As Technical Consultant for the National Safety Awards 2014, Holcim featured prominently at the prestigious awards function held on 20^th October 2014. The National Safety Awards 2014 is organized and implemented by National Occupational Safety & Health, under the patronage of the Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations. The CEO of Holcim Lanka, Philippe Richart, launched a safety book for stakeholders on the occasion, and presented the first book to Dr. D.M.Jayaratne, The Hon Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, who graced the occasion. Inspired by its corporate motto, “Safety is our license to lead” - Holcim Lanka is proud to demonstrate thought leadership while simultaneously sharing its global best practices amongst the rest of the corporate sector. Holcim Lanka enjoys an enviable safety record in the operation of its two fully-fledged production facilities and is a model organization where safety is concerned. 

Mr. W.J.L.U. Wijayweera, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Labour Relations, said: “We are grateful to Holcim Lanka for extending technical consultancy for the National Safety Awards 2014. The company has a proven track record of maintaining high occupational and safety standards in its operations and was the ideal private sector partner to be a part of our team to select winners based on stringent safety criteria.  The National Occupational Safety & Health is committed to better working conditions for all people through increasing awareness of and adherence to proper health and safety measures. The National Safety Awards is a key tool to achieve the establishment of better safety standards in Sri Lanka. We are overwhelmed with the response to this year’s National Safety Awards event, and it is clear that the event will only grow in stature in the years to come. The involvement of a competent technical consultant such as Holcim Lanka has added immeasurable value to the event.”

Holcim Lanka is the Sri Lanka arm of the multinational cement and aggregate solutions provider, Holcim, which has maintained a strong focus on safety in operations in alignment with its global vision.

Philippe Richart, CEO of Holcim Lanka, commented: “Holcim Lanka is privileged to have functioned as technical consultant for the National Safety Awards 2014. At Holcim, we strongly believe that everybody has the right to work in a safe environment and that safety is not a question of luck but of choice. As part of the global Holcim network spanning 70 countries, we have developed and implemented to a lot of best safety practices around the world. Holcim is happy to be a contributor in promoting safety at a national level with these awards. Numerous international accolades have been awarded to Holcim Lanka, marking the company among the top promoters of a safety culture. We hope that the safety book that Holcim have launched today furthers this important element in ensuring workforce safety above all other considerations. I am delighted to see the importance being given to safety in Sri Lanka Corporations of that the culture of safety is starting to be embedded to the shop floor level. As technical consultant in the awards, Holcim had plenty of opportunity to witness and learn new best practices and we will continue to be happy to have our expertise with other corporations in Sri Lanka.”

Holcim Lanka assisted the National Safety Awards 2014 with technical expertise across areas ranging from preparation of application forms, development of a user guide for completion of application, development of desk review criteria and development of field verification criteria to the provision of technical guidance.

Photo caption: Holcim presenting the Safety book to the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. (From left) Mr. Gayan Fernando - Corporate  OHS Manager, Holcim (Lanka) Limited, Mr. Philippe Richart – CEO, Holcim (Lanka) Limited, Mrs. Champika Amerasinghe- Director General, National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, Mr. W.J.L.U. Wijayaweera - Secretary , Ministry of Labour & Labour Relations, Hon. Gamini Lokuge  - Minister of Labour and Labour Relations, Hon. Dr. D.M. Jayaratne - Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Hon. Rear admiral Dr. Sarath Weerasekara - Deputy Minister of Labour and Labour Relations, Mr. Herath Yapa - Addl. Secretary,  Ministry of Labour & Labour Relations