Investigation Reports Unsafe Conditions at European AI Data Centre Sites

Oct 30, 2026
An investigation across nine European countries found reports of serious injuries, intimidation, withheld wages and restricted union access at data centre construction sites involving major technology companies and their contractors.

A five month investigation by Investigate Europe and its media partners documented serious injuries, intimidation, withheld wages and restricted union access at European data centre construction sites, according to Investigate Europe. The reporting covered nine countries and examined projects involving technology companies including Google and Microsoft.

At a Google data centre site in Belgium, an electrical tester said he suffered severe burns after managers confirmed that power lines were inactive when they were still live. The worker was exposed to 400 volts and 12,000 amps. Google said its contracts require suppliers to follow local labour laws and maintain safe working conditions, while contractor Dornan Engineering said it supported the Belgian authorities investigating the incident.

Workers at a Microsoft project in Sweden described a culture of fear and intimidation, with managers who "rule on mental terror". Sweden's Work Environment Authority opened 50 cases from 2021 to 2026 concerning data centre sites involving Microsoft and several construction companies. Records identified risks including workers being struck by vehicles and machinery falling into excavations.

Shortly before publication, the Solidariska byggare union secured a 15 million Swedish krona settlement, about €1.3 million, with contractor Benbau for 78 Romanian workers at Microsoft's Gävle site. Microsoft said contractors must follow Swedish labour law and its requirements covering safety, working conditions, union membership and collective bargaining.

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