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BLUE LABEL INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2015
HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY PRACTICES
The Group health and safety policy articulates the
Group’s commitment to ensuring a secure work
environment for all, and is implemented in
accordance with the guidelines set out in the
OHS Act. Regular fire drills, monthly health and
safety forum meetings and regular training
workshops for elected representatives in respect of
first aid, fire marshalling and evacuation procedures,
are held.
Health and safety activities include:
•
•
Appointment of a Group Health and Safety
Manager who assumes full responsibility for the
management and facilitation of health and
safety-related activities inclusive of policy,
practices and procedures nationally.
•
•
Appointment and training of health and safety
representatives, first aiders, and fire marshalls
at head office and branches nationally.
•
•
Facilitated and documented meetings conducted
monthly to evaluate Group health and safety
performance and requirements.
•
•
Identification of all health and safety hazards by
means of a formal hazard survey done monthly
and taking appropriate action to mitigate
identified risks.
•
•
Display all relevant health and safety plans,
evacuation procedures and policies in strategic
points throughout the business.
•
•
Create awareness and training of employees
around health and safety requirements via
rigorous induction, regular drills and awareness
presentations.
•
•
Conducting business activities in a manner which
ensures the general wellbeing of our staff from
a physical, mental and social perspective.
•
•
Regular evaluation of Group practices compared
to relevant health and safety legislation.
The Group reported nine non-reportable health and
safety incidents during the year under review.
Disabling injury
frequency rate
2015
2014 2013 2012
South Africa
0.92
0.74 0.62 1.102
Work-related fatalities
0
0 1 0
The disabling injury frequency rate (DIFR) increased
to 0.92. This is due to increasing awareness among
staff in reporting workplace injuries. The majority of
incidents are ascribed to motor vehicle accidents and
slipping on stairs. Staff are regularly reminded to
exercise caution when descending stairs, by using
the two-point contact technique.
Staff are offered a “Wellness for Life” programme
for addressing and reducing stress levels. The
programme partners with organisations specialising
in debt counselling, trauma counselling, substance
abuse and physical wellbeing, including advice on
HIV/Aids, cancer, tuberculosis and diabetes. Advice
from service providers in life and short-term
insurance, financial planning and retirement funding
is also regularly available.