Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Classes have been suspended at Go! Atheneum Mariakerke, a suburb near Ghent, after a tragic industrial accident that took place yesterday. Management, as well as teachers, are holding consultations at the school this morning in light of the incident, which accounts for the school closure this morning.
The school will care for students with questions or who need support in the afternoon. This serious accident has shaken the community trying to comprehend the incident, in which a lifting platform tipped while it was being installed on sun blinds above a playground; a 46-year-old man was killed.
Classes at Go! Atheneum Mariakerke suspended after industrial accident kills worker at Atheneum in Mariakerke. Staff and students are being supported while police continue to investigate what happened.
‘This morning, we spoke to teachers and team members who faced this accident,”
Said director Bob Podevijn.
We want to be able to give some guidance to colleagues and to think very carefully about how we will support the students.
They want both staff and students to get the right emotional support through this difficult time. While this decision to close classes was made out of a commitment to putting the well-being of everyone affected by this incident before anything else, we hope that we can accommodate family situations and make adjustments on an as-needed basis.
The accident took place yesterday afternoon while a Math Olympiad was going on at the school, so many of the students and staff were present. The emotional impact on the school community has been heightened by some witnesses reportedly seeing the accident unfold.
“This accident is deeply affecting the school.”
“We sympathise with the victim’s family,”
Podevijn expressed.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is currently ongoing, with labour auditor Elke Vandevelde confirming,
We are waiting for the inspection’s findings to gain clarity.“
What are the impacts of workplace accidents?
Workplace accidents can have devastating long-term effects not only on those directly involved but also on whole communities. Such incidents happen not only in school but in educational settings, warping the learning environment and causing life-lasting emotional scars on both students and staff. The importance of safety measures on construction sites or when big machines are available in villages is dealt with in a book by Atheneum.
In Belgium, workplace safety regulations exist, and businesses must follow strict guidelines for using equipment and staying protected in the workplace. Nevertheless, there are still causes of accidents, which include human error, equipment malfunction, and lack of proper training. In such a case, when the investigation continues, authorities will need to find out whether proper safety measures were taken and carried out as sun blinds are being installed.
Schools also help students with grief or trauma after such incidents, giving support to those who are struggling. Help young people process their emotions and cope with an experience that would be distressing if they are mentored, educated and counselled about mental health resources. Go! Atheneum Mariakerke has taken a proactive approach. Atheneum shows itself an understanding of these needs by offering support.
While discussions of workplace safety continue, it goes without saying that all organisations in all sectors must take employee welfare and comprehensive training programs aimed at preventing accidents very seriously. In the same vein, promoting a culture of safety protects workers whilst also creating an environment where people are valued and safe in their roles. Going forward, it will be very important for schools such as Go! Atheneum Mariakerke. To address both immediate concerns following this tragedy and to plan for which plans, for long-term strategies focused on safety and emotional well-being in their communities, Atheneum will lean into this tragedy.
