Taean County Leads Efforts to Improve Working Conditions for Sanitation Workers

Additional Low-Floor Vehicles to Be Introduced This Year
Increased Budget to Improve Working Conditions

Appearance of newly introduced low-floor cleaning vehicle. / Taean-gun

Taean County in Chungnam is taking the lead in improving the working conditions and equipment for sanitation workers.

The county purchased one rear low-floor food waste collection vehicle (7 tons) at the end of last year for worker safety, and this year has increased its budget for improving the working environment and plans to purchase an additional seven collection vehicles, including five low-floor vehicles.

This measure aims to improve the treatment and working conditions of sanitation workers who start their day at dawn. The low-floor vehicles feature lower steps for easier boarding and alighting, and a separate space between the driver's seat and the collection compartment for workers to ride in.

Last year, the county spent 145 million KRW to purchase one low-floor food waste collection vehicle. This year, a total of 1.04 billion KRW will be invested to purchase two low-floor food waste collection vehicles, three low-floor general waste collection vehicles, and two recycling collection vehicles, totaling seven new vehicles.

Additionally, to improve the working environment, the county has increased the budget for purchasing fitness equipment and work supplies to 117 million KRW this year, about 42% more than last year's 82 million KRW. Taean County also plans to conduct a safety survey for sanitation workers and take measures to enhance workplace safety based on the results.

County Governor Gasero said, "We are making significant efforts to ensure the safety and create a pleasant working environment for sanitation workers by listening to their opinions and maintaining open communication. We will continue to seek improvements so that they can feel a strong sense of fulfillment in their work."

Meanwhile, Taean County is consistently working to improve equipment, such as introducing a compact electric street sweeper with a vehicle width of 120cm for cleaning narrow roads. Currently, the county operates a total of 44 cleaning vehicles, including arm roll trucks, compactor trucks, food waste collection vehicles, recycling dump trucks, street sweepers, and grab trucks.