Three fatal workplace accidents caused by explosions at production facilities in Corinth, Aspropyrgos and Trikala, along with smaller incidents without fatalities in Chania and Thessaloniki, have exposed serious gaps in workplace safety and inspections, according to a report by Kathimerini.
In Examilia, Corinth, a 67-year-old worker was killed in an explosion at a vinegar production and bottling plant. Initial findings suggest he may have been carrying out welding work near an alcohol storage tank, while investigators are also examining the possibility of a gas leak.
The incident followed an explosion at a truck repair workshop in Aspropyrgos, which killed one person and seriously injured two others, and the deadly explosion at the Violanta factory in Trikala, where five workers were killed.
So far this year, 92 workers have died in workplace accidents, compared with 201 in 2025
In the case of the Violanta factory, an initial inspection by the Hellenic Fire Service found a leak in the propane tank piping system. Workers said they had repeatedly reported smelling gas before the explosion. According to a lawyer representing one of the victims’ families, the regulations governing the use of propane in industry date back to 1993 and require regular inspections of the piping system, but not certification.
Trade unions say the Labour Inspectorate is understaffed, particularly outside the major urban centres. There is only one labour inspector in Corinth, four in the Trikala–Karditsa office, and six or seven in Aspropyrgos, the country’s largest industrial area, where around 15,000 businesses operate.
They also say the lack of a single system for recording workplace accidents makes it harder to assess the scale of the problem and plan preventive measures. According to the Federation of Occupational Safety and Health Associations of Greece (OSETEE), 92 workers have been killed in workplace accidents so far in 2026, compared with 201 in all of 2025.
Source: Kathimerini
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