National conference discusses health and safety standards in construction industry
View(s):Lafarge Mahaweli Cement together with the Ministry of Housing and Samurdhi, National Construction Association of Sri Lanka (NCASL), Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), and the Advanced Construction Training Academy (ACTA) recently hosted a health and safety conference to highlight the issues, challenges and responsibilities on ‘Health and Safety in the modern construction industry’.
The conference attended by 230 contractors from the western province was held at the NCASL auditorium in Battaramulla, under the patronage of Ms C.D.W. Alahakoon, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Samurdhi who also graced the occasion as Chief Guest.
Speaking at the event, Ms Charlotte Boutboul, Project Manager for Lafarge Mahaweli, said that as a multinational organisation, one of Lafarge’s primary concerns worldwide is the health and safety of their employees and stakeholders. “Here in Sri Lanka and across the world, our priority is the safety of our employees and contractors. We ensure that all the safety equipment is in place for them; from secure equipment to garments that guarantee their safety while operating heavy machinery.” Athula Karunanayake, Head of Health and Safety of Lafarge Mahaweli Cement, who addressed the conference spoke in detail about the safety measures practised by Lafarge and said that the company’s goal in conducting a series of workshops island wide was to gather all stakeholders of the construction industry and to bring them to a forum where safety issues and challenges could be discussed and addressed.
Asst. Commissioner of Labour (Industrial Safety) Ms. W. L. S. Wijesundara speaking at the conference said that in June 2014, the cabinet had given the nod to a national policy that addressed seven existing issues within the construction industry. She said that the policy included a strategic plan on the steps to be taken to develop and increase the levels of safety amongst industrial workers.