Columbus Stainless in partnership with Nashua Mpumalanga present learners with digital apparatus after Safety Week competition

Columbus Stainless recently celebrated Safety Week in commemoration of World Steel Safety Day with the motto “Our People, Our Priority: Safety First.” Different activities took place throughout the offices and plant with specific focus on main causes of accidents in the steel industry. Safety has for many years been a top priority for the stainless steel manufacturer based in Middelburg as they are known for high safety standards to protect all employees and contractors on site. Many of the activities undertaken involved employees and their families’ to highlight the value of “Safety as a way of life”. Primary school children reminded their parents of the importance of coming back home safely. These children between the ages of 6 – 10 were hosted and treated to a plant tour on a Saturday morning to experience the vastness of the factory. The tour was hosted by Senior Manager – Steel Plant, Dirk Kruger and Senior Manager – Occupational Health, Safety & Environment, Johan du Toit. The kids were very excited when they thought they saw “Lava”, when they actually saw a transfer ladle full of molten steel being picked up by a metal crane to be charged into the AOD (Argon Oxygen Decarburization) vessel.
Of the activities hosted, one targeted secondary school students in a form of a social media safety competition. Interested students whose parents work for Columbus Stainless had to submit a 90 second video on why safety is important to them. All videos received underwent rigorous judging process from a team of appointed personnel from different departments. The creativity was enormous and the judges finished with a joint third place. The four students were invited to the prestigious recognition and awards ceremony where the prizes sponsored by Nashua Mpumalanga and Columbus Stainless were handed in the presence of their parents.

The winners for the night were as follows
1st Prize, Laptop:
Cherise Hattingh, Grade 10, HoërTegniese Skool Middelburg (HTS)
2nd Prize, Tablet:
Juane Fourie, Grade 11, HoërTegniese Skool Middelburg (HTS)
3rd Prize, Smart Phone:
Etienne Louw, Grade 9, Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS).
Reinhardt Visser, Grade 12, Middelburg Hoërskool (MHS).

“Congratulations to all the winners. Safety must be a conscious decision and choice by all of us, every day. We trust that this initiative has raised awareness on the importance of Health and Safety inside and outside the workplace. The safety of all our people will always remain our number one priority and value” Johan Strydom, Columbus Stainless CEO.