Complaints of bad odours reached Mepa in September

The planning authority had known about the toxic odours at Hexagon House back in September and, as a precaution, pregnant employees were transferred to work at the head office, a union official said yesterday.

Ronnie Vella, president of a house union representing technical and clerical staff at the Malta Environment and Planning Authority, said management had been informed about a number of complaints last year and was asked to take the necessary action to solve the problem.

"Unfortunately, action is only being taken now that the alarm went off," Mr Vella said.

He was speaking at a press conference held just outside the main gate at Hexagon House, in Marsa where workers from the drainage department continued with their maintenance work on the connection between the building's sewage system and the public sewage.

Mr Vella used the occasion to vent his frustration at Mepa's management for ignoring his union in talks held yesterday with the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and other unions on the situation at Hexagon House, and on other occasions.

The union, he said, was officially registered with the Department of Industrial Relations but it was not recognised by Mepa's management despite having more than 140 members. On the other hand, Mepa officially recognised the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and the Union of Mepa Professionals as representatives of its employees.

Mr Vella called on the other unions to work together in the best interest of all the authority's employees.

Meanwhile, the UĦM said that after talks with Mepa it was decided that no employees would report for work at Hexagon House until the building was certified safe and instead they should work from St Francis Ravelin.

A committee was also set up between the two recognised unions at Mepa and the management to monitor the situation at Hexagon House.

The authority has committed itself to carry out the necessary works to identify and solve the problem.

On Monday, the building had to be evacuated after a stench caused by toxic hydrogen sulphide gas enveloped the place.

The authority had confirmed the gas seeped back into the building's sewage system from the connection with the public sewers at the entrance to the building.

Employees underwent medical checks and at least one female employee was held overnight in hospital for observation. The authority ruled out foul play.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com