Regardless of the purpose, the collapse of a suspended ceiling can justify termination when cracks are detected and treated as a serious safety concern. In Vigo, a security incident became the focal point of a dismissal case after a store roof collapsed. Surveillance footage was central to the investigation and the ensuing legal process.
The employee challenged the dismissal in court, arguing that compensation and the right to speak up about dangerous conditions were being violated. The clerk had alerted the Labor Inspectorate two days before the collapse, saying that the bosses forced workers to operate despite the risk of roof failure, a claim tied to complaints about disrespect and humiliation in relation to other branches of the same company.
At the end of last year, the Magistrate of Social Court No. 4 in Vigo rejected the marketer’s allegations. It was found that the workers did not inform their superiors about the cracks during a visit by one of the business owners in early May. The owner noted the need for repairs and instructed workers not to hang any items from decorative logs installed in the ceiling.
Security footage, recorded two days after the Labor Inspectorate complaint on May 21, shows workers pulling wires while handling decorative logs and using a broom to remove parts of the ceiling cover. The actions led to further damage but were completed without anyone being harmed. After four days, the workers reiterated their complaints, and five days later the plaintiff was dismissed. The decision does not specify the fate of the other worker involved.
camera use
The employee also contested the use of the security footage as evidence, claiming ignorance of its existence. The judge allowed its use, noting that labor jurisprudence permits the adoption of monitoring measures without explicit employee consent. The case did not delve into whether the employee engaged in fraudulent or malicious behavior or what motivated the attempt to pull the cables. Nonetheless, the court deemed the actions serious enough to justify dismissal.
The ruling emphasizes that workplace safety concerns and the appropriate handling of evidence play crucial roles in labor disputes. It also highlights how video recordings can be used to assess events surrounding a dismissal, particularly in situations involving structural risk and safety violations. [Citation: Vigo Social Court ruling, case details and commentary from local legal observers].