29/07/2010
HEALTH AND SAFETY SEMINARS FOR COUNCIL WORKERS IN THE THRIASIO AREA
Keeping the streets and public places clean is one of a local council’s main responsibilities. Every day the street cleaning departments of local authorities and their cleaning crews make herculean efforts to keep our cities clean, welcoming and viable to live in. The waste collection and disposal men, in particular, often have to work in difficult conditions, at some risk to their health and safety.
These aspects of refuse collection and disposal were the subject of a consultation at the Stakeholders’ Forum held by TITAN at its Kamari plant on 1 March 2010, which was attended by representatives of local councils in the Thriasio area, important local businesses (TITAN, Hellenic Petroleum, Hellenic Gas Transmission, Halyvourgiki, Polyeco), NGOs and concerned citizens.
A number of decisions were taken, including approval of a proposal to organize seminars to pass on the health and safety expertise and experience of the companies cited above to the waste collection and disposal crews of the councils of Elefsina, Aspropyrgos and Magoula.
As a consequence of this decision, a series of seminars was arranged, lasting a total of ten hours over four days, on the subject ‘Improving the health and safety conditions of council waste collection and disposal operatives’. The seminars were addressed by workplace physicians and specialists in ergonomics from the Greek Institute for Health and Safety in the Workplace. Topics covered included protection from natural and biological hazards, correct use of protective equipment (masks, gloves, reflecting jackets, etc.), protection from general risks involved in waste collection, particularly at night, first aid, etc.
The seminars were organized and sponsored by TITAN.
Comments on the seminars from the Mayors of Elefsina and Aspropyrgos
“I am convinced that this joint initiative by Elefsina Council and TITAN to improve health and safety awareness among our waste removal crews has been a great success and will have invaluable results. It targets a group of workers who are exposed every day to hazards that may not always be visible, and I have to admit that to date they have not received any specific training in health and safety. This initiative more than fills that gap, especially since the seminars were given by experts in the field from the Health and Safety Institute.
I must thank TITAN for its immediate response to our appeal for help, and for meeting the costs of these four days of seminars”.
Georgios Abatzoglou
Mayor of Elefsina
“Please allow me to thank you on behalf of the Council for the health and safety seminars you arranged for our workforce. The seminars were a great success and demonstrate the sensitivity in this area always shown by the TITAN Group”.
Nikolaos Meletiou
Mayor of Aspropyrgos