Chassis falls from crane: boss and safety officer convicted

12/11/2025 · Federal Supreme Court · FR · Fatal · 6B_521/2025

What happened At a company yard, a steel trailer chassis of about 2 tonnes lifted by crane fell and killed a worker.

What the court decided Both acquitted at first instance; convicted by the Fribourg Cantonal Court (2.4.2025); Federal Court dismissed their appeals – final.

Why Workers had not been trained on edge protection or the danger zone under suspended loads. The victim's own fault does not clear the managers, because the missing instruction encouraged it.

Safety officer: convicted of negligent homicide, 180 day-fines of CHF 170 (total CHF 30,600), suspended. Did not implement measures Suva had required, did not train staff and did not pass on safety information.
Managing director / board chair: convicted of negligent homicide, 180 day-fines of CHF 410 (total CHF 73,800), suspended. Did not check that the safety officer was doing his job.

Never under a suspended load. If you delegate safety, check that it is actually done.

Source: entscheidsuche.ch (DE)

Fact summary in our own words based on the linked source, which prevails. No names of the people involved.