The view that safe and healthy workers are also more productive workers lies at the heart of RMA’s Prevention Programme.
The social and mutual insurer launched the programme in April 2022 and is running a pilot programme with its members in the Metals Class. RMA has partnered with the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern African (SEIFSA) which represents the Metal and Engineering (M&E) industry.
“The aim of our Prevention Programme is to complement our members existing health and safety systems, and assist them to improve to their legal compliance,” says Dr Jessica Hutchings, head of prevention at RMA.
The planned COID Amendment Bill spurred RMA to action in assisting its members with their health and safety practices to prevent injuries and accidents, thereby reducing the number of incidents and therefore reducing claims.
RMA encourages companies to join the Prevention Programme to ensure that they are less likely to find themselves on the wrong side of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, however, as their health and safety systems will be fully assessed as part of a gap analysis — an audit of the company will show what processes are needed or may require bolstering or reconfiguration in order to ensure full compliance and best practice.
Under the programme, health is extended to include financial health in the form of helping workers to reduce their debt burdens and improve their financial wellness. “Everyone is experiencing financial stress, though many blue-collar workers are under even more pressure. Financial problems can lead to mental health issues, which can also increase the chance of physical injuries at work. The debt counselling provided by RMS can make people feel more empowered about their finances,” says Hutchings.
For Hutchings, the success of the programme lies in engaging stakeholders, such as SEIFSA. “We believe that an effective Prevention Programme requires the involvement of all stakeholders in the occupational health and safety value chain,” she says.
The broad range of the M&E industry — encompassing small, medium and large corporations — was one of the reasons the industry was chosen for the pilot project as the number of incidents in the Metals Class remains high, in comparison to the Mining industry where the severity is greater.
“As SEIFSA, we are happy to partner RMA in their Prevention Programme. The prevention of injuries and diseases in the workplace is crucial because it contributes directly to productivity while also ensuring the safety and wellbeing of workers,” says SEIFSA CEO Lucio Trentini.
The partnership between SEIFSA and RMA goes further than the Prevention Programme, the insurance company is also sponsoring the Health and Safety Awards at the 2022 SEIFSA Awards for Excellence that will be held on November 17 2022. The awards will celebrate companies in the M&E sector that have displayed innovation, competitiveness and excellence.