Yeongdeungpo-gu Ensures Safety of Elderly Paper Collectors... Provides Winter Supplies and Traffic Safety Education

By November, over 60 elderly waste collectors received two sets of thermal underwear... On November 17, a Yeongdeungpo Police Station officer conducted safety training at the district office annex... "We will provide effective support and establish a tight safety net for those living in hardship"

Traffic Safety Education

Yeongdeungpo-gu (District Mayor Choi Ho-kwon) announced that it will provide cold-weather gear and conduct traffic safety education for elderly people who make a living by collecting recyclables such as waste paper and scrap metal until November.

Elderly waste paper collectors often collect recyclables on the streets late at night or early in the morning, making them vulnerable to various safety accidents. Accordingly, the district is actively working to ensure the walking safety of recyclables collectors in the area and help them have a warm winter.

In October 2018, the district enacted the "Ordinance on Support for Recyclables Collectors in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul," establishing a systematic foundation to prevent safety accidents among recyclables collectors. Based on this, the district annually provides various safety equipment and cold- and heat-protection gear to safeguard the safety and health of recyclables collectors who live in difficult conditions.

The support targets recyclables collectors registered as residents of Yeongdeungpo-gu who meet one of the following criteria: ▲ elderly aged 65 or older ▲ persons with disabilities as defined in Article 2, Paragraph 2 of the Welfare of Disabled Persons Act ▲ those identified as needing support through a field survey.

Due to the sudden cold weather, the district will provide two sets of thermal underwear as cold-weather gear for about 60 recyclables collectors who work outdoors extensively. The cold-weather gear will be distributed to participants after the traffic safety education, and those who cannot attend the education will receive the gear through their local community service centers.

In July this year, the district, together with Seoul City, also provided cool towels, cool arm sleeves, and reflective vests to 93 elderly people and others to prepare for heatwaves and safety.

underwear

On November 17, at the Yeongdeungpo-gu Office annex, a traffic police officer from Yeongdeungpo Police Station will serve as an instructor to educate on ▲ traffic safety rules to prevent accidents among waste paper collectors ▲ prohibition of jaywalking and driving against traffic ▲ wearing protective gear and preventing handcart accidents. Through this, various safety accidents involving elderly waste paper collectors will be prevented, and safety will be further enhanced.

Choi Ho-kwon, Mayor of Yeongdeungpo-gu, said, “As winter approaches, we have prepared cold-weather gear and traffic safety education so that elderly recyclables collectors can work in a safer and warmer environment,” adding, “We will continue to seek effective support measures to ease the hardships of those living in difficult conditions and build a dense community safety net.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.