The professional association Independientes de la Guardia Civil (IGC) has denounced the "unhealthy situation" that the civil guards assigned to the Traffic Detachment of Arrecife (Las Palmas) have been "enduring for more than two months", where the only two bathrooms in the barracks remain closed and sealed due to lack of cleaning and disinfection products.
The measure, taken by the head of the detachment, as a health precaution due to the "lack of supply by the company awarded the cleaning service, leaves both the guards who provide service there, and the citizens who come to carry out procedures, without access to basic hygienic services".
This situation forces civil guards to go to public bathrooms or other facilities to satisfy their physiological needs. IGC states that these facts "generate a bad institutional image, undermine the professional dignity of the agents and pose a potential risk to public health".
“We regret that this situation has been reached, where civil guards do not even have access to a toilet in their workplace. This violates their professional dignity and violates the legislation on prevention of occupational hazards and safety at work”, says Daniel Fernández, spokesperson for IGC.
The closed bathrooms are located one on the main floor of the offices and another in the changing rooms and lockers area of the staff, which leaves the detachment "completely devoid of minimum hygiene facilities". Thus, the association assures that "the lack of cleaning has led to the proliferation of insects such as cockroaches and other animals typical of humid areas, aggravating the health problem".
Compliance with health regulations
“Civil guards cannot carry out their work effectively if minimum working conditions are not guaranteed. We demand the immediate replacement of the supply of cleaning products, the reopening of the toilets and an urgent review of compliance with hygienic-sanitary conditions in this and other facilities of the Corps”, adds Fernández.
IGC recalls that Royal Decree 486/1997, of April 14, establishes the safety and health provisions in the workplace, and that Law 31/1995, on Prevention of Occupational Hazards, obliges public administrations to guarantee that any worker, including those of the State Security Forces and Corps, performs their function in adequate conditions of hygiene and safety.
The association has transferred this complaint to the corresponding internal channels and requests the immediate action of the General Directorate of the Civil Guard to solve an unacceptable problem in a 21st century public service.
About IGC
Independientes de la Guardia Civil (IGC) is a professional association created in 2008 to defend the labor and social rights of civil guards from independence and commitment to improving public service. Emerging as an alternative to traditional models, IGC promotes transparency, professional dignity and equal pay. Currently, it represents thousands of agents throughout Spain and is an active part of the Civil Guard Council. Its work focuses on achieving fair working conditions and a real equalization with other police forces
