Regional Health and Safety Competition 2023 - What you need to know.

With the 2023 Regional Health and Safety Competition upon us, it is important that members understand the history of this prestigious competition.

Background

The Health and Safety competition has its origins in 1963 when the first building safety competition was held by NOSA in collaboration with Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal. It took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Housekeeping was the only category which was adjudicated. In 1964, it was extended to two categories, Building and Allied Trades, both of which were won by members of the Association.

Today, the competition is a fully-fledged and well-supported annual event, open to all Association members and FEM policyholders. There are ten different categories and every year regional competitions are held by the various Master Builders Associations throughout the country.

The winners of the different categories are then entered into the National Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) Health and Safety Competition.

Why enter?

The competition provides a platform from which companies can benchmark their Health and Safety Management Systems and implementation against other companies in our province and nationally.

By participating in the competition, a company verifies its compliance with relevant legislation and best practices in the industry.

Entry Criteria

• Only registered members of Master Builders KwaZulu-Natal and policyholders of the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance (FEM) may enter.
• Construction activities on the site must be between 20% - 80% complete at the time of judging.
• The site must have a minimum of 50% of the total audit elements fulfilled at the time of judging. The Master Builders South Africa Audit System currently has 20 audit elements. For the site to qualify, at least 10 audit elements (administration and physical combined) must be fulfilled at the time of judging.
• Competition judging/audits will be conducted by the Association.

Competition judging/audits

The Master Builders South Africa Occupational Health & Safety Audit System and Star Grading Programme Audit shall be used to measure performance. All relevant categories shall be assessed.

Essential requirements for Regional and National Audits

Herewith is a list of the items that require 100% compliance before Regional and National Audits can take place on a site:

• A valid letter of good standing in respect of Workman’s Compensation from FEM or COIDA
• Principal Contractor’s Safety Plan
• A site-specific risk assessment must include the following: safe work procedures, a monitoring plan and a review plan.
• Up-to-date Disabling Injury Frequency Rate (DIFR)
• Construction Work Permit (where required in terms of the OHS Act)

Members or FEM policyholders can enter in the following categories:

Contract values include VAT.

Competition results

The results of the regional health and safety competition will be announced at the Association’s Annual Awards.

Entry form submissions

Entries for the annual competition are completed in March each year with judging commencing at the end of April and throughout May. The winning member companies in each category will then be entered into the Master Builders South Africa National Competition to represent both the company and the Association.

For more information, please contact the Association.

Nel Enslin

Head: Occupational Health and Safety