30 Aug 2016

The Jwaneng Mine Health Services team is this year’s inter-departmental first aid competitions champions and will represent the mine at the Botswana Chamber of Mines Inter-mine First Aid competitions penciled for October in Orapa.

The team, which was faced with fierce competition from 11 other competitors, impressed  the judges in the simulation exercise as it garnered 196 points followed by Mining A and Mining B with 190.5 and 179.5 respectively.

Even though it entered the last lap of the competition as the leading team after impressing in the individual and team tests, the Security department only managed fourth position with 164 points.

The new kids on the block, Education team, were recognized as the Newcomer Team, while one of their own, Emily Tuelo was awarded the Best New comer.

Moremi Dingalo and Amos Modise from the Mining team had a tie for the Best Overall award. Speaking during  the event, the deputy director at the Department of Mines Mr Mogomotsi Nyepetsi appreciated the efforts made by Jwaneng mine to enhance its safety measures??

He said through its REMMOGO program, the company showed commitment towards saving lives and reducing injuries in the workplace. “In 2015 Jwaneng Mine launched REMMOGO program which is geared towards reduction of injuries in the workplace as commitment to attain zero harm.

Through your efforts and teamwork Jwaneng Mine continues to make strides towards reaching zero harm. These efforts will assist us to create a legacy of a safe and healthy environment to our employees as well as the communities within which we do business,” he said.

Furthermore, he applauded the mine for offering basic First Aid training to all its employees, as well as training paramedics and establishing a proto team to timeously respond to emergencies. He said First Aid was a paramount aspect and should remain a key component of the company’s operations.

He noted that the First Aid competitions allowed employees to transfer their skills of saving lives as well as evaluating on how they could improve.

“These competitions allow us to transfer skills and knowledge on how to save lives and introspect on our levels of readiness on First Aid, with the aim to continually improve our performance .

Also competitions such as these are designed to promote high health and safety standards in all operations,” he noted.

Mr Nyepetsi further urged the participants to look beyond the competition concept and appreciate the event as a platform to horn their skills which are critical in saving lives especially in road accidents. He said some lives lost through such accidents could be saved by application of First Aid skills.

The Jwaneng Mine General Manager Mr Albert Milton applauded all the teams for the performances displayed. He said the tight competition indicated the highest level of First Aid skills that participants possessed.

He said even though not all of them won medals, they were all winners and should display a united front and support the Health Services team as it represents them at the next level. ENDS