Companies come together to promote safety in business

As a corporate mandate, all employees driving out of their job premises must pass a breathalyzer test before they can be permitted to leave the compound. The recommendation was made yesterday by Rose Environmental Ltd team leader Shanta Ramkissoon-Cruickshank during a safety display at the Carib Brewery Compound in Champs Fleurs. The product display was part of Carib Brewery and Carib Glassworks’ commemoration of International Safety Awareness Day which had as its theme this year, “Occupational Health and Safety Systems: a tool for continuous improvement.”

Ramkissoon-Cruickshank said while the practice was implemented at her company (the official distributors of the breathalyzer instruments in T&T), she was “trying to get that same culture indoctrinated in all customers” since she felt “all company drivers needed to be designated drivers.” She said: “You could be the CEO or the director, once you have the keys in your hand, you either pass the test or stay right there.”

ANSA McAL Group Health and Safety (HSE) Manager Nixon Gangoo said the event, which was in its third year, was the collaborative effort of several companies such as Southern Supplies Ltd, West Venture, Caribbean Safety Products Ltd and Rose Environmental Ltd—“all partners in the safety business.”

He added too that Digicel’s policy on safe driving (On de Road, Off de Phone) was one which the Group shared and that their presence at the event was to focus on marketing hands-free bluetooth kits for people who use cellular phones while operating their vehicles. The Safety Hangman booth, which provided a wide range of free tokens to participants eager to be challenged and entertained, had attracted the majority of visitors at the event. Administrator of the popular booth and HSE officer at Carib Brewery and Carib Glassworks Ltd Anastasia Ramnath said participants were invited to choose a safety category, guess letters and solve the mystery word (before all turns ended) for a chance to win “Digicel cooler bags, safety gloves, Carib: keychains, jerseys and mugs.” The safety fair, which held games and quizzes based on safety topics throughout the day (8 am to 4 pm), was open to all ANSA McAL Group employees.

Southern Supplies Limited is in support of this recommendation as it promotes safer conditions on the nations road ways.

Article taken from the Trinidad Guardian website  http://guardian.co.tt/business/2011/04/29/companies-come-together-promote-safety-business