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Workplace accidents in Murcia have soared by more than 120%
Prosecutors, unions and the regional government have met to address a worrying rise in occupational injuries and fatalities across the region
Thirty-seven people died in workplace accidents in the Region of Murcia in 2025, and the number of non-fatal incidents has risen dramatically, prompting an urgent coordination meeting between prosecutors, unions, the regional government and health and safety bodies to address what is becoming an increasingly serious problem.Of the 37 deaths, 28 occurred during the working day itself, while nine happened "in itinere," meaning the worker died while travelling to or from their place of employment. Nine of the 37 fatal cases were subsequently prosecuted and classified as manslaughter.
The death toll alone is sobering, but it is the injury figures that have raised the most alarm. Workplace accidents resulting in injuries reached 3,202 cases last year, a rise of 125% in a single year. Senior Prosecutor José Luis Díaz Manzanera attributed the increase partly to the "utmost diligence" being applied by the Public Prosecutor's Office and judicial bodies in recording and pursuing cases, rather than solely to a worsening of conditions on the ground.
One case that stood out in the Prosecutor's annual review involved a road signage and maintenance company convicted after one of its employees died from heatstroke in 2020. The worker had been exposed for hours to temperatures close to 38 degrees Celsius without adequate preventive measures in place, and died in hospital days later from multiple organ failure. "This is one of the aspects that most concerns us, especially at this time of year," Díaz Manzanera said, a pointed warning given the summer heat now building across the region.
The unions present at Monday's meeting were equally direct. Teresa Fuentes, General Secretary of CCOO in Murcia, said: "Every time a worker dies or becomes ill at work, it is something that must be treated with absolute priority, because no one should get sick, much less lose their life, while working."
Paqui Sánchez of UGT was blunt about the shortcomings in how safety obligations are currently met: "It's not enough to hire a company to fill out the paperwork. Workplace safety must be a reality. A single occupational safety company cannot cover 50 companies, because something is clearly wrong."
The sectors most affected are construction, industry, agriculture and services. There is, however, some more encouraging news for 2026: the Director General of Labour, Juan Marín, reported that workplace fatalities have fallen between January and April this year, with the accident incidence rate down 4.1%. Sixteen people have nonetheless already lost their lives at work so far in 2026, according to union figures.
Image: Elif/Pexels
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