Health and Safety Month Opens

The 17th annual LUCELEC Health and Safety Month officially began on Friday, March 1, 2013.  Activities are being held under the theme, “A Safe Workplace is No Accident.”

Last year, the company had 4 recordable injury accidents, only one of which involved a LUCELEC employee.  The other three involved employees of contractors.  There were no work-related accidents involving the public.

This year, LUCELEC has a corporate target of no more than one recordable injury accident, a threshold of no more than two, and the desire for zero.

Speaking at the opening of Health, Safety, and Fire Prevention Month, held at the Cul-de-Sac power station, LUCELEC Managing Director Trevor Louisy encouraged staff to rise to that challenge.

“We must incorporate safety into our daily work processes, procedures and practices to make each day count in achieving our goal,” Louisy said. “That means also making every action by every employee count, and ensuring that every action at work is a safe action. We know for a fact that we have had zero-injury days, weeks and months.  Our best record is 388 days without a lost time accident.  We are aiming to break that record.”

Dr Adrian Augier delivered the feature address. A noted economist and cultural activist, he made a connection between safety in the workplace and the economic impact of lost days.

“Your safety is something you primarily owe to yourself,” he said. “Imagine not returning home safely from work today, because of some injury.  If you are the primary wage earner in your family, your inability to work could mean chronic poverty, hunger, homelessness, for you and members of your family.  And even if the basics could still be covered, your loss of income could just as easily destroy important life changing opportunities like the university education of your children.”

In addition to performances from the Marchand Youth Orchestra, a community project sponsored by the LUCELEC Trust, the Systems Control Department was recognized with a Safety Excellence Award and Ruel Cazaubon named the winner of the Company’s Go Zero Lottery; a 2012 contest that rewarded employees and departments for zero lost time accidents.

Health and Safety Month activities will be held from March 1 - 31, 2013.  Beyond sessions aimed at reinforcing safe work practices, activities include sessions on reproductive and spiritual health, stress management, and the Labour Code. In addition, various health screenings, a wellness walk and a Safety Quiz will be held.