Upcoming FEM Safetember Conference to shine spotlight on workplace health and safety

The Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) will be hosting its annual Safetember Conference this month. FEM is a mutual insurer that provides workmen’s compensation cover to the construction industry.

The conference is part of a broader “Safetember” campaign that uses the month of September to shine the spotlight on occupational health and safety (OHS) in the construction industry and beyond. The FEM Safetember initiative was launched in 2015, with the support of the construction industry, as a means to raise awareness and reduce high accident rates. The campaign highlights the urgency for increased health and safety training, as well as the need for improved safety measures to be implemented by both employers and employees.

FEM’s 2022 statistics (extracted as of June 2023), based on claims received from insured employers in the construction industry, show 6 157 reported accidents for the year, with 48 fatalities and 581 accidents resulting in permanent disability. Of the 6 157 incidents reported, a massive 32.3% were listed under the “struck by” accident category (i.e. being ‘struck by’ a vehicle while working, being ‘struck by’ a falling brick on a building site etc.). As such, the theme of this year’s conference is “Addressing Struck By Injuries”, driving an increased focus on reducing accidents under this category, among others.

The conference agenda includes a welcome address by FEM CEO Ndivhuwo Manyonga and a keynote address by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) chief inspector Milly Ruiters. DEL’s specialist for construction Hilton Ganesan will also delve into critical industry health and safety concerns.

FEM chief business development officer and South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health president, Sanjay Munnoo, will provide valuable occupational safety insights based on FEM statistics, claim case study analyses and industry trends. Panel discussions and think-tank sessions will focus on addressing challenges faced by the construction industry when it comes to workplace health and safety, as well as OHS performance indicators.

In line with the theme, the event will include a committee discussion on ‘struck by’ incidents as the leading cause of accidents in the construction industry. FEM’s reskilling and upskilling programme will also be showcased, including a talk by FEM pensioner and programme beneficiary, Mzamo Ngcobo.

The conference will also mark the launch of FEM’s inaugural health and safety publication. The annual FEM Health and Safety Magazine provides key information, trends and advice based on insights from academics, industry professionals, regulatory bodies, safety experts and employees.

Commenting on the campaign and conference, Manyonga says: “We at FEM believe that with effective workplace safety planning and execution, most accidents are preventable. We are committed to driving awareness and education toward achieving the ultimate goal of zero workplace accidents. Initiatives such as the Safetember campaign and conference are aimed at networking and developing insight-based solutions to reduce occupational injuries, disabilities and the tragic loss of life. We look forward to engaging with like-minded professionals and experts at our upcoming event.”

Safetember is a national initiative, with the Johannesburg conference taking place on 20 September 2023, followed by the Cape Town event on 22 September and the Durban event on 29 September 2023.