RBIDZ scores four injury-free years
Safety milestone for the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone
THE Richards Bay Industrial Zone (RBIDZ) has recorded four years of injury-free operations on its industrial development site Phase 1A adjacent to the harbour.
There has not been a single debilitating injury since 2010 when construction began on the site.
RBIDZ Safety, Health and Quality (SHQ) Manager Linda Buthelezi said the health and safety of everyone involved in RBIDZ developments and projects remain a top priority.
‘Safety must be managed and everyone must be involved to achieve our goal for everyone to return home healthy after a day at work,’ said Buthelezi.
‘The RBIDZ works with its locators to put programmes in place related to behaviour-based safety, visible leadership, hazard identification and risk assessments, internal audits, management reviews and third party audits.
‘Golden rules, standard procedures and safety training are also key components of the safety drive.’
Buthelezi said inter-enterprise site visits were encouraged as an integral part of the shared learning process whereby management teams have the opportunity to gain first-hand information on SHQ practices and access to innovative ideas.
‘Compliance with health and safety legislation was also reinforced in contracts with construction companies and heavy industry tenants.
‘Contractors and locators in the zone were provided with health and safety specifications.’
Machinery and logistics company Lovemore Bros, located on the Phase 1A site, said their team appreciates the stringent safety measures enforced by RBIDZ.
‘Our company places high value on workplace safety and also has stringent safety rules,’ said Lovemore Bros Richards Bay Manager John Paine.
‘Any business knows that employee attrition and absenteeism can be major obstacles.
‘When you create a healthy and safe workplace, you reduce those issues in several ways.
‘Workplace safety is about much more than legislation.
‘It is about creating the kind of productive, efficient, happy and inspiring workplace we all want to be part of,’ Paine said.
