12 Jun 2013

Jwaneng Mine sustainability assurance coordinator, Mr Bond Keaketswe has implored Kweneng District Council (KDC) employees to internalise safety and adopt it as a way of life.

Speaking during the official launch of the council's occupational health and safety and wellness programme, Mr Keaketswe said it was through individual commitment that the council could reach its intended goal. He said by launching the strategy, the district council had shown commitment to promoting high standard of health safety and wellness to its employees and stakeholders in all work environments

Mr Keaketswe applauded Kweneng for being the first district council to have such a policy and expressed optimism that it would go a long way towards ensuring that employee’s wellness and safety were well catered for.

He emphasised the need to incorporate the entire process into the operational process to promote fitness in the work place that would help improve on productivity and reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Mr Keaketswe also challenged district councils to take occupational health and safety seriously and see to it that all accidents were reported. 

He dismissed individual perceptions that associated wellness and safety with mines saying the concept applied to all spheres of work. He further advised on the importance to emulate Jwaneng Mine that had resorted to adopting several initiatives all geared towards achieving Zero Harm aspiration. 

Dr Bontle Mbongwe, a University of Botswana lecturer, applauded Kweneng District Council for taking keen interest in developing a comprehensive health and wellness programme that would ensure strategic objectives of KDC’s operational demands are attained with excellence.

She said it was a fundamental requirement for every employer to ensure health and safety measure for its employees. Dr Mbongwe expressed happiness at an organisation that embraced health and total wellness saying it would have a continuing and proactive concern for its entire workforce.

For his part, Kweneng District Council secretary, Mr Wazha Tema acknowledged that coming up with such an initiative showed commitment to the welfare of the 1 872 employees of Kweneng District Council.

He highlighted that in preparation for the implementation of the policy, KDC trained 67 fire marshals and 15 health safety and environment (SHE) through Boitekanelo College, Jwaneng Town Council (JTC) and MRI at a total cost of over P69 000.ENDS