UNELCO hosts safety workshop for over 50 subcontractors and partners

October 27, 2024 9:59 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

UNELCO Engie held its third safety training event, titled “Partnership Engaged for Our Priority Safety” (PEPS), on Thursday, 24 October 2024, drawing over 50 subcontractors and partners to participate.

UNELCO Director General (DG) Frédéric Petit said the training focused solely on safety, discussing various rules and practices to ensure the safety of UNELCO staff, subcontractors, partners, and the public, with the goal of preventing fatal accidents.

“As highlighted in today’s presentation, fatal accidents still occur within the ENGIE group—something I don’t want to see. It’s tragic for the individual and their family, especially the children,” he said.

“This is a special moment for us to exchange ideas. There have been explanations, questions, and remarks from various subcontractors, with about 50 UNELCO staff and nearly 50 responsible staff from subcontractors and partners participating. UNELCO’s business partners have gathered to share and exchange knowledge about safety.

“Last year, participation was lower, as the venue was at the Melanesian Hotel. This year, as you can see, it’s better. There are workshops inside and outside, where everyone shares their usual field practices through simulations and identifies the proper tools for the job.”

DG Petit also voiced his satisfaction in seeing a representative from the Labour Department present, observing workplace safety practices. This, he noted, is an important issue. “On the streets, we often encounter unacceptable situations that, if they occurred in Australia, New Zealand, or New Caledonia, would result in fines and penalties. However, this isn’t the case in Vanuatu yet,” he said.

“This is the first step towards their involvement. When I arrived in 1994 to start at UNELCO, things were not like this. Today, there’s been significant improvement, and I am proud to see that some of UNELCO’s subcontractors are also working with the Government and other companies. Now, they are beginning to apply the best safety rules, which they must follow with UNELCO.

“This is a small victory and something I am proud of, as it shows they are finally understanding these rules for the benefit of their employees. There has been progress, but this is not the end—safety is a continuous effort. I am proud that UNELCO plays a part in ensuring the safety of the public and workers because it is so important.”

“I never want to visit a family and tell them their loved one has passed away while at work. This is something we strive to avoid. I am also pleased with the constructive feedback from UNELCO’s subcontractors and partners today. They are convinced that safety is important.”

“Looking ahead, any company that does not follow safety rules will not have the right to work with UNELCO. However, we are helping them by providing training and risk assessment tools from today’s meeting. They may be subcontractors and partners, but they are an integral part of UNELCO’s safety mission.”

Tanguy Kerzreho, Director of Electricity Production and Distribution, emphasised that while UNELCO can help control tools and equipment, it is each individual’s responsibility to ensure they use the correct tools. “It’s your own life at stake, so safety is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

Allan Wong stated that the workshop is beneficial as it refreshes the minds of both employers and workers. “It is really important that we remind ourselves about the tools we use and their functions,” he said. “The boss always reminds us to respect safety.”

Antoine Boudier, owner of Vate Electrics, reminded participants that everyone has the right to stop work if there is danger or if proper tools are not being used for a specific task. “However, there is a proper way to do this. We should not put anyone’s life in danger, so it is important to stop work safely and according to safety rules,” he added.

“Let’s respect the tools we use. They have their functions and duties, and those functions are to save our lives.”

Cinzia Virelala, the Quality, Safety, and Environment Manager of UNELCO Engie, revealed that in 2021 there was a significant number of accidents, many of which involved subcontractors.

“In 2022, UNELCO Engie invited around 47 subcontractors, and in 2023, they invited 48. This year, the number increased to 53 subcontractors,” she said.

“These include all the subcontractors we work with. This year, more than 30 subcontractors attended the training. In the past, most participants were managers, but we now also ask that workers and supervisors attend.”