Good news from Arak Municipality to citizens; the zip line in Noor al-Shuhada Valley (Gerdu), with safety requirements observed, is on the verge of operation.
The head of the Urban Landscape and Green Space Organization emphasized a 60% reduction in incidents through the implementation of HSE control measures; standardization of parks and upgrading the safety of urban infrastructure were placed on the agenda.
According to the Public Relations and International Affairs Department of Arak Municipality, the seventh specialized meeting of the Safety, Health, and Environment (HSE) Committee of the Urban Landscape and Green Space Organization of Arak Municipality was held with the حضور of Abolfazl Taklou, head of the HSE Department of Arak Municipality, Mehdi Fadavi, head of the Urban Landscape and Green Space Organization, and the organization’s deputies and managers.
At the beginning of the meeting, the implementation process of the previous session’s resolutions was reviewed, and alongside evaluating the actions taken, ways to accelerate the implementation of preventive programs and improve safety levels in the organization’s managed units were discussed.
Standardization of park equipment and protection of citizens’ safety
One of the most important topics of the meeting was the standardization of equipment and facilities in urban parks. In this regard, the procurement and installation of standard flooring in parks and playgrounds, as well as close monitoring of quality, technical specifications, and compliance with standards, were emphasized.
It was also decided to prepare a comprehensive database of equipment, installations, and facilities of the parks and green spaces of Arak, and to create a dedicated HSE file for all parks so that the safety status, inspection records, identified hazards, and corrective actions of each unit can be tracked in a documented and systematic manner.
Risk assessment and technical inspection of equipment and installations
Another important resolution of the meeting was to conduct risk assessments and technical and safety inspections of all equipment and installations in the organization’s workshops, as well as the facilities and equipment موجود in the parks. This measure will be pursued with the aim of identifying hazards, determining risk levels, prioritizing corrective actions, and preventing possible incidents in work environments and public spaces.
Simultaneous attention to the safety of citizens, employees, and urban infrastructure
Later in the meeting, various topics were reviewed under three main axes: citizen safety, employee safety and health, and infrastructure and environmental safety.
Mehdi Fadavi, head of the Urban Landscape and Green Space Organization of Arak Municipality, emphasizing the need to pay simultaneous attention to these three areas, stated: improving safety in the organization requires the participation of all units, continuous supervision, and precise implementation of preventive programs, and HSE requirements should be considered an essential priority in all activities, projects, equipment, and services of the organization.
He also noted in reference to the HSE unit’s performance report: fortunately, through the use of control measures, hazard identification and management, field supervision, and continuous follow-up of safety programs, we have seen about a 60% reduction in incidents compared with the same period, which shows the importance of a preventive approach and the need to continue HSE programs in all parts of the organization.
Review of waterlogging in streets and high-risk urban نقاط
In another part of the meeting, the issue of waterlogging and slippery streets in high-risk parts of the city, including Imam Ali Boulevard, Navab Street, Shahid Anjafi Street, Shariati Street, and other similar locations, was raised. In this regard, emphasis was placed on the need to examine the source of waterlogging, identify the factors creating danger, assess risk, and adopt corrective measures to prevent slipping, falls, and possible incidents for citizens.
Drafting a comprehensive safety guideline for urban televisions
Given the expansion and use of urban televisions and displays, it was decided to draft a comprehensive safety guideline for the installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of this equipment. In this guideline, topics such as checking the strength of bases, connections, and structural foundations, electrical protection and prevention of electric shock, protective measures against lightning, safe repair and maintenance operations, and protection of workers against falls from height, as well as preparing technical and safety identification documents for all urban displays, will be addressed.
Making workshops safer and improving preparedness against fire
Reviewing the safety status of the organization’s warehouses and workshops was also among the topics of the meeting. In this section, the need to organize the work environment, identify hazards, make equipment and material storage areas safe, and remove possible deficiencies was emphasized.
The status of fire extinguishers in the organization’s parks and workshops was also reviewed, and the need to check recharge validity, technical health, proper placement, easy access, and equipment readiness for use in emergency conditions was emphasized.
In the final part of the meeting, Abolfazl Taklou, head of the HSE Department of Arak Municipality, referring to the importance of developing safe recreational and tourism spaces in Arak, announced that the conditions for operating the zip line in Noor al-Shuhada Valley (Gerdu) have been فراهم within the framework of observing technical and safety requirements.
He stated: the development of the city’s recreational and tourism infrastructure must, alongside creating vitality and increasing tourism appeal, be accompanied by full observance of safety principles and technical standards. In this regard, the zip line in Noor al-Shuhada Valley (Gerdu) has been reviewed from the perspective of HSE requirements, and with the completion of specialized reviews and the provision of safe conditions and necessary approvals, the groundwork for opening and operating this facility for citizens will be provided.
Taklou added: in recreational equipment based on height and motion, merely installing and commissioning the equipment is not enough for operation; rather, the strength of the structure and anchoring points, user connection and restraint equipment, braking and emergency stop systems, rescue equipment, operator qualifications and training, operating instructions, and inspection and maintenance programs must be carried out precisely.
He stated: the goal of urban management is for citizens, alongside experiencing excitement, vitality, and using the city’s tourism capacities, to also enjoy safety and peace of mind.
Appreciation for safe workers; strengthening a culture of prevention and responsibility
At the end of the meeting, in line with establishing the HSE reward and punishment system and with the aim of institutionalizing a culture of safety in work environments, safe workers and those who, by observing safety requirements and instructions, have played an effective role in protecting their own health and that of their colleagues, were appreciated and honored.
This action was carried out with the approach of strengthening safe behaviors, increasing employee motivation, improving individual and organizational responsibility, and encouraging continuous observance of safety requirements in the workplace.
Finally, emphasis was placed on following up the implementation of resolutions, assigning responsibilities to relevant units, supervising the proper execution of corrective actions, and continuing the specialized HSE committee meetings.
With a preventive approach and in cooperation with its specialized units, Arak Municipality considers safety not a ceremonial measure, but one of the main pillars of sustainable urban development, preservation of human capital, and improvement of citizens’ quality of life.