Teams of NTA Inspectors - Auditors of the Inspections and Audits Unit, during the period 01.07.2023 to 31.08.2023, carried out audits in campsites throughout the country, in order to ascertain their proper operation, quality and adequacy of facilities, equipment and services offered.
Specifically, of the 121 camps that had applied for a license, 110 were licensed and 45 were inspected on the basis of a Risk Analysis Plan.
The NTA’s Health and Welfare Sector created a database with information on all the country’s camps operating with their own resources, in order to inform the Authority and select the audit scope both in the current period and in the future.
Findings:
Of the 121 camps 22 had submitted a request for an operating license to the competent regional authorities after the deadline set by the applicable provisions.
Of the 121 camps for 84 of them, the operation licenses were issued from the Regions after the deadline.
At least 12 camps did not keep records of criminal records’ copies and responsible statements/affidavits of their employees, in derogation of the relevant provisions.
In 8 camps sampling and laboratory testing of drinking water suitability in the network had not been carried out.
26 camps did not keep on their premises the required documents to be presented at each audit.
12 camps had not made a) the decision to appoint a person responsible for the protection of minors and to notify the competent services (Region, National Centre for Social Solidarity), b) the keeping of copies of criminal records and responsible statements/affidavits for all personnel, c) the indication of the name of the person responsible for the protection of minors in a prominent place in the camp, d) the keeping of a relevant record book of incidents relating to the provisions on the protection of minors.
25 camps did not follow strict adherence to health regulations, i.e. damaged screens, improper storage of food and other items, and failure to keep a record of temperatures in refrigerators.
20 camps were not adequately staffed with the required personnel specialisations.
9 camps had not developed the number of beds in the short-stay hospital (sick bay) required by the regulations.
13 camps did not have equipment certification playing fields and playgrounds.
Inspectors-Auditors Recommendations:
The audit findings were communicated to the competent Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, to the competent Regions, to the audited bodies and improvement proposals/recommendations were made respectively for all of the above.
In addition, recommendations were made to carry out evacuation drills at the beginning of each camping season.
Audits are planned and carried out by the NTA on an annual basis throughout the Greek Territory, in order to ensure the compliance of the operators with the applicable provisions concerning camp operation and the protection of public health.