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Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka, the dairy co-operative behind Anchor, has won the Overall Silver Award in the multinational category at the National Occupational Safety and Health Excellence (NOSHE) Awards 2016, reinforcing the company’s leadership and focus on health and safety. The prestigious accolade was presented to Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka by Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe at the awards ceremony last week. Organised by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the NOSHE Awards recognise Sri Lankan companies that demonstrate best practice in this field. Over 135 companies entered this year’s awards, with 75 qualifying for the multinational category.
Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Managing Director Sunil Sethi said, “It is a great honour to receive this award and be recognised for our commitment to health and safety which is a top priority for us. “Having received the F&B Sector Award in 2014, receiving the Overall Silver Award for multinational companies showcases our swift progress as a leader in health and safety, not only across our business but in our communities as well. “This award is a testament to the efforts of our 750-strong team who ensures that we take care of each other at work, and sharesour expertiseto keep our communities safe,” said Sethi. Fonterra has been focused on sharing these award winning practices with the wider community, with a range of initiatives in place to develop and share its expertise. This included hosting a recent visit by Minister of Labour W.D.J. Seneviratna, government officials and members of the NIOSH Governing Council, with the aim of using Fonterra’s health and safety practices as a case study for the benefit of public and private sector companies.
The company’s dairy communities are also a top priority, with Fonterra conducting a Safety Week at its Milk Collection Centres around the country earlier this year. The program is designed to uplift the health and safety standards of dairy communities and educate farmers and milk collectors about the importance of safety. Another health and safety initiative led by Fonterra is a program called iLead Health and Safety which has been rolled out by the company’s sales team island-wide. Working with consignment agents, traders, retailers and other community partners, the programme focuses on implementing initiatives to improve safety standards throughout their extensive distribution channels.