Health and Safety at the workplace first
Health and Safety at the workplace first
- EMF supports the struggle for a safer working environment
On the occasion of a visit to the EMF’s Bulgarian member organisations, the EMF General Secretary Peter Scherrer visited the Kremikovtzi steel plant. This plant, which is more than 40 years old, is owned by Pramot Mittal, the brother of the world’s biggest steel producer Lakshmi Mittal.
Vassil Yanachkov, President of the “Metalicy” trade union and Peter Scherrer took part in a commemoration service for the workers of the former state-owned steel plant who had suffered fatal accidents. The ceremony was held in front of the main entrance to the steel company, which provides 7,000 jobs.
“It is one of the main objectives of our trade union to fight for rapid improvement in the health and safety standards in the Kremikovtzi steel plant”, said Yanachkov during the meeting with the top management of the plant. Although safety standards have been improved in the recent past there is still a lot do. The steel industry in general is an industry that includes several areas where health risks are higher than in other metalworking sectors. “The recent accession of Bulgaria to the EU is also raising the awareness of both managements and the trade unions to the very important issue of health and safety. And that is important for the workers and their families” stated Peter Scherrer at the end of the visit. The EMF will increase its efforts to support its member organisations in their campaign for a safer working environment and draws attention to the World Day for Health & Safety at Work – 28th April*.
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PRESS 21/2007
*28th April 2007: World Day for Health & Safety at Work - see ETUI-REHS www.etuirehs.org and the March issue of its publication HESAmail. Events being staged by trade unions across the world are liste on the website of the UK’s HSW magazine Hazardssee www.hazards.org/wmd.
The EMF is the representative body defending the interests of workers in the European metal industry. The EMF has a mandate for the external representation and coordination of the metalworkers' unions and a mandate to engage in bargaining at European level.
For further information please contact:
Editor, Peter Scherrer, EMF General Secretary
