Hidden danger of wine-making exposed after man dies inside Spanish wine press
I have always been curious about how traditional wine-making works. I understood the basics: you need grapes and your own […]
In a somber incident in Ourense, Spain, a 63-year-old man lost his life inside a traditional wine press. The cause was an atmosphere with only 10 percent oxygen, a dangerous condition that had gone unnoticed. Neighbors reported not hearing from the man for nearly an hour before emergency services arrived at the scene. Upon inspection, they confirmed the man's death and alerted the fire brigade and the Guardia Civil.
The firefighters discovered the dangerously low oxygen levels, linked to the fermentation process taking place inside the lagar. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers that can arise from traditional wine-making practices, where fermentation gases can accumulate and displace oxygen in enclosed spaces. Although such fatalities are not frequent, they are not isolated, as similar incidents have occurred in other regions of Spain over the past few years.
The INSST, Spain's national institute for occupational safety and health, classifies these spaces as confined spaces with a high risk of fatal accidents due to limited access, poor ventilation, and low oxygen levels.
Written by urgent.news from Euro Weekly News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
