Sabesp fired two employees and suspended seven others following an investigation into a gas leak in the República neighborhood, central São Paulo, which occurred on June 4th.  The company also announced, this Monday (15), the creation of the Operational Security Department, the unification of the Engineering and Operations areas, and the division of the Customers and Technology area into two separate departments. Related news: Sabesp suspends works that could interfere with the gas network. Sabesp extends aid to families affected by explosion to R$5,000. Scientific Police complete report on gas explosion in Jaguaré. “As part of the zero tolerance program for incidents on construction sites, Sabesp announced at the beginning of June a set of measures to reinforce engineering protocols and construction supervision to increase safety and minimize the impacts of interventions on the routine of the cities in which it operates”, it said in a note. The action plan is divided into three pillars: engineering and safety procedures;  intensification of monitoring of all work fronts; expansion of the employee training, qualification and certification program. The company added that it will triple the number of inspectors in the field, from 200 to 600 professionals, and expand the use of technology in monitoring works. >> Follow the Agência Brasil channel on WhatsApp Explosion in Jaguaré Last month, an explosion killed two people and injured two others in the Nossa Senhora das Virtudes II Community, in the Jaguaré neighborhood, west of São Paulo. The incident involves another Sabesp project. Residents reported smelling a strong smell of gas in their homes about three hours before the explosion, which led to the initial closure of 46 homes.  The Union of Engineers in the State of São Paulo (Seesp) released, on the occasion, a public note of condolence and repudiated the technical dismantling of sanitation. According to the entity, a rigorous investigation and “urgent review of management policies that put the safety of workers, the integrity of operations and the public interest at risk” are necessary. “The episode sheds light on a worrying process of technical and operational disruption that has been affecting Sabesp in recent years, marked by privatization, the accelerated reduction of its own staff and the loss of highly experienced professionals, precisely those responsible for transmitting knowledge accumulated over decades”, argues the union in a note. Privatization The privatization of Sabesp, the largest sanitation company in the country, was completed on July 23, 2024, under the current state management, concluding a long process, with requests from Parliamentary Commissions of Inquiry (CPIs) and accusations of dismantling by workers' representations. Basic sanitation, highlighted the engineers' union, is a complex activity, whose operation depends not only on equipment, but above all on highly qualified labor. “By prioritizing exclusively short-term financial indicators, downsizing teams and replacing experienced workers with outsourced and precarious structures, this technical asset essential to security is compromised”, highlighted Seesp. An active participant in the public hearing process that preceded the sale, the Union of Water, Sewage and Environmental Workers of the State of São Paulo (Sintaema) assessed, at the time, that the loss of public control would be one of the decisive factors, with less weight from the government and its departments in strategic decisions. Sintaema even warned about the layoffs that have occurred since the privatization of Sabesp and, consequently, about the risk of an increase in accidents due to the reduction in maintenance and rapid response teams.