On Tuesday, 30th April 2024, the Synergetic Development Group (SDG) commemorated the World Day for Health and Safety Day at Work. The event occurred at an Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) project site in Embakasi, Nairobi Kenya. Safety First, Always, is a message that was re-iterated by most of the speakers in the brief but crucial event spearheaded by the Health & Safety Committee (HSC). The active site has over 200 employees from Synergetic Consulting Division, Shamrock Energy Division and Drilmatic Infrastructure Division.
With safety being one of pillars upon which the company was founded upon, a project complete without any incidents, accidents or loss of life is a win for both Synergetic and its clients. The need to uphold and even supersede the set safety standards on this critical infrastructure project is evident since it’s an EPC project and Synergetic is fully accountable for every aspect of the project. The stakes could not get any higher.
Driving the Safety Message Home.
The event saw the Health & Safety Committee introduced to the site staff and addresses from a few members of the leadership team from Synergetic. The Chief Operations Officer (COO), Adan Ali who doubles up as the HSC Chairman emphasized the fact that a project cannot be executed without healthy people under safe conditions. Damaris Njeri, the Human Resources and Business Partner (HRBP), underscored the importance of everybody who reports on the site getting back to their family and friends safe and sound at the end of every work day. Proper usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) was also a common message from the rest of the speakers since the site incorporates working at heights, welding and fabrication and various types of machinery and moving equipment.
Rewarding the Champions.
Recognition is a way of encouraging compliance with the set Health and Safety codes. Six (6) members from SDG’s three divisions were awarded certificates and tokens for being the ultimate champions for health and safety. Maureen Ouma was awarded for being the most supportive staff member of the Health and Safety Department by always raising the necessary requisitions and ensuring that the sanitary facilities are in perfect working order. Stephen Changalwa was awarded for ensuring the smooth issuance and return of PPEs and full adherence to Permit-to-Work (PTW) and Job Safety Analysis (JSA). Rhoda Nyamai was awarded for attending and leading toolbox talks and consistently complying with the site PPE requirements. Kassim Kamanzi was awarded for reporting any Health and Safety concerns and following up to ensure their resolution before resuming work. Emmanuel Mwailigha was awarded for being the go-to person for safety at Shamrock through personal initiative on matters such as raising work permits and conducting toolbox talks. Griffin Awene was awarded for his proactive nature when it comes to identifying and addressing potential hazards at the workplace.
As a group, Synergetic remains committed to ensuring the safety of employees and visitors alike on its premises and project execution sites through Health & Safety inductions to new members, frequent training for staff, visible and relevant safety warning signs and provision of PPEs, among other measures.