First safety officers forum for the year gets under way |31 March 2023

Photo of the group who received certificate following first aid training

The Employment department held its safety officers forum yesterday at the STC conference centre, the first in a series planned this year targeting safety officers from various organisations.

The safety officers forum was initiated last year following a workshop in November to commemorate safety week, where the ministry adopted a resolution to introduce such a forum.

Its objective is to bring together safety officers and representative from all sectors to discuss topical issues in Occupational safety and health in Seychelles so as to provide a platform for the exchange of experiences, practices, and expert knowledge on the establishment of safe and healthy workplaces.

It will also enhance and empower the safety officers and keep them up-to-date with their roles and responsibilities and ensure standard practices.

This year’s theme for World Safety Day, which falls on April 28, is ‘A safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental right’ and the Employment department has chosen a theme for the local context, which is ‘Creating safe and healthy work environments’.

When addressing the participants at yesterday’s launch, the chairperson of the Occupational and Safety board, Dr Vanessa Lesperance, stated how this year they have collaborated with all stakeholders including private employers, trade unions and employees, to place occupational health and safety at the forefront of Seychelles’ work landscape to exchange ideas, experiences and to learn how to improve existing cautious system and incorporate best practices.

The forum included presentations by various guest speakers.

Yesterday’s event was also an opportunity to recognise a group of 17 staff from the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs, and the Agency for Social Protection that took part in a basic first aid training held during last year’s Safety Week.

They were presented with certificates and identification badges by the Minister for Employment and Social Affairs, Patricia Francourt.

Prya Adrienne, one of the participants, who is a senior officer in labour migration, shared that she gained a lot of experience and knowledge through the training. “I got the chance to learn different techniques to use in different situations, I learned that instead of using vaseline on burns you should use aloe vera or honey and that was totally new to me. There are so many benefits you get from the training,” she said.

Winners of last year’s safety poster competition were also rewarded.

From the Primary school category, the first prize went to Ricardo Talma and from the Secondary school category it was Elisha Baker, an S3 students from English River, who came in first place. Elisha who was very surprised for being chosen, said she was very proud of her work. “I have drawn safety equipment as stages of safety and control. For me safety means keeping yourself and others away from danger or harm,” she said.

Several similar forums are expected throughout the year and will cover all three main islands.

Diane Larame

Photos by Louis Toussaint