A decade of award – winning safety

SGB-Cape snatched up a total of 17 awards for its impeccable safety standards at the 2019 NOSCAR Awards. MARISKA MORRIS gains some expert insights from this industry leader

Each year, the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) hosts its NOSCAR Awards to recognise and congratulate clients who have achieved excellence in health and safety. The 2019 event took place in Kramerville, Johannesburg, in October. Over the past decade, SGB-Cape has won an incredible 73 awards!

“SGB-Cape received recognition for its quality, service and rigorous safety standards through receiving 17 NOSCAR Awards this year, which included two individual awards,” explains Thabo Modumaela, national health, safety and environment (HSE) manager at SGB-Cape, and CEO Mike Els.

“Today, SGB-Cape is the proud owner of 73 NOSCAR Awards in total, awarded over the past decade,” the duo notes. As the event sets a benchmark for excellence in the industry, these awards set SGB-Cape apart from its industry peers.

“Most importantly, they reflect our commitment to ensuring the safety of our employees and stand as a symbol to our ongoing efforts towards excellence,” Modumaela and Els say. Achieving this level of excellence requires a commitment and investment in HSE management strategies.

“Over the past two years we have consistently implemented systems that meet quality criteria in zero harm throughout all HSE management within the business. These organically sound, easily implemented strategies, together with our team-supported approach, is what powers our commitment to zero harm. The results are seen in the accolades and awards received again this year,” the duo states.

Their advice to other businesses? A successful safety programme requires mentoring and buy-in from management. “The HSE management system on its own will not guarantee that all employees go home harm-free at the end of every shift,” Modumaela and Els note.

“Personal engagement, mentoring and leadership of HSE issues keep employees focused and working safely. When management leads from the front and sets the example, results are achieved. When leadership is seen on a daily basis to be actively committed to achieving zero harm, this encourages employees to follow suit.”

For SGB-Cape, teamwork requires individual commitment from the top to the group effort. The industry leader also understands that a safety programme is never finished, and has plans in place to further improve its approach.

“Our management blueprint is about consistently working shoulder-to-shoulder with our employees. Our motto is: ‘Safety boots on the ground’. In January 2020, we will migrate our management systems to ISO 45001-2018,” Modumaela and Els explain.

“We are fully geared to embrace and implement the new management system. The training of our staff also remains a priority. We embrace training and believe a well-trained employee is a confident and safe employee. Consistent communication with simple, clear messaging is always part of our plan,” they conclude.