The group Health and Safety Policy ensures comprehensive practical implementation of Blue Label’s responsibility and commitment to a healthy, safe and incident-free working environment.

Health and safety activities include:

• identification of all health and safety hazards in the workplace through formal hazard surveys and taking appropriate action to mitigate them;
• continual awareness and training of employees to ensure health and safety competence in the workplace and a general awareness of potential safety and health hazards implicit in their work environment;
• conducting business activities in a manner that ensures an acceptable degree of physical, mental and social wellbeing of all employees; and
• ensuring the group complies with all relevant safety and health legislation.

Awareness of the group’s health and safety requirements is created for all new employees as part of their induction. Frequent information updates are circulated via e-mail and the internal newsletter to all existing employees.

The group’s health and safety officer manages health and safety practices in the group. Representatives appointed at each of the subsidiary companies assist the group’s health and safety officer. These health and safety representatives have been trained by qualified external service providers in accordance with the requirements of OHSA. Monthly health and safety meetings are held to discuss the outcome of inspections and precautions to be implemented to mitigate identified hazards. In addition to the health and safety representatives the group has also appointed first-aid practitioners and fire marshals. Training of these individuals is also provided by qualified external service providers.

Health and safety risks associated with the group’s business include fire, electrical safety and slippery floors. The group reported no major health and safety incidents during the year under review.

The group’s fire drills and evacuation procedures at its head office were evaluated by the Sandton Fire Department Disaster Management team (SFDDM) during the year and its recommendations were fully implemented.

The group’s “Wellness for Life Programme” has been operational for a year. Corporate wellness is the ability to reduce and manage employees’ stress and contributes to staff wellness, enabling them to re-focus and re-energise allowing them to perform at their peak. The Wellness for Life Programme has focused on a number of initiatives put in place to support, encourage and educate employees on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The human resource department coordinated wellness days throughout the year. These have included programmes on dental care, vision screening, substance abuse in the workplace and at home, debt counselling and trauma counselling. Information and support for chronic diseases such as HIV and Aids, tuberculosis, diabetes, cancer, heart problems and weight issues have continued to form topics of the wellness programme. Over 50 group employees participated in the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in March 2011 and the company also sponsors employees participating in the 94.7 Cycle Challenge and Cape Argus Cycle Race.

Blue Label partners with the Bryanston Assessment Centre providing access for employees in matters of a psychological nature. In addition, all employees have access to disease management forums within Discovery Health, such as Oncology, Diabetes and HIV management. Health awareness programmes such as condom distribution, voluntary HIV testing, infection control, are ongoing.