Maintain workplace safety culture

The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of Ghacem, Dr. George Dawson-Ahmoah, has appealed to workers to maintain a safety culture at their workplace in order to reduce work-related accidents to the barest minimum.

He stressed that the well-being of the ordinary worker is paramount to the success of any organisation, and making conscious effort to be safe at the working environment will promote productivity.

Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah made the appeal in an interview with the press during a staff durbar, organised by the leading cement manufacturer at the forecourt of its Takoradi factory, to mark the week-long celebration of their annual safety week.

The durbar, observed concurrently at both Tema and Takoradi factories, was aimed at raising awareness with regard to health and safety practices at the workplace. It was themed “Safety:Your Responsibility”.

Various competitions on Safety at the workplace were held in both Tema and Takoradi Factories of the company and prizes were presented in two categories, which included the Technical and the Non-Technical departments as well as individuals who exhibited excellence in safety.

In Takoradi, the Electrical and Marketing section of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively took the first position and was presented with a cash prize of GH¢800 and GH¢600 each. Meanwhile, the Mechanical and Human Resource of the technical and Non-technical department respectively occupied the second position, taking home GH¢500 and GH¢400 each. The Individual award went to Fred-Oboe Sam, as the best ‘Near-Miss Reporter’. He took home a cash prize of GH¢400.

The competition at the Tema Factory was also keenly contested, with the Quality Assurance and Sales Office of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively taking the first position. They received a cash prize of GH¢800 and GH¢600 each. The second position was occupied by the Technical Support and the Marketing section of the Technical and Non-Technical departments respectively.

They also took home a cash prize of GH¢500 and GH¢400 each. The Individual award went to Ebenezer Yeboah and Nicholas Kodjo as the best near-miss reporter and best first-aider respectively. They both received a GH¢400 cash prize each.

Dr. Dawson-Ahmoah entreated the workers to obey lawful instructions at their workplace and also translate what was being witnessed that day into action wherever they found themselves, since safe work plus healthy living promotes productivity.

Present at the event were some top Executives of the company including: the Managing Director, Mr. Morten Gade; the Environment Health and safety Manager, Mr. Joseph Mensah; the Human Resource Manager, Mrs. Evelyn Effie Quansah; and the Acting Works Manager, Mr. Emmanuel Asante.

Mr. Morten Gade in his keynote address explained that the Durbar was an important step by Ghacem, since the company’s occupational health and safety goal is to achieve ‘zero lost time injuries’ and ensuring an accident-free working environment -- which he stressed should be of great concern to any organisation that is rooted in a strong safety culture.

He expressed resolve by management of the company to continue focusing on building a set of behaviour not only in top- and middle-management, but also in heads of sections, engineers and supervisors to influence a safety culture throughout the organisation.

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