Belgium Data Center Site Sees Serious Incident, Contractor Hospitalized, Regulators Demand Immediate Safety Audit

Brussels, Belgium— A subcontracted electrician was critically injured at a massive commercial data center site outside Brussels around 9:40 a.m., shutting down the entire project and exposing deep gaps in contractor safety oversight.

The worker, employed by a third-tier subcontractor, fell from a service gantry while installing cooling infrastructure on the second floor. He was not clipped into a fall arrest system, two workers on the shift said. Site managers called emergency services and cleared the area. He was taken to Saint-Luc hospital.

The facility, a 40-megawatt build for a U.S. cloud provider, employs more than 300 people across six contracting firms. The main contractor, whose name has not been released pending notification, said work was halted for 24 hours. The company issued a short statement saying safety remains its priority and it is cooperating with investigators.

Belgian federal labor inspectors arrived by noon. They found inconsistent safety briefings, missing harness logs, and a pattern of subcontractors starting shifts without formal site induction. One inspector, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "The paperwork said everyone was certified. The floor told a different story."

Unions had warned about the site in September. ACV-CSC reported three near-misses involving temporary electrical lines and unguarded edges. A union rep said complaints were filed but no enforcement visit followed. "These data center builds run fast, they run cheap on labor layers," he said. "You get five logos on helmets, nobody knows who is responsible."

The client company distanced itself from daily operations, saying construction safety is managed by the general contractor. That structure is common in hyperscale builds across Europe, where developers race to bring capacity online. It creates layers where accountability thins out.

Pay records reviewed by workers show some subcontracted staff on 10-hour shifts without overtime premiums. Several said they were pressured to finish cable tray work before concrete pours. Safety harnesses were available but not always checked. One electrician said supervisors told crews to keep moving when inspectors were not on site.

Prosecutors in Brabant have opened a file. The labor auditor will decide whether to pursue criminal negligence charges. The site will remain partially closed until a full risk assessment is filed.

The injured worker remains in intensive care. His family has been notified.