The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has provided a much-needed training session for all GRIDCo’s Safety Coordinators on fire investigations, reporting techniques and requirements at the 2024 First Quarter Safety Coordinators Meeting, held from 9th to 10th May 2024 in Accra.
The essence is to build the capacity of Safety Coordinators to generate Fire Investigations Reports, which are prerequisites to initiate insurance claim processes when fire accidents or incidents occur in the Company.
Leading the GNFS Team, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (II), Mr. Joseph Kofi Forson, emphasised the importance of fire investigations after any fire incident. He explained that two (2) reports are needed – one that must be generated within 24 hours, which is a preliminary report, before a more detailed one is issued.
Addressing the Safety Coordinators, Ing. Bernard K. A. Gyan, Director, Technical Services, commended Manager, Safety, Ing. Eric Koduah and the Safety Management Team for the great work they do so selflessly.
Director Gyan assured all the Safety Coordinators that the Technical Services Department (TSD) will continue to support them. He disclosed that Management is seriously considering getting permanent Safety Officers across the business. “Safety is an important aspect of our operations,” he said. He indicated that having permanent Safety Officers is one way to contribute to making safety a way of life; a culture, in GRIDCo.
On behalf of Management, Ing. Bernard Gyan thanked the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) team for being a critical part of GRIDCo, but more specifically, of the Safety Management Team. He highlighted the need for more collaboration between the two (2) organisations.
Also acknowledging the role of the Safety Coordinators, Ing. Aaron Adjabeng, Manager, Transmission Assets, TSD, explained that Safety Coordinators play a critical role in the administration of health and safety in the Company. He praised all safety coordinators. There is a “lot of responsibility on your shoulders, but so far, so good, you are doing well” he said.
Three newly nominated safety coordinators namely; Ing. Harriet Owusu-Banie and Ing. Mrs. Doreen Ampadu, for the Engineering Department, and Mrs. Regina Adiki Ohime, for the Procurement Department, were introduced to the meeting.
The meeting discussed other ways to improve the existing safety processes, including discussions on the draft Fire Accident Reporting Form; the 2024 Safety Awareness Week Celebrations; safety inspection by external bodies and the role Safety Coordinators will play. The meeting also reviewed the 2023 Corporate Safety Performance and the Corporate Safety Rule (CSR) book.
