The responsibility of the construction manager in the collapse of buildings: commentary on ruling no. 17106 of 2024

The recent ruling no. 17106 of March 14, 2024, by the Court of Cassation has once again highlighted the crucial role of the construction manager in ensuring the safety of construction sites. This specific case offers important insights into criminal liability in the event of negligent collapse, emphasizing that even absence from the site does not exempt the manager from their supervisory duties.

The context of the ruling

The case involved an incident that occurred during the demolition of a building, where the Court found the construction manager, P. G., guilty for allowing the operations to be carried out without an adequate program and in a manner diverging from the rules of good practice. The Court emphasized that the manager not only must be present but is required to exercise constant and prudent supervisory activity, adopting all necessary precautions.

Construction manager - Workplace accident - Negligent collapse of construction - Liability - Conditions - Case. The construction manager is liable for the negligent collapse of buildings even in the case of absence from the site, as they must exercise prudent supervisory activity over the regular execution of construction works and adopt, where necessary, the appropriate technical precautions, or immediately separate their position of guarantee from that of the contractor by renouncing the received assignment. (Case concerning negligent disaster, where the Court found the decision affirming the criminal liability of the construction manager for allowing the demolition of a building to be executed in the absence of a program and in ways diverging from "leges artis" and the rules of good practice in the "subiecta materia" to be free from criticism).

The implications of the ruling

This ruling has significant implications for both professionals in the sector and construction companies. In particular, construction managers must be aware of their responsibility and the fact that they must actively intervene to ensure site safety. Some key points that emerged from the ruling are:

  • Duty of supervision: the construction manager must constantly monitor the progress of the work.
  • Technical precautions: it is essential to adopt all necessary measures to prevent accidents.
  • Liability even in absence: physical absence from the site does not exempt one from liability.

Conclusions

In conclusion, ruling no. 17106 of 2024 serves as a clear warning for all professionals involved in the management of construction sites. The responsibility of the construction manager is unavoidable and requires a constant commitment to supervision and planning of activities. Workplace safety must be a priority, and every professional must be ready to make timely and appropriate decisions to avoid accidents and legal consequences.

Bianucci Law Firm