By Guardian Reporter , The Guardian
EVERY April 28 of each year, the world commemorates the International Day of Health and Safety at Work to promote the health and safety of workers in different parts of the world.
This day is important not only for various public and private institutions because employment laws bind them to ensure compliance with established procedures and regulations, but also for employees who spend a significant amount of time in the workplace.
The existence of special commemorations for this day is important because each year it serves as a reminder and motivator for employers to improve their work environments for greater efficiency and to protect the health and safety of their employees.
The issue of health and safety in the workplace varies from one sector to another depending on the type of activities they engage in. However, this does not mean that one institution should prioritize compliance with regulations more than another; all should meet the criteria according to the established laws.
The theme for the 2024 commemoration is ‘exploring the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health’. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), this theme is derived from the fact that climate change worldwide has been affecting workers through increasing risks such as extreme heat, ultraviolet radiation, extreme weather events, air pollution, vector-borne diseases, and agrochemicals.
At Puma Energy, our Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE) vision is to “Empower and develop our people to be influential Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental leaders who Energise our communities,” HSSE Manager at Puma Energy Tanzania Limited, Ambokege Minga said when speaking on the importance of commemorating the day.
Minga added: “We are continually committed to developing engaged, empowered, and enabled employees who are proactive in their own health and safety, as well as that of others. Everyone has the right to be safe at work and to return home to their family and friends as healthy as when they started the day. We recognise that our commitment to safety not only protects our workers but also contributes to our environment. By promoting safe practices, we reduce the risk of incidents and create a healthier, more resilient workplace.”
The HSSE Manager explained that they have invested significant efforts not only in ensuring that the company complies with regulations and procedures according to the law but also in providing comprehensive education for employees and all partners in their operations nationwide.
"The company is guided by practices that require all employees and partners to adhere to in our daily operations. We take pride in investing heavily in educating and motivating employees to prioritize health and safety issues in the workplace and to serve as goodwill ambassadors to their colleagues nationwide. We empower them to monitor and report any violations of health and safety regulations wherever and whenever they occur," added Minga.
Minga emphasized that the focus on health and safety extends not only to employees but also to contractors working with them and visitors to their premises. The goal is to ensure that no one is harmed or suffers injuries while working with them or being in their work areas.
Puma also stated that they provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to shield their employees from potential hazards in the workplace such as safety gear. Additionally, they encourage reporting whenever they observe violations of laws. For example, if they notice a contractor working wearing safety gear while their employees do not, they report it. This goes hand in hand with encouraging reporting of unsafe incidents at work, which serves as useful reminders during training and education sessions for all employees to prevent recurrence.
"We are proud to say that so far we have largely succeeded in achieving significant goals in health and safety issues because we have not had any accident cases or deaths in the workplace from the beginning of the year until now. We make great efforts in providing education, protecting, and motivating all our employees in our reception, storage, and transportation activities for the development of citizens and the nation as a whole," added Minga.
On her part, the Health Safety Environment and Quality Control Specialist at Puma Energy Tanzania Limited, Rehema Madoffe, concluded by stating, “We ensure that all employees have access to excellent health insurance that protects them in the event of health challenges. Additionally, the workplace infrastructure is built with durability and quality to address various challenges such as fire disasters. Moreover, employees are trained to deal with fire disasters, where in some of our work areas; we conduct monthly drills to prepare for any type of disaster.”
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