Mum Of Two Uses Workers Memorial Day to Question ‘Unacceptable Delays’ In Investigation

The widow of a Midlands construction worker is using this year’s Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April to call for answers concerning the accident that claimed his life.

Father-of-two, Cristinel Osolos, from Erdington, was crushed against a concrete wall by a bridge beam when working at the Stanton Cross development in Wellingborough. He died from his injuries seven days after the incident which happened on 24, May 2017.

Specialists at Irwin Mitchell are acting on behalf of the administrators of Cristinel’s estate. They have issued civil proceedings against Galliford Try Infrastructure and Baldwins Crane Hire Limited in relation to the incident. The companies deny liability.

Christinel’s widow, Anamaria Osolos, 39, is determined to find the answers on what led to her husband’s death and left four-year-old Stefan and one-and-a-half year-old sister Emma without a father.

On Workers’ Memorial Day, Anamaria is questioning the ‘significant and unacceptable delays’ in an investigation that is still ongoing, three years after her husband’s death.

Workers’ Memorial Day is designed to ‘remember the dead and fight for the living’ by improving health and safety standards in the workplace and increasing protection in place for employees.

Louise Binks, a specialist lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: "Workers’ Memorial Day is a harsh reminder that lives are still being needlessly lost every year as a result of people’s employment.

"Anamaria’s story is heart-breaking and she has shown great bravery in speaking out. We are now determined to find the answers she seeks in connection with her husband’s death."

Anamaria understands her husband and a number of employees were involved in placing a 56 ton bridge beam on supporting structures. For reasons yet to be identified the beam moved and Cristinel suffered a significant crush injury.

He was transferred to hospital, where he underwent numerous surgeries in an attempt to stabilise him. However, his condition continued to deteriorate and he passed away, surrounded by his family on 31 May 2017. 

Speaking ahead of Workers' Memorial Day, Anamaria Osolos said: “I lost my beloved husband Cristinel due to a work accident where a concrete beam fell on his upper legs.

"Chris was taken to Coventry University Hospital in an induced coma and his upper right leg was amputated that day. Chris survived six days until the doctors amputated the upper left leg to keep him alive but unfortunately, he died as a result of his injuries.

"Chris went to work smiling that day but never came home. He couldn’t say goodbye to any of us and left behind a daughter, a son, two sisters and devastated parents. We miss him, think and talk about him every day. Unfortunately my daughter won’t remember what a great father he was.

"My grief has transformed into sadness and anger. My children have been left without their father and after three years of significant and unacceptable delays, we still have no answers. I feel let down that the HSE is still taking statements and still investigating after such a long time.

"I hope that speaking about the huge negative impact that Chris’s death has had upon our family will make companies understand that the safety of their workers is very important. This is all so hard to say and I hope that by doing so, no other family ever has to suffer in the way we have.”