In connection with the ongoing restoration of Børsen in Copenhagen, the Danish Working Environment Authority (Arbejdstilsynet) has issued four immediate orders to two different companies. The orders come after serious safety deficiencies were found, including risk of collapse and lack of necessary protective equipment. The restoration work, which began in 2022, has been marked by challenges, not least due to a major fire that ravaged the building on April 16. The fire, which destroyed nearly half of the historic building, is believed to possibly be related to the work on-site.
According to reports from the Danish Working Environment Authority, there were two occasions where there was a significant risk of collapse, which could have resulted in serious injuries. Additionally, it was found that workers were handling hazardous materials without using the required protective gear. Peter Hasle, a workplace safety researcher at the University of Southern Denmark, criticized the planning of safety measures. “It is clear that there has not been a sufficient risk assessment of the materials to be demolished, or of potential collapse risks,” he said.
Operations leader at the Capital Region Fire Service (Hovedstadens Beredskab), Tim Ole Simonsen, confirms that the fire occurred in a part of the building where there was activity, but cannot provide further details on the cause at this time. The restoration of Børsen is expected to be completed in 2029, but these safety challenges have cast shadows over the project’s progress. The immediate orders from the Danish Working Environment Authority were issued between November 2022 and October 2023, indicating that there have been ongoing safety issues at the workplace.