Six thousand kits for the prevention of heat stroke to which agricultural workers are exposed daily. This is the initiative of Ebat Ciala Catania which continues its activity without stopping to guarantee the safety of workers. In the next few days the kits for individual protection, consisting of a thermal flask for hydration and a wide-brimmed straw hat, will be distributed to companies in the province. The aim is to prevent injuries to workers, forced to long exposures to the sun which, every year, cause health problems, even serious ones. In recent months, an initial agreement on the subject was reached between the regional government, unions, INPS, INAIL and employers’ associations for the drafting of a text on thermal shock, which prohibits workers engaged outdoors from carrying out activities during the hottest hours, in particular between 12 and 16.
“For us, safety in the workplace is a priority,” explains Claudio Petralia, president of Ebat Ciala Catania. “Farmers are among the workers most exposed to environmental thermal stress. In our country, summer temperatures reach record highs and, as we know, the great heat can cause significant health risks. The kits that we will distribute certainly represent only a small relief for the many workers engaged in the fields but,” concludes Petralia, “they are the sign of a constant commitment to making workplaces increasingly safe.”
