Tarragona’s Republican Left (ERC) has accused the city government of inaction over serious health and safety risks facing municipal cleaning staff employed by Urbaser. The party says the Labour Inspectorate has issued two formal requirements to the company, yet the PSC-led council has not enforced corrective measures.
ERC councillor Jordi Fortuny stated the city council has a legal duty to ensure workers are not exposed to preventable hazards. He called on Mayor Rubén Viñuales to immediately exercise oversight over Urbaser, verify compliance with safety regulations, and compel the company to implement necessary improvements.
The city council has an obligation to ensure the company fulfils its duties and that workers are not exposed to risks.
Among the concerns raised are malfunctioning air conditioning systems in cleaning vehicles and broader deficiencies in workplace facilities. These issues come amid rising temperatures, with Spain’s summer of 2026 recorded as the warmest since 1961, averaging 24.5°C.
Delayed Machinery Upgrade Adds Pressure
Urbaser took over Tarragona’s street cleaning service in November 2025, ending two decades of contract extensions with the previous operator. While the council has praised early improvements, including a new rapid-response team active since December, full modernisation of the fleet is not expected until June 2026, seven months after the contract began.
Currently, 129 vehicles are in use, some rented or repaired, as the new machinery is phased in. The city has previously distributed heat-protection kits, containing water bottles, hats and backpacks, to outdoor workers, following union warnings about high temperatures.
Labour Safety Concerns Mount
USOC union has previously warned that heat continues to endanger Urbaser staff in Tarragona. The Labour Inspectorate has also opened a formal record over high temperatures at the site, reflecting wider concerns across Catalonia, where 60 fatal workplace accidents were recorded in the first half of 2026, a 22% increase from the same period in 2025.
ERC insists the council must act now to enforce safety standards, particularly as climate-related risks intensify. The party has formally written to the mayor demanding effective monitoring and urgent corrective action by Urbaser.
Reported by tarragonaradio.cat, publico_es, Jan Magarolas, Exa, diaridetarragona.com, ACN, Adrià Torres, diarimes.com, Tarragona Ràdio.
