Report by Ben LARYEA
Vivo Energy Ghana, the exclusive distributor and marketer of shell branded fuels and lubricants has commemorated this years safety Day Celebration under the theme, ‘’Prepare to Respond, ‘’in Accra.
The events seeks to strengthen a proactive safety culture, deepen awareness, reinforce preparedness and response measures in the event of occupational and major industrial incidents which forms part of the company’s effort to renew it’s collective focus on Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Quality.
Consequently, the occasion falls within the company’s core values on safety and excellence in the bid to protect employees, contractors, customers, communities, environment and to make Vivo Energy Ghana, Africa’s leading and most respected energy business entity.
The programme created a platform for industry players, stakeholders, regulatory representatives, partners, stakeholders, management and staff of Vivo Energy Ghana among others to deliberate, discuss and share insights in the petroleum industry and measures to bring to bear in advancing safety standards and emergency preparedness across the industry.
Speaking at the event , the Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana, Christian Li said safety is not only about preventing incidents but also fully prepared to respond effectively to issues hence the company invests in safety training risk assessment, emergency response systems and robust HSSEQ standards.
According to him, Vivo Energy Ghana safety is not a slogan but a culture embedded in the company’s core values which is Safety, Excellence, Caring, Respect and Integrity that guides management decision as well as operations that company undertakes to deliver business safety.
‘’ The company operates in a high – risk environment where the potentials for fires, explosions and operational failures which demands constant vigilance, ‘’he said adding that incidents in the industry are linked to gaps in risk assessment, transport safety and operational controls and demands urgent readiness at all times.
The occasion, he said, calls for every transporter to remain vigilant on the road and urged station operators to maintain the highest operational standard and again called on employees to speak up and intervene when something feels unsafe.
In an address, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) OF Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Prof- Nana Ama Browne Klutse commended Vivo Energy Ghana for it’s commitment in scaling up public education on emergency preparedness in the petroleum sector.
She said the Authority will continue to support Vivo Energy in all projects across the country as part of the effort to bring sanity in the petroleum sector and to curb also environmental hazards.
In a related development, across section of staff were rewarded with certificates and deep freezers for their unwavering commitment in handling safety issues in the discharge of their respective duties.
