19 Aug 2013

First aid plays an important part in peoples’ daily lives hence the need to take it seriously, Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi has said.

Launching the BCL Mine inter-departmental first aid competitions at Makhubu in Selebi Phikwe on August 17, Mr Molefhi said the event encouraged excellence to ensure high level of first aid competence and emergency response.

Mr Molefhi, who is also Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East, said the competition also intended to prepare for the National Inter-Mines First Aid event slated for October. The competitions are organised under the auspices of Botswana Chamber of Mines and in accordance with the Mine Quarries, Works and Machinery Regulations.

As such, he said the competition helped practitioners to strive to maintain consistent elevated standards of first aid training and procedures so that they could provide mutual aid to one another in the event of an emergency.

Also, he said the competition aimed to promote the practice of first aid in the workplace and foster a culture of safe behaviour and responsible practices among mine workers and the community.

“These competitions should also be regarded as a platform of skills test and to ensure preparedness in times of need. They also display first aid role in health and safety application encountered in work and everyday lives,” he added.

Minister Molefhi also said first aid was a secondary layer of the safety strategy of mining operations while the primary side of it encompassed avoidance of incidences.

Thus, he said it was important that the secondary layer was invoked to minimise the impact of accident which may include loss of life when the primary layer of strategy failed.

He outlined key aims of first aid as preserving lives, prevent further harm and promote recovery.

BCL divisional manager-resource planning, Mr Harold van Zyl emphasised the importance of equipping people with some first aid knowledge.

Mr van Zyl indicated that their objective was to have one person in each family in the community to have been trained in first aid so that they would be able to help save lives in cases of emergencies.

He also said first aid played a critical role in the hazardous and risky mining industry operations.

Again, he said first aid served as a reminder to achieve zero harm in the work place.

On the other hand, Dr Khumoetsile Mapitse who was one of competition judges noted that the event was held to prepare practitioners for situations when emergencies occurred.

Dr Mapitse also said the event was held to upgrade the level of competency of practitioners with regard to first aid.

BCL general manager, Mr Dan Mahupela commended competition organisers as well as competitors for portraying a high competency on first aid and safety issues.

Mr Mahupela said participants demonstrated high level of competence which showed that BCL personnel were always ready and up to scratch in safety procedures.

Meanwhile, nine teams comprising seven members; Asset Management Team A and B, Selebi, Concentrator, Selebi North, Phikwe Central, Smelter, Resource Planning and South East Extension took part in the BCL Mine First Aid competition.  

Selebi North walked away with P300 each as consolation prize while Concentrator finished third position and were awarded bronze medals and P500 each.

In second position were Phikwe Central who were awarded P750 each and silver medals while winners, Selebi took home a trophy, gold medals and P1000 each.

The champions and runner-ups will represent BCL Mine at Inter-Mine First Aid competitions scheduled for Jwaneng Mine in October. Ends