A telecom infrastructure company, Helios Towers has advocated the need for employers of organisations to prioritise safe and healthy working environments at the workplace.
The company indicated that such moves promote high levels of productivity which impact positively on the image of organisations and the general well-being of employees.
The company noted this at an award ceremony which coincided with the World Safety and Work Day held on April 28 to reward its partners for their contributions to ensuring safe working conditions at their various workplaces.
Speaking to Citi News, the Regional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Central Africa for Helios Towers, Fritz Dzeklo indicated that, the awards were timely to encourage employees to do more at their various workplaces.
“Health and Safety is important to what we do in Helios Towers and health and safety is really important to everything that we do. Recognizing people to go the extra mile in doing the right things at the right place is really very important”, he noted.
He explained that the company has 1,200 locations scattered across the country with more than 300 employees who are working on behalf of the company adding that, their efforts in maintaining safe working conditions with little or no supervision needed to be rewarded.
The Regional CEO of Central Africa for Helios Towers referenced a safety induction video that was launched and added that it will complement their quest to ensure health and safety standards.
On his part, the Helios Group Head of Safety Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ), Will Richardson-White who joined on a virtual platform commended Ghana’s efforts in prioritizing safety for employees.
He highlighted the activities of sub-contractors which have become a major challenge to the construction business and as such, recommended the need for collaboration to enable full SHEQ supervision.
The CEO of RPS Engineering Services, Oswald Oduro called for the passage of the National Occupational Safety and Health bill into law to enable the prompt address of health and safety issues at the workplace.
He explained that the absence of a national policy has led to a lack of thorough standards in-reporting injuries, illnesses, and property damages at the workplace.
The Country Director for I-Engineering Ghana, Isaac Newton Fuasi commended Helios SHEQ and leadership for the consistent push for safety.
Meanwhile, a field maintenance supervisor with Netis Ghana, Michael Diamenu who was an award winner said “I am impressed. Mostly when we are asked to report observations it feels like it is hectic. But I have seen great impact and I am happy for the award”.
For his part, Isaac Ofori Atta, a Quality Assurance Officer with Helios Towers Northern zone, indicated that the award will spur him on to work harder and encourage his colleagues to keep maintaining effective working conditions as their efforts will be appreciated.
Some of the award categories which were won included Best Incident Reporting, Best Driver, and Best Unsafe Act and Intervention.
The company also awarded its partners including Netis Ghana for 13 years of partnership, Linfra Ghana for 5 years of partnership, and RPS Ghana for 10 years of partnership.