RMA praises prevention

RMA praises prevention

On 14 March 2024, Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) paid tribute to its clients in the Metals Class with the first ever Prevention Awards, which is all about celebrating a shared commitment to safety, health, and wellness in the workplace. 

RMA has a rich history in the mining industry – 130 years in 2024. “Our data tells us that the number of injuries in mining compared with the metals industry is lower, however the severity of these injuries is much greater. Whilst our metals space is fragmented and is made up of many very small industries – in fact around 25,000 of our clients have 100 or fewer employees – this has contributed to the difficulties in investing in prevention,” explains Dr Jessica Hutchings, the RMA’s head of prevention.

“Add to this the socio-economic climate of our country – which further exacerbates the constraints facing the metals industries – and investing in prevention by such companies is often just not possible. As RMA we therefore decided to implement the Prevention Programme in the Metals Class to help complement our members’ existing health and safety initiatives, and implement such systems to support a vital industry in South Africa’s economy.”

The Prevention Programme journey

In April 2022 RMA launched the Prevention Programme, headed by Hutchings. In addition to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act has specific provisions that require RMA to implement an effective prevention programme. The programme is designed to reduce occupational injuries and disease in the workplace; having it in place ensures a beneficial partnership for RMA and its clients over and above just compensation.

“The Prevention Programme offers a full end-to-end value add at no cost to our members, where RMA provides the systems, tools, training, processes, advocacy, assessments, full on-site support and administration, industrial theatre, hygiene surveys, medical surveillance, and wellness interventions,” Hutchings elaborates.

Furthermore, since launching the programme in 2022, RMA’s journey has also included the first Prevention Conference in 2023 and the first Prevention Awards, held in March 2024. 

“RMA’s Prevention Programme is not only beneficial for employers, but also employees, where RMA has positively impacted the lives of about 24,000 people. In addition, RMA’s goal of training 2,400 shop stewards on a three-day OHS course in 2024 is indicative of the company’s continuous commitment to empowering its employees, and its commitment that the success of this programme is dependent on partnerships with labour organisations and industry associations,” Hutchings adds.

“At the core of the Prevention Programme – over and above these events – is the difference and impact that this programme is making in the existing pioneers who have joined the programme,” she continues. “RMA’s objective has always been crystal clear: a 30% decrease in the incident rate within the metals industry by 2030. RMA has a strong commitment as a preeminent social insurer that improves lives via social activities, especially the Prevention Programme.”

Based on what its clients are getting from the programme, the results are already evident, with companies demonstrating improvements in the disabling injury frequency rate thanks to a reduction in injuries. 

The Prevention Awards

The inaugural awards follow the success of last year’s Prevention Conference, underscoring RMA’s commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration. “The unwavering pursuit of excellence in prevention – which encompasses safety, health, and wellness within the metals sector – is exemplified by the awards. They stand for more than just honours; they are a journey – one of advancement, ingenuity, and shared accountability,” says Hutchings.

The awards were not only for those who have joined the Prevention Programme; they were open to all 26,000 metals members. “The aim of the actual awards evening was to come together as a collective to recognise and honour exceptional businesses, personnel, and projects in the Metals Class that have demonstrated creativity and quality in the field of prevention. A safer workplace should be the bedrock on which all operations are built,” Hutchings explains.

The adjudication process consisted of a panel made up of external technical specialists in the fields of Occupational Health and Safety (including the CEO and marketing manager of the South African Institute of Occupational Health and Safety), alongside RMA specialists from auditing, actuarial, and prevention teams. This process was done fairly and overseen by RMA’s group executive for auditing, making sure that it was transparent, ethical, and just.

The trophies, designed and made by Thuthukisa Advisory and Consulting, added a special touch to the evening’s proceedings. Thuthukisa’s Innovation Hub assists disabled and occupationally injured employees of the Compensation Fund and RMA in income earning opportunities, both at an entrepreneurial and a technical level.

“These employees – true artisans – hand-crafted every trophy using materials and designs that reflected the industries making up the Metals Class,” Hutchings enthuses, adding: “The winners can be commended for their hard work, dedication, and ingenuity towards prevention. RMA wishes to congratulate all of the nominees and the winners for showcasing their efforts to drive health, safety, and wellness.”

As RMA CEO, Mandla Shezi, concluded to round off the evening: “Nobody comes to work to die. Safer workplaces with safer employees create productive and efficient workplaces. It’s a win for everyone.”

The winners who took home the trophies at the first RMA Prevention Awards are shown in the table below:

CATEGORY

AWARD WINNERS

Best Project/Innovation Award

Columbus Stainless

Best Prevention Campaign Award

MacSteel Service Centres SA

Best Prevention Team Award

Atlantis Foundries

Macsteel Service Centres SA

Manganese Metal Company 

Best Prevention Champion Award

Jan Buijense – Scania South Africa 

Rising Star Award

Moses Makamu – Manganese Metal Company 

Frans Chuene – Khaya Engineering 

Andile Nsele – Lumen Special Cables

Top Prevention Award

Atlantis Foundries 

Anyone looking for more information on RMA’s Prevention Programme can contact Dr Jessica Hutchings at rmaprevention@randmutual.co.za.

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SHEQ Management

SHEQ MANAGEMENT is the definitive source for reliable, accurate and pertinent information to guarantee environmental health and safety in the workplace.
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