Update 2: Hexagon House workers request medical check-ups - unions take action

Three trade unions today ordered their members not to return to the MEPA environment section's offices at Hexagon House in Marsa pending investigations into the cause of bad smells which forced the evacuation of the building yesterday. The action was taken after a number of workers were checked in hospital and health centres for the inhalation of gases.

Meanwhile, MEPA chairman Austin Walker told timesofmalta.com that the incident was being investigated but as far as he knew there were no MEPA workers in hospital.

The Union Professjonisti Awtorita` tal-Ambjent u L-iPpjanar (UPAP) said it had instructed its members at Hexagon House (the former Lohombus building) to report for work at the MEPA Head Office in Floriana until the authorities certifed that Hexagon House air quality was safe for all employees.

"UPAP is concerned about air quality at Hexagon House. Yesterday's incident (when Hexagon House had to be evacuated) confirms the repeated complaints by UPAP members of the persisting occurrence of unacceptable pungent smells within the offices. It is evident that although a lot of reassurances have been made by MEPA that the building is a safe working environment, yesterday's management decision to evacuate the building confirms that the problem still exists," the union said.

The union said that following the latest incident, a number of employees felt unwell. On their own initiative they went to a health centre where they were certified injured at work due to ‘other type of poisoning and infections’. A number of employees were referred to hospital from the health centre for further observations and further tests.

The union said it would hold MEPA responsible for any injuries and/or physical effects incurred by any of its members as a result of past or any future incident.

Meanwhile the MEPA Technical and Clerical Workers’ Union (UTAC) said it had instructed its members not to return to their place of work until it was shown certification that the building did nto pose a hazard to health.

The union in a statement said it had long been complaining about the smells in Hexagon House which, it said, were detrimental to the workers.

Last November it issued a directive for the workers to evacuate the building whenever there were bad smells. It described the situation yesterday as ‘critical’.

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) said it was also calling on its members to report for work at MEPA head office instead of Hexagon House.

The union revealed that a meeting between MEPA, the union and the Occupational Health and Safety Authority would be held tomorrow to discuss the situation at Hexagon House and health risks for the workers.

MEPA said yesterday that following the evacuation, it called the Drainage Department to inspect the office's sewage system and establish whether the smell was coming from a leak.

However, it said the system turned out to be in a good condition and, strangely enough, the smell was only present in the offices and not outside.

The authority said it has now asked the police to investigate whether any foul play is causing the smell.