February 8, 2023
By Vinitha Murukesan and Blessy Oviya
Programme Coordinator & Technical Coordinator – Water & Sanitation
In partnership with Tamil Nadu Urban Sanitation Support Programme (TNUSSP), Keystone’s Water and Sanitation team members situated in our Coimbatore office are organising a three-day first-aid training programme for 150 sanitation workers and desludging operators of the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation (February 8-10). Desludging operators are those who work in underground drains, cleaning jet machines and septic tanks, and also operate desludging lorry services. Free individual first-aid kits were distributed among the workers after the event.
The tasks that the workers are in charge of are crucial to public health and wellbeing, yet post high hazards to workers themselves, exposing them to the risk of severe healthcare issues at the workplace. Moreover, they are often not trained appropriately in first-aid procedures that are simple but could save lives. Those who operate private vehicles that are registered with the corporation also took part in our training, which included a mix of theory through presentations and talks, and demonstrations of the first aid measures to be carried in various emergencies.
The deputy commissioner, assistant commissioner, city health officer, zonal sanitary office and Swachh Bharat nodal officer of the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation were keen observers of the event and an encouraging presence.
