SAO PAULO: Brazilian organizers are adding safety features where a worker died in the stadium hosting the World Cup opener, hoping to quickly reverse an order that halted construction in part of the venue.
The addition of new safety rails on Tuesday comes a day after labor officials said the installation of 20,000 temporary seats at the Itaquerao stadium could not continue until safety concerns were addressed. On Saturday, a 23-year-old worker died after falling from about 26 feet while installing the seats needed for the opener.
Fast Engenharia, the company in charge of the temporary structures, was yet to release information about a new construction timetable for the stadium, which was already delayed. Company officials were expected to meet with labor authorities later on Tuesday.
Before the accident, FIFA expected the venue to be ready about a month ahead of the June 12 opening match between Brazil and Croatia.
Sao Paulo's vice mayor didn't expect the work stoppage to cause significant delays to the stadium's construction, saying the installation of the temporary seats was a "relatively simple job."
"It's not a complex situation," Nadia Campeao told Radio Estadao. "Even if work is stopped for a few days so the recommended adjustments can be made, it shouldn't alter the final timetable."
A labor ministry official in Sao Paulo said the construction stoppage was needed to eliminate the risk of another death.
"If there are no additional safety measures, the work can't continue," Luiz Antonio de Medeiros told the Agencia Estado news service. "There was not enough protection, it was irresponsible."
Fast Engenharia has denied any wrongdoing and said the worker had all required safety equipment available to him at the time of the accident.
Investigators said an initial probe showed the worker didn't connect himself to a safety cable. According to witness accounts, he said he only had a "quick thing" to finish at the site.
Medeiros said additional safety measures could have prevented the death even if the worker wasn't connected to his safety cable.
The safety rails were being added around areas where workers installed the temporary seats.
FIFA and the local World Cup organizing committee did not immediately answer requests for comments on the work stoppage.
Construction was already behind schedule at the Itaquerao stadium because of the damage caused by another accident that killed two workers following a crane collapse in late November. A giant roofing structure fell on part of the stadium's facade, significantly pushing back the stadium's date of completion.
The stadium, being built by popular Brazilian club Corinthians, is expected to cost about $490 million. In addition to the opener, it will host three group matches, one second-round game and one of the semifinals.
