The Union of Nursing Technicians (SAE), after repeatedly communicating to the management of the Valterra health center the problems that the lack of an air conditioning system is generating in the center, has finally filed a complaint with the Labor Inspectorate, since the inaction to solve this problem is putting the safety and health of professionals and patients at risk, as well as the correct preservation of medicines, such as vaccines.
"We are facing an occupational health problem classified in Annex III of Royal Decree 486/1997, of April 14, which establishes the minimum safety and health provisions in the workplace: "as far as possible, the environmental conditions of workplaces should not constitute a source of discomfort or annoyance for workers. To this end, extreme temperatures and humidity, sudden changes in temperature, annoying drafts, etc. should be avoided," the union points out.
In addition, the Union of Nursing Technicians adds that "the RD states that the temperature of the premises where light work is carried out will be between 14 and 25ºC. However, users and professionals of the health center are enduring temperatures of more than 27º, which, of course, clearly contravenes current legislation."
From SAE they explain that "the high temperatures are causing an increase in the refrigerators where vaccines are stored, which exceeds 8ºC, which violates the parameters established by the DIN 58345 standard, which specifies that the conservation of vaccines outside the range of between 2ºC and 8ºC may lead to the irreversible loss of their immunizing capacity."
"It is regrettable that the facilities of the center are not adequate in this sense, therefore, from SAE we will continue to demand that the air conditioning system be repaired to ensure that the temperature levels are within the limits set by the legislation and do not pose a risk to the safety and health of users and professionals," explains Verónica Rodríguez, head of SAE in Lanzarote.