An investigation by the Guardian and Investigate Europe reports that as thousands of datacentres are built across Europe, some workers involved in their construction are being exposed to hazardous conditions, health risks and irregular pay, while fearing retaliation if they complain.
A worker identified as Sandu, a 34-year-old electrical tester at a large Google datacentre in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium, told investigators he was asked late in a shift to carry out safety tests on live electrical wiring after nearly 10 hours on the job. He said a protective suit required for the task was stored in an equipment room and that retrieving it would have added about 15 minutes to the work. With colleagues waiting and previous instances of dismissals for refusing assignments, he said he felt he had no choice but to proceed without the suit.
The Guardian and Investigate Europe say their reporting found broader patterns beyond individual accounts, including allegations of electrocutions or near-misses, exposure to disease, withheld wages and other labour rights concerns. Many workers interviewed for the investigation described living in fear of speaking up because of the risk of disciplinary action or losing their jobs.
The findings come as demand for data storage and processing capacity grows and numerous datacentre construction projects proceed across the continent. The investigation’s material raises questions about how safety standards and labour practices are enforced at complex, large-scale infrastructure sites that typically rely on extended contractor and subcontractor chains.
The reporting underscores the challenges regulators, operators and contractors face in ensuring consistent workplace protections on fast-moving construction projects. It also highlights the broader human costs tied to the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure if health, safety and labour safeguards are not effectively implemented and monitored.