2021. Investigators determined that the company had failed to properly supervise and guide its staff during the operation.
According to the Department of Labour Inspection, the EAC did not conduct a required risk assessment before carrying out a voltage withstand (pressure) test, nor did it establish appropriate preventive or protective measures. In addition, the employees involved had not received sufficient specialized training for the task they were assigned.
The investigation also uncovered equipment-related shortcomings, including a fire extinguisher kept in a service vehicle that had not been properly maintained, raising concerns about its ability to function effectively in an emergency.
The case involved violations of several regulatory frameworks, including rules governing occupational safety and health management, minimum safety standards for work equipment, fire extinguisher inspection and maintenance requirements, and Cyprus’s overarching occupational safety and health legislation spanning from 1996 to 2020.
