Vodafone Holds Health, Safety Workshop (Page 19, August 13, 2010)

Vodafone Ghana Limited has called on its suppliers to institute employee protection schemes to safeguard their workers against fatal accidents and injury on the job.
At a health and safety workshop held for its employees, partners, assignees and contractors, the Head of Supply Chain Management, Mr Bart Borchardt, said health and safety were critical measures in every successful business.
He, therefore, said it was imperative for the company’s suppliers to institute the highest level of health and safety plans, as well as ethical purchasing, if they wanted to be in business with the company.
To ensure the delivery of health and safety among its workers, Vodafone Ghana has put in place six absolute rules to be implemented throughout all its outlets in the country and with all third-party contractors.
The constant wearing of seat belts, the wearing of safety personal protection equipment, the observation of speed limits, the carrying out of electrical works by qualified persons, never to work under the influence of alcohol or drugs and never to use a hand phone while driving constituted the six absolute rules.
The Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Ghana, Mr Kyle Whitehill, indicated that the rules were mandatory and non- negotiable.
He explained that businesses had a responsibility to keep their employees alive as a corporate responsibility measure.
He said in the past few months Vodafone Ghana had vigorously pursued a health and safety programme among its staff, adding, “These rules, even though they apply directly to internal staff, will be applied to all, the dealers, assigns and contractors we do business with, as a sure means of endearing ourselves to our communities as a partner who is aware of the dangers in doing business recklessly.”
For his part, the Head of Health, Safety and Well-being at Vodafone Ghana, Mr Samuel Koffie, said the company was committed to building capacity and training its suppliers to enable them to employ the high standards Vodafone demanded of them.
He said the company had so far disciplined more than 100 employees who violated the health and safety rules of the company.
He, therefore, advised suppliers to have clear health and safety strategies by allocating budgets and integrating them into their operations.
He also called on suppliers to implement strong and robust safety plans that would give no room for violations.