BRUSSELS, April 11, 2025 — A tragic workplace accident has claimed the life of a subcontracted worker who fell into a waste pit at the Brussels-Energy incinerator site on April 4.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 8:15 p.m., was confirmed by Bruxelles-Propreté, the parent organization of Brussels-Energy, in a statement released on Friday.
The victim, whose identity has not been disclosed, was employed by an external subcontractor working on the Brussels-Energy industrial site—located along the canal in the capital’s industrial zone.
Emergency services were dispatched swiftly after the incident was reported, but despite their efforts, the worker remained in critical condition and later succumbed to his injuries.
Brussels-Energy, which transforms non-recyclable household and similar waste into energy, is a subsidiary of Bruxelles-Propreté (Brussels-Cleanliness), the regional public service responsible for waste management in the Brussels-Capital Region.
In the aftermath of the incident, Adel Lassouli, spokesperson for Bruxelles-Propreté, confirmed that a series of operational shortcomings had been identified.
“Brussels-Energy has identified a series of shortcomings and has immediately suspended its contractual relations with the concerned subcontractor,” Lassouli stated.
He added that the company is working closely with investigators. “Brussels-Energy is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities and is available to assist with the ongoing investigation.”
The company has also established a psychological support unit on-site, providing counseling services to all plant personnel, with particular attention to those who witnessed or were directly impacted by the fatal accident.
This tragedy has cast a spotlight on subcontractor safety practices and the operational oversight at high-risk industrial facilities.
Labour safety watchdogs and local authorities have launched investigations to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the worker’s fall and whether safety regulations were breached.
The Brussels-Energy facility is a key component in the region’s waste-to-energy strategy, converting residual household waste into usable energy.
It operates alongside a pre-treatment site that manages waste and nitrous oxide emissions—an environmental safeguard intended to strengthen the region’s sustainable waste management.
Despite the facility’s environmental credentials and importance to regional infrastructure, the incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by workers in waste processing and industrial energy recovery operations, particularly those employed by third-party contractors.
Union representatives have called for a thorough review of safety protocols not only at Brussels-Energy but across all industrial sites employing subcontracted labour.
“Every worker deserves a safe workplace,” a union spokesperson said. “Subcontracting must not be a loophole that compromises safety.”
As investigations continue, authorities and company officials have pledged transparency and accountability. Meanwhile, colleagues, friends, and family of the deceased worker are left mourning the loss of a life tragically cut short in the line of duty.
