Over 160 000 health and safety incidents were reported in South Africa last year. These incidents had a total cost of R480 million while an additional R800 million was paid out by the Compensation Fund for, amongst others, permanent disabilities and fatalities. It is, therefore, no wonder that South Africa’s record for healthy and safe working places is considered to be poor in the international community.
Yet, every day thousands of health & safety practitioners work hard to improve their company’s record. Their effort often goes unnoticed as it only takes one incident or accident to ruin a reputation that has been built up painstakingly over a long period of time.
Being aware of how much time, effort and dedication it takes to create a healthier and safer workplace, MakroSafe decided to introduce the Health & Safety Excellence Awards to recognise top-achievers in various industries. “Slipups are easily made. But that doesn’t mean that the thousands of men and women out there striving to prevent this from happening, have failed,” says Johnny Terblanche, general manager, Health & Safety Services at MakroSafe.
MakroSafe decided to introduce the awards to provide some recognition. The top-achievers in 15 different categories were identified. “Our qualified consultants collected data for several months. This data was then checked, assessed and validated before we announced the 15 winners,” Johnny Terblanche adds.
As the 2013 winners will be entered into this year´s competition automatically, Terblanche is convinced this will raise the bar for all entries. The introduction of the Awards has been well received by the industry. “There is always the possibility of an incident occurring in our industry, but with strict management and safety measures, these possibilities are minimised and even eradicated as was the case for Synthachem in 2013,” Carol Claassen of Synthachem Technical Services admits. The company won the award in the Chemical, Rubber, Oil & Paint industry category.
The number of incidents reported last year in fact shows that health and safety perhaps still has a long way to go. Often time is blamed. But Linda Henning of Kintetsu World Express SA doesn’t accept that as an excuse. Her team won the award in the category Air & Road Transport Hauliers Industry. “The greatest risk in our specific industry is hurry. When there is an aircraft on ground (AOG) or special medication awaiting transport, everyone in the office, warehouse and transport section goes into rush mode. There is a certain period in which all the tasks required are to be completed; however, the work needs to be completed correctly and safely but quickly.”
Charles De Beer of Caxton Printers Division, the company that came first in the Printing & Paper Industry category, adds, “Creating a healthy and safe working environment never stops, and it is not limited to any gender or age category. Both industry and society should strive to have it instilled as much and as often as we can, if we want to make a positive change to the number of accidents reported.”
Entries for the 2014 competition close on 1 July this year. The winners will be announced later in 2014.
For more information contact MakroSafe Holdings, +27 (0)11 865 7677, alicia@makrosafe.co.za, www.makrosafe.co.za
© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd. | All Rights Reserved.
printer friendly version