EPIROC Southern Africa, which includes South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe, has joined the list of Epiroc entities around the world collaborating with global safety training organisation SafeStart International.
Epiroc Regional SHEQ Manager for Southern Africa, Johnny de Mesquita, said the programmes involve practical techniques that can be applied to keep workers alert to hazards and risks all day, every day. The objective is to create a safe environment at work, at home, on the road and in the community.
“SafeStart addresses not only our own safety but also, importantly, the safety of everyone around us. We are extremely excited about this collaboration, especially because this is a behavioural based programme that addresses safety from a totally different perspective,” De Mesquita said.
“It considers people’s state of mind living in modern society, both in the workplace or on the road as well as in the home and community environment. SafeStart presents our employees with the necessary tools to help us all stay safe wherever we are – at work, at home, on the road, in the gym, at the mall, etc.”
The programme was launched to Epiroc employees at the Jet Park head office on 22 November 2021. It comprises five units which will be rolled out to all Epiroc offices, branches and mine sites in South Africa and the relevant region countries. The first unit is presented by SafeStart International Master Trainer Rose Mosiane who has already trained Epiroc South Africa’s executives and management and presented a Train-the-Trainer course for internal Epiroc resources.
Unit # 1, which kicked off on 29 November 2021, is expected to be completed around May/June 2022 for the entire Southern African Region and will be followed by training of the remaining four units.
Each two-hour training session is attended by typically 15 employees. It takes approximately three to four weeks to complete and apply the concepts learned for each of the five units to give employees ample time to get used to the principles and to practice them in the working and/or leisure environment before moving on to the next unit.
Once Mosiane has completed the first unit towards the end of Q2 2022, the remaining units will be presented by internal Epiroc trainers and will continue throughout the year until the programme is completed.
“The challenge is to make sure that everyone is trained and equipped with all the information they need and that no one is left behind to help us all prevent daily critical errors and/or decisions compromised by rushing, fatigue and complacency,” said De Mesquita.
