EVERY day thousands of lives are lost due to work accidents or fatal diseases linked to work activities.
These are deaths that could and should have been prevented. That’s according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Businesses that ensure people operate in safe workplaces improve productivity and build trust throughout their operation and supply chain. Responsible practices are also becoming increasingly important for brands and reputations.
Triple ISO accredited Rand-Air has a good safety record within the Atlas Copco Group and reported no time lost due to injury in the past year. SHEQ Manager Bongani Thobela and Safety Administrator Lindi Maseko make sure Rand-Air stays on top of the safety game.
“Doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our personnel is more than a commitment; we consider it an obligation,” said Bongani. “Our focus and passion is customer satisfaction and we provide premium quality, reliable machines backed by outstanding service to assist our customers maximize their uptime.
“Creating a safe workplace for our employees — be it at one of our Rand-Air facilities or one of our customer’s sites — enhances productivity, which helps us to deliver optimum customer service. When our field technicians are working at a job site, they have to be aware and respectful of the customer’s safety and health rules at all times. We also offer regular SHEQ training courses and refresher programmes to our technicians as well as to office staff.”
In a further bid to keep employees safe, Rand-Air has introduced a special APP. This platform helps employees to immediately report a potential risk, in the office or on-site.
Messages are conveyed to the SHEQ office in real time, enabling an immediate reaction.
“The APP enables us to be proactive and prevent an injury before it happens,” explains Lindi. “It helps each and every one of us, from office colleagues to field technicians to look out for each other and to be more vigilant. Safety is everyone’s responsibility.”
Rand-Air’s safety culture also embraces employee wellness. “We see a clear link between safety and physical and mental well-being,” notes Bongani. “Individuals who feel physically and mentally well will be able to do their job better.”
“Our steadfast commitment to health and safety in the workplace is a long-distance journey. Along the way, we will leave no stone unturned in our endeavour to ensure that we are safety compliant at every level. Creating a safe and comfortable work environment enables Rand-Air employees to do their jobs to the best of their ability, ensuring that we continue to deliver the exceptional service our valued customers are accustomed to,” said Bongani.
