Volos municipal worker seriously injured in chainsaw accident

A 56-year-old gardener working for the Volos Municipality Green Service was seriously injured in a workplace accident on Thursday morning in Nea Ionia. The worker, identified as Konstantinos Symsas, sustained a deep laceration to his left thigh while using a chainsaw for pruning tasks on Proussis and Propondida streets.

Symsas was transported to Volos Hospital, where he required 50 stitches to treat the wound. The labor union DAS-OTA Magnesia has called for an immediate and detailed investigation by the Labor Inspectorate into the circumstances of the accident.

The union highlighted broader concerns regarding worker safety within municipal services, particularly in the greenery and sanitation sectors where employees handle dangerous machinery and hazardous materials. While noting that personal protective equipment (PPE) is provided for the Green Service, the union argued that such measures alone are insufficient without comprehensive risk assessments and constant supervision. They also criticized the municipal authorities for delays in providing PPE for other sectors, such as sanitation services.