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Modern Structure Collapsed During Renovation Works With Energy Screens, Affecting Agricultural Production Of Nine Hectares Of Agro Care In Middenmeer, In The Noord-Holland Region
A collapse in an agricultural greenhouse of approximately nine hectares caused an estimated loss of 20 million euros (R$ 128 million) in the city of Middenmeer, in the province of Noord-Holland, Netherlands, on the afternoon of last Friday (28). The greenhouse, owned by Agro Care, collapsed during modernization works, but fortunately no one was injured. The information was published by NL Times.
The structure, considered hyper-modern and built in 2015, housed tomato seedlings that were about three weeks old. At the time of the incident, the 65 workers who had been on-site throughout the day had already left the area. Security camera footage recorded the exact moment of the collapse, which occurred around 4:30 PM.
The company stated that the accident occurred during the installation of a second energy-saving shade system, when part of the greenhouse structure was temporarily modified, making it unstable. Consequently, a slight increase in wind was enough to cause the total collapse of the installation.
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Safety, Investigation, And Emergency Actions After The Collapse
Right on Saturday morning, forensics experts, engineers, and inspectors arrived at the site to begin investigative work. The company immediately suspended all operations in the neighboring greenhouses, prioritizing the safety of employees. After inspections, it was assured that the other structures of Agro Care are safe and comply with technical standards.
The company management organized informative sessions with all employees on Monday, with the presence of the management and human resources team. The meetings were conducted in the native languages of seasonal workers and clearly explained what happened and the measures taken. The goal was to restore confidence and prevent any feelings of insecurity among employees.
Specifically, the employees of greenhouse 6, where the collapse occurred, and the adjacent greenhouse participated in separate and more detailed meetings. The company also activated its support network with agricultural labor agencies to ensure that no one was left without work, redirecting employees to other productive areas of Agro Care.
Impacts On Agriculture And Plans For Reconstructing The Agricultural Greenhouse
Despite the extent of the collapse, Agro Care stated that it continues to operate normally in its other units. The main focus at this time is the welfare of employees and the development of a realistic plan for the reconstruction of greenhouse 6, which is expected to resume with new plants at the beginning of next year.
The company, which is one of the largest tomato producers in Europe, will continue its operations in the agricultural sector despite the setback. The favorable weather this week is being utilized with adjustments to work hours so that employees can start earlier and avoid the high afternoon temperatures.
The collapse of a structure considered modern and updated raises an alert for the agriculture sector, especially regarding the safety of agricultural buildings during renovations. The greenhouse had state-of-the-art technical installations, which were completely damaged, according to initial reports from Agro Care.
