The Civil Guard has reported to the Courts of Arrecife a possible crime against the rights of workers that occurred on a poultry farm in Tahíche, where a company was carrying out works without the necessary security measures. The investigation began on November 27, when Seprona agents learned that work was being carried out in that warehouse, located on Juan Ramón Jiménez street, to replace the roof, which was made of micro-cement with asbestos.
That same day, Seprona went to the place and was able to see four operators working on the roof of the warehouse, "without any type of protection", as confirmed to La Voz by the Civil Guard. In addition to not having helmets and harnesses, the operators were not wearing masks or gloves, despite the dangerousness of this material and the risk it poses to health, since, among other things, it can cause respiratory diseases.
When the agents asked them for the company's documentation, the response they found was that at that moment they could not provide them with anything, since it was Sunday, so they informed them that they would return the next day. On Monday, Seprona returned to the warehouse together with inspectors from the Lanzarote Labor and Social Security Inspection office.
The Labor Inspection stopped the works
"That day they already had helmets, harnesses and gloves, but they still didn't have masks", the Civil Guard stated. Regarding the documentation, they verified that the company that had been hired to carry out that work, "in principle was not authorized to treat this type of material", which requires special permits.
After verifying these facts, the Labor Inspectorate stopped the works due to non-compliance with security measures in the handling and treatment of this type of material, as well as the absence of a work plan and even the lack of hygiene, since there was no bathroom that workers could access.
For its part, the Civil Guard sent the proceedings to the Arrecife duty court for an alleged crime against the rights of workers. Specifically, article 316 of the Penal Code contemplates penalties of six months to three years in prison for those who "in violation of the regulations on the prevention of occupational hazards and being legally obliged, do not provide the necessary means for workers to carry out their activity with adequate security and hygiene measures, in a way that seriously endangers their life, health or physical integrity".
