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It’s a book that sheds light on deaths about which little is said in the media: the victims of industrial accidents. Anonymous who die in the exercise of their function. With this book, the author, Matthieu Lépine, wants to help families understand and better experience their grief.
It’s a book that tells the story of Michel, Harouna, Franck, Romain, Hugo, Christiane, Yucel or even Teddy. Apprentices, workers, self-employed or trainees, who have lost their lives in their workplace, exercising or learning their trade.
A blog, a Twitter account and now a book
The one who had the idea of bringing these deaths to light is Matthieu Lépine, a history and geography teacher in Montreuil, in Seine-Saint-Denis. He first made a blog, titled “A popular story” then a Twitter account. The prefessor publishes a book today, The Invisible Hecatombto talk about these victims, their deaths and help families understand and grieve.
“The Invisible Hecatomb – Investigation into the dead at work”, by @MatthieuLepine, @EditionsduSeuil.
After more than 4 years of daily census of work accidents, exchanges with victims, families… I announce the release of my book on March 10, 2023. pic.twitter.com/Agiyxkbipc— Accident at work: silence of the workers die (@DuAccident) February 8, 2023
Accidents that often affect the youngest and most precarious
For four years, the author, Matthieu Lépine, counted fatal work accidents in France. He counts 1399. In his book, which therefore lists the figures of this phenomenon but also provides testimonies and an analysis of the facts. The history-geography professor shows that death at work is a major social fact on the increase which concerns workers who are often young and have a precarious status.
A book-investigation that lifts the veil on these accidents at work
There are several reasons for this: non-compliance with safety obligations, negligence of training, massive use of temporary or subcontracted workers, disempowerment of companies, general deterioration of working conditions … So many reasons why, at present, France is unfortunately on the first place of the podium with the highest rate of fatal accidents in Europe, according to figures from the European Trade Union Confederation.