Δημοσιεύτηκε η ΚΥΑ Αριθμ. Δ1α/ΓΠ.οικ.22206  «Έκτακτα μέτρα προστασίας της δημόσιας υγείας από τον κίνδυνο περαιτέρω διασποράς του κορωνοϊού COVID-19 στο σύνολο της Επικράτειας από τη Δευτέρα, 18 Απριλίου 2022 και ώρα 06:00 έως και την Κυριακή, 1 Μαΐου 2022 και ώρα 06:00.»

BRAVO Sustainability Awards – GEP Privileges Card

Amongst 40 practices, GEP CARD «Κάρτα προνομίων Υγείας, διατροφής και ασφάλισης για εργαζόμενους όλων των επιχειρήσεων με μηδενική συνδρομή» initiative scored 2.9 out of 4.  Voted by 3.173 Active Citizens and read by 9.046 users.

GEP Card, is a  usefull “tool” of opportunity and privilege for all businesses that would like  to provide benefits to their employees without having to invest money and resources.

In particular, GEP card’ health benefits, can be used by companies beyond the considerable benefits that may provide to their employees and families (Group Insurance Program) , providing financial benefits to in all directions, from reducing health costs.

GEP Card is constantly enriched with new privileges for which card owners will be regularly updated.

GEP Card was awarded as a worthy initiative for society! Thanks to the institution Bravo Sustainability Awards for recognizing our work!

Read more about the results here

Seasonal flu prevention 

Flu is an acute respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses A and B. Influenza infect the upper and / or lower part of the respiratory system (nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchi). Usually the term “flu” is used as a synonym for “cold” or “allowance” but in strict medical terms, “flu” is a disease caused by the above specific viruses.

Flu is transmitted from one person to another when a patient coughs, sneezes, or talks and spreads the virus into the air, through very small, invisible droplets. Influenza viruses are also transmitted through hands, when someone touches objects and surfaces that have flu virus on it and then touches his own mouth, eyes or possibly his nose. Factors such as cold weather and crowded places increase influenza’s transmission.

Flu symptoms usually start suddenly and include high fever, muscles and joints ache, headache, tiredness, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough (usually dry). Children may have gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, while in adults these symptoms are rare. As for adults, the symptoms for which you should immediately consult your doctor are: high and persistent fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, fainting episodes, confusion, vomiting, weakness.

Precautions

Vaccination is the main way to prevent seasonal flu. Strict adherence to hand hygiene and other measures for respiratory infections reduces the risk of transmission. For this reason:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
• Wash your hands often. Frequent hand washing can help stop the spread of germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Flu viruses are often spread when a person touches objects and surfaces that are contaminated with germs and then touch his own eyes, nose or mouth.

Please get in contact with the Occupational Doctor of your company or with the Health Department of GEP (Int. 2111882850), to get further information about influenza precaution and vaccination. Although the best time for vaccination is the period October-November, it is advised to vaccinate people even later, if for any reason early vaccination did not take place, especially if they belong to vulnerable groups.

The GEP Group of Companies Wore Its Holiday Season Costume!

We all celebrated the beginning of the holiday season! GEP’s family is growing, the trees were 2 this year!

Happy Holidays to everyone with health, safety and optimism for the future ahead

1.5 million hours without an accident

The main objective of Enel Green Power Hellas in the construction of wind farms in the Kafirea area of ​​EVOIA was the complete safety of those involved in the implementation of the project.

The Kafireas Wind Complex project, which is implemented by Enel Green Power Hellas, is the largest of its kind in our country.

The investment exceeded 300 million euros, while the installation of the 7 wind farms complex, capable of producing 480 megawatts of electricity per year, worked in total over 1,200 people and used more than 600 project machines. Despite the difficult conditions, due to the extreme weather conditions often present in the area, the complexity and the scope of the project, the objective of total safety and zero accidents – with GEP’s contribution – has become a reality. Recently, 1,500,000 full-time workers were completed without accident.

“KEY” THE COOPERATION

An important factor for this success was the excellent cooperation between the two companies. GEP, for its part, has undertaken to provide a range of services based on the specific security needs arising from the project needs. Specifically, in terms of preventing employee health, it provided, two specialized First Aid seminars, while also was also responsible to create and equip the First Aid Station.

At the same time, due to the large scale of the project, it provided five Safety Coordinators, with extensive experience in corresponding to large projects, who oversaw the implementation of EGPH safety rules and the applicable legislation, while also highlighting and co-ordinating the necessary corrective actions.

Read the whole article here

Challenges & Management OHS on big projects

Competitive Advantages: Specialization and know-how

The effective management of Occupational Health & Safety in big projects requires readiness to meet specific requirements, specifications on know-how, and expertise depending on the type of project.

High-risk projects

Large-scale construction projects and industrial sites present particular challenges in the management of Occupational Health and Safety.

These are projects related to industrial and construction sectors such as mines, chemicals, oil derivatives, metallurgical industries, shipyards, construction activities etc. They require particular know-how and expertise, specific and very strict instructions, continuous trainings of the stakeholders involved and ongoing supervision. They also involve machinery use and handling, transportation and storage of products and materials, work at heights.  It often include risks such as engine noise, raw material or chemical dust, confined workplaces, and even extremely high or low temperatures, and factors that directly or potentially harm workers’ health. Preventing, however, any harmful impact on employee’s health & safety is at the heart of our purpose. The Occupational Doctor and Safety Officer must act as employer advisors, and design, implement and supervise programs that meet the needs of each complex project.

Projects with an impact on the general public

Managing OHS in facilities that attract the attention of large numbers of visitors (such as large cultural centers and institutions) requires specific planning, know-how and expertise to address any potential risk.

Responsibility towards visitors requires the existence of a First Aid Station, a medical staff with medical and nursing staff, properly equipped with medical supplies.

In addition, the training of staff in these facilities is essential in the provision of First Aid, crowd management, evacuation of places on the basis of studies and escape plans, as well as psychological crowd management in the event of sudden events such as a natural disaster etc.

Large-scale projects

These are projects that are carried out over many kilometers and require special organization, both in terms of staffing, and in monitoring Health & Safety procedures throughout the project.

In addition, they require complete coordination of actions as well as electronic monitoring and instant reporting systems for the current status and progress of the project.

These projects for the effective management of OSH usually require an individualized approach, many resources, know-how and specialization, due to their particular characteristics.

They also require specialized and certified staff, such as site doctors and nurses, special equipment for measuring agents, special training, ambulances, and setting up First Aid stations. A typical example of such an approach is the construction of the TAP Trans Andriatic Gas Pipeline.

Projects of special characteristics

This is a separate category of projects, which by their nature require special expertise. These include the task of implementing Health & Safety audits in its Delegation buildings in 35 non-EU countries, which was awarded to GEP following by a European Commission tender. The implementation of this project required specific studies tailored to the needs of the delegations in each country, as well as specific inspections, such as thermography of electrical installations and measurements of lift components.

Safety culture

The global scientific community has contributed to the creation and improvement of “tools” that can be used to achieve safe working conditions based on safe human behavior. One of these tools is the BBS-Behavior Based Safety program

The ultimate goal of BBS programs is to eliminate accidents

Implementing a BBS program is a strategic corporate choice, with specific planning, processes and actions, and the ultimate goal is to eliminate accidents.

The employee consciously recognizes and selects a safe action (behavior) and rejects an unsafe one which could result in an accident. Basically, we are talking about shaping a corporate safety culture.

Experience so far has shown that organizations that choose to invest in developing a safety culture, regardless of their productive field (eg oil companies, automakers, food industries, building materials factories, metal industries, manufacturing and distribution companies) energy, mining, etc.) derive economic benefits from increased productivity and reduction of compensation and absenteeism costs.

GEP – VESTAS HELLAS: 12 Years of Cooperation

GEP’s partnership with Vestas Hellas, dating from 2008 and counting on its countless everyday – small and big – successes in managing the Health and Safety of employees and everybody involved in Wind Farms.

With satisfaction and pride, the two companies are talking about a successful 12-year cooperation. In particular, Charalampos Monogyios, GEP’s Construction and Industrial Manager and Manoussos Nikias, Coordinator of Vestas Hellas Health, Safety and Environment Department, point out the ultimate goal of their co-operation, which is zero accidents.

As the global effort to tackle climate change grows year by year, the renewable energy industry – and most notably the wind energy sector – is growing rapidly both in our country and at European level.

With more and more employees working on various aspects of the wind energy sector, employee’s Health and Safety is a top priority for Vestas, the world leader in wind turbine production. A trusted and exclusive partner of the European colossus in Greece is GEP, which with the expertise of its people in wind farms and with GWO certified and targeted trainings, responds with “vital” results to the demanding goals of Vestas Hellas in order to safeguard the health and safety of its employees

“As in all Energy Sectors, the Wind Energy Industry is filled with challenges and extreme weather phenomena, such as snow, lightning, strong winds, etc.”

“From construction to transportation, installation and maintenance of wind parks, Occupational Health and Safety risks occur at every step of the process. The requirements for implementing Health and Safety Best Practices, but also continuing employee trainings in Wind Parks are becoming more and more urgent, as data on wind turbine manufacturing change and their geometrical characteristics grow.

Critical elements for safeguarding health and safety in wind farms, regardless of the prevailing conditions, are on the one hand the support of these large projects by specialized, experienced and trained safety officers and coordinators, and on the other hand the certified trainings of all employees involved in each project, so that they have the knowledge and skills needed to protect themselves and their partners. With Vestas we have an excellent multi-year partnership, which – mainly – is due to the quality of our communication and our shared vision of the absolute protection of human life. ”

Zero Accident Target is not negotiated for Vestas Hellas. Priorities in collaboration with GEP were set from the very beginning. People and their protection is the ultimate priority.

“Safety is the top priority for all of us here in Vestas. We are working systematically to create the mindset to all of us in order to manage safety proactively, with the ultimate goal of zeroing out accidents. To achieve this goal, every organization needs time to pass – and through appropriate processes – transform its perception of safety. Over the last four years, the pace of construction and commissioning of wind farms has been increasing. At the same time, there is a growing need for hiring more people and the challenge for Vestas is twofold, on the one hand to maintain and improve the safe working environment for everybody involved (Vestas staff and contractors), and on the other, to blow the culture of security to new staff.

Guides to achieve these goals are both Vestas management’s commitment to providing a safe work environment, as well as the selection of specialized partners like GEP », Manousos Nikias, Vestas Hellas Health & Safety Coordinator mentioned.

 Education and Development of Safety Culture

At the moment, wind farms are being built in Kozani, Evia and Alexandroupolis. There, GEP’s dedicated staff ensures that all work is carried out safely and that, at the same time, the Health and Safety culture is cultivated in every person involved. It is noteworthy that Vestas staff, as well as specialized safety officers and coordinators, were trained and certified by the GWO at GEP’s new training center in its new premises. Topics in which employees were trained and certified were First Aid (FA), Manual Handling (MH), Fire Handling (FA) and Work at Height (WAH). The purpose of the GWO training is to provide theoretical and practical training by simulating the wind turbine environment in safe conditions so that the wind energy sector is a safe and sustainable field of work.

World Diabetes Day

Protect your family!

Family and Diabetes are in the center of awareness on the occasion of World Diabetes Day.

At GEP we would like to make the public aware of the impact that diabetes has on the family and  also to support its role in diabetes management, care, prevention and education.

What are the risk factors?

Various factors are associated with type II diabetes and include the following:

• Family history
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet
• Lack of physical activity
• Increase in age
• High blood pressure
• Nationality
• Impaired glucose tolerance
• History of gestational diabetes
• Poor nutrition during pregnancy

What you can do for prevention:

Your daily habits, both in the workplace and in your daily routine, can help you increase your health by preventing diabetes and improving your quality of life:

• Choose water, coffee or tea instead of fruit juice, soft drinks or other sugary drinks
• Eat at least three servings of vegetables each day, including green leafy vegetables
• Eat up to three servings of fresh fruit each day
• Choose unsalted, raw nuts, a fresh fruit or sugar-free yogurt for a snack
• Limit alcohol intake
• Choose lean pieces of white meat, poultry or seafood instead of red or processed meat
• Choose peanut butter instead of praline or jam
• Choose wholegrain bread, rice or pasta instead of white bread, rice or pasta
• Choose unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, instead of saturated fats such as butter, animal fat, coconut oil or palm oil.
• Increase your physical activity by including exercise into your life

How can you prevent diabetes in the family?

Many cases can be avoided it by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Reducing your family’s risk begins at home:

• When a family eats healthy meals and exercises together, all family members benefit and encourage behaviors that could help prevention
• If someone has diabetes in your family, learn about the dangers, warning signs to look out for, and what you can do to prevent it
• Families need to live in an environment that supports a healthy lifestyle and helps prevent all factors that may adversely affect health, such as smoking, lack of exercise and unhealthy nutrition.