Electrocutions, disease and no pay: how workers risk exploitation in Europe’s datacentres
Summary
An investigation by Investigate Europe and the Guardian examined migrant workers’ conditions at datacentre projects in Sweden, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands. It reported serious injuries, unpaid wages, poor housing and exploitative work practices, including the case of electrical tester Sandu, who was badly burned in an electrocution at a Google datacentre in Belgium.Key Facts
- Sandu says he was asked to do a last-minute electrical test after working nearly 10 hours and did not retrieve a protective suit.
- Sandu says managers told him the electrical lines were de-energised, but they were live during the test.
- Hospital records reviewed by the outlets say the arc flash burned 12% of Sandu’s body, including second-degree burns to his face and neck and third-degree burns to his right shoulder and fingers.
- Belgium’s local labour inspectorate closed its investigation in late October and found no wrongdoing; the article says no company or contractor appears to have been held liable.
- Dornan Engineering said it was committed to safe working conditions and compliance with labour laws.
- The investigation reported debilitating injuries, poor living conditions, an unreported infectious outbreak, unpaid wages and exploitative employment practices at datacentre sites.
- The article says Europe has more than 2,300 datacentres, with hundreds more under construction.
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