Newcastillian News was invited to attend ArcelorMittal South Africa‘s Health and Safety Day at its Newcastle Works on Thursday morning, 25 April 2024, an event observed by ArcelorMittal companies worldwide.
Since AMSA’s inception in 2006, health and safety has remained the top priority aimed at protecting its workforce, according to the steel giant.
Jacques Kotze, the Chief Operating Officer of AMSA Newcastle Works, clarified that the Health and Safety Day is an annual occasion designed to raise awareness about the significance of adhering to safety measures at all times.
“The theme for this year is ‘Believe in Zero’. This means we focus on being a zero fatality and zero serious injury company.” stated Kotze who further added, that this goal could be attained through the dedication and hard work of all AMSA employees. “We want our employees to return home in the same condition they were in when they left for work,” he stressed.
Additionally, Kotze highlighted that the Health and Safety Day serves as an opportunity to engage with the community and underline the company’s unwavering commitment to safety.
Moreover, the day kicked off with a fun run/walk with enthusiastic fitness fanatics running or walking over 3km, while their colleagues cheered them on. From there, the various plants within the Newcastle Works, from Steel Plant to Coke Plant, educated the staff on the importance of safety. Additionally, fun-filled activities with safety meanings were also held at each plant.
Managers Navin Singh and Revauj Buduram underscored the importance of safety within their respective departments and the organisation as a whole.
With this in mind, Singh explained that one of the ways for employees to protect themselves was through being cautious of the electrical dangers, which involved electrical shocks linked to live wires, arch flashes and arch blasts. Each of these holds fatal risks to a person. “Before you start working, you need to do proper planning, assess the situation and ensure the necessary problem was eliminated before you started working,” explained Singh.
Furthermore, Buduram, the materials handling manager, added that while bringing safety to the forefront within the workspace was important, driving safely on the property was just as vital, as there had been 16 driving related fatalities within AMSA as a whole and this impacted not only the company but families as well.
“At AMSA, we have implemented measures to ensure safe driving is achieved. This involves seeing people staying within the necessary speed limits, wearing safety belts and being cautious of their surroundings,” said Buduram.
Additionally, with several staff members working at dangerous heights, harness safety was also a focal point, as this contributed to 17% of injuries and fatalities within the company. Through this figure, it was stressed that it was imperative for staff to always wear the correct harness to avoid a tragic incident.
While the day focused immensely on safety procedures, a festive atmosphere prevailed through AMSA Newcastle Works, as staff members and Newcastillian News shared a good laugh while embracing the importance of safety within their work environment.
What are your thoughts on AMSA Newcastle Works promoting safety within its ranks? Share your views in the comments below.
