Employer Liability and Accident Prevention: Commentary on Judgment No. 15406 of 2023

The recent judgment No. 15406 of December 20, 2023, issued by the Court of Cassation, serves as an important reference point regarding employer liability for workplace injuries. This ruling clarifies the conditions under which the drafting of the risk assessment document (DVR) and the adoption of preventive measures can exempt the employer from civil and criminal liability.

The Role of the Risk Assessment Document

The DVR is a regulatory obligation established by Legislative Decree No. 81 of 2008, which dictates how employers must identify and assess risks present in the workplace. However, the judgment in question emphasizes that the mere drafting of the DVR, even if carried out by a competent professional, is not sufficient to exclude the employer's liability. In fact, as established by the Court, it is necessary for the employer to adopt preventive measures even in the presence of additional risks or inadequacy of the measures already adopted.

Employer - Risk assessment document - Adoption of preventive measures - Relevance for exemption from employer liability - Conditions - Specific case. Regarding workplace accident prevention, the drafting of the risk assessment document by a qualified professional, possessing the necessary skills, and the adoption of the prescribed preventive measures do not exclude the employer's liability if the latter can identify the existence of additional risks or the inadequacy of the prevention methods for those already correctly identified, exercising ordinary diligence based on widely known technical skills or common experience rules. (Applying this principle, the Court deemed the employer's conviction for burns suffered by a worker, hit by splashes of molten aluminum while performing the "scoring" of the metal in fusion wearing leather gloves up to the wrist, apron and cotton pants, glasses without protective face and head gear, to be immune from criticism, despite the DVR not requiring the use of "aluminized" heat-protective clothing for the operation).

The Implications of the Judgment and Employer Responsibility

Judgment No. 15406 of 2023 fits into an already established line of jurisprudence, which emphasizes the employer's responsibility even in the presence of a correctly drafted DVR. Indeed, the adoption of adequate preventive measures is essential to ensure the safety of workers. In this specific case, the Court confirmed the employer's conviction for the injuries suffered by a worker, highlighting that the protective measures adopted were insufficient to prevent the risk of burns during hazardous operations such as the "scoring" of molten metal.

  • Importance of risk assessment
  • Obligation to update the DVR
  • Employer liability in case of inadequacy of measures

Conclusions

In conclusion, judgment No. 15406 of 2023 serves as a clear warning for employers: liability cannot be solely delegated to the drafting of the DVR, but must be accompanied by a constant commitment to workplace safety. It is essential that employers not only draft the risk assessment document but also implement effective risk management, continually updating preventive measures and ensuring adequate protective devices for their workers.

Bianucci Law Firm