Investigation into restaurant death

A criminal investigation into the death of a 25-year-old woman who died while at work in a Nicosia restaurant is still ongoing, though the shelf that fell on her was not properly screwed into the wall, it emerged on Monday.

Head of the labour inspection department Anastasios Yiannakis told state broadcaster that in his 30 years at the job, though he had seen several workplace accidents, this was the first time he had seen such a case.

On Saturday, Odyssea Iacovou, 25, while working at a restaurant in Strovolos went to get something from the storeroom and died when one of the metal shelves holding drinks and water containers toppled on top of her.

The incident happened at around 1pm and although first aid was given at the scene, she did not respond and her death was confirmed at Nicosia general hospital.

Yiannakis said a criminal investigation had been launched, the results of which were still pending.

He stipulated that workplace incidents have been on the rise, while PEO union announced they would be holding a protest march on Thursday at 2pm, which would begin at PEO’s Nicosia headquarters and end at the labour ministry.

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