Companies urged to adhere to health, safety protocols

ORGANISATIONS should adopt frameworks that show their commitment to worker health, safety and well-being if they are to realise maximum production, an expert in the electrical and mechanical engineering industry has said.

Power Giants CEO Edzai Kachirekwa (pictured) said it was imperative for companies to comply with set standards with regards to health, safety and well-being of workers.

At its 110th Session in 2022, the International Labour Conference decided to include “a safe and healthy working environment” in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work and to designate the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) as fundamental conventions.

“In every working environment, especially in the construction industry and the electrical engineering fields, there is what we call maximum adherence to health and safety protocols,” Kachirekwa said.

“At Power Giants we use internationally recognised standards whereby all our employees and employers should follow those safety rules.

“No employee is allowed on site without a hard hat, safety boots, goggles and reflective work suits.

“We carry out monthly health tests for all our employees and employers.”

Kachirekwa said his company does routine health awareness campaigns within the workplace where deliberations about HIV and Aids and other diseases are done.

“We encourage our workers to abstain, use protection or go for HIV tests so that they know their status, something that is critical for their well-being,” he said.

“We have become the best electrical engineering firm in Zimbabwe through our safety strictness and this has invited other players to come and learn from us.

“We work with very dangerous materials and dangerous environments, which require our teams to be on high alert always.”

Kachirekwa said Power Giants does not allow abuse of drugs and substances.

ILO estimates that 2,3 million people globally succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year, corresponding to over 6 000 deaths every single day.

Meanwhile, Kachirekwa has been included among speakers at the Stakeholders Engagement Conference to be held in Victoria Falls in July.

The conference, which is being hosted by the Zimbabwe Institute of Strategic Thinking, is running under the theme; Priming of all Strategic Institutions Towards the Delivery of Vision 2030.

Several Cabinet ministers and experts drawn from various industries will address the conference.