A sudden death during a night watch shift, with temperatures of 16 degrees below zero, has brought working conditions at construction sites under investigation. 2026 Winter Olympics. Pietro ZantoniniA 55-year-old man died while working at the ice rink in Cortina d'Ampezzo, northern Italy.
Zantonini was from Brindisi and worked for a subcontracted company. He worked 12-hour shifts at the construction site of the arena that will host the competitions. curlingThe security guard had moved to the Veneto region in September 2025 to take up the temporary position, which was due to end at the end of January.
The incident occurred in the early morning of January 9th, around 2 AM. Zantonini was in a security booth and went out every two hours to inspect the perimeter. When he felt unwell, he managed to call his colleagues for help. Emergency services were called, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
The victim's wife filed a complaint with the Carabinieri. According to the family's lawyer, Francesco Dragone, the security guard had expressed dissatisfaction with his work routine. In an official statement, the family stated that he "was working a night shift outdoors in particularly harsh weather conditions and frequently complained about his working conditions."
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Belluno, under the coordination of prosecutor Claudio Fabris, ordered an autopsy. The examination should determine if the cause of death was directly influenced by the extreme cold and the work schedule. The complaint also points out that Zantonini worked heavy and successive night shifts without adequate protection.
The Simico company, responsible for infrastructure works for the Games, issued a statement of condolences, but stressed that the construction site in question "is not within its jurisdiction." Roberto Toigo, secretary-general of the Uil Veneto union, described the incident as extremely serious if the death is linked to an excess of duty.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Matteo Salvini, requested details about the contract and the duties of the security guard. In a statement, the minister affirmed that "workplace safety is a priority, to be preferred over any other aspect, including the acceleration of certain projects."
