Hemas Hospitals recognised at National Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Awards 2016

Sri Lanka’s pioneering healthcare provider, Hemas Hospitals won recognition for its stringent occupational health and safety practices at the ‘National Occupational Safety and Health Excellence Awards – 2016’ held on 14 October at Nelum Pokuna Theatre. 

Organised by the Ministry of Labour and Trade Union Relations in partnership with Department of Labour and National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the event was aimed at improving industrial productivity while ensuring a safety and health for the Sri Lankan workforce and drew attendance from numerous prominent dignitaries including Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Hemas Hospital – Thalawathugoda was presented with prestigious award of ‘Others Sector – Winner’ in Large Category business entities, in recognition of its efforts to maintain and sustain a safe working environment for all its valued staff members, through comprehensive programmes designed to increase competencies and compliance with proper health and safety standards. A spokesperson from NIOSH commended the efforts of the Hemas team in securing recognition from the country’s leading OSH state organisation, while noting that the award represented the first time in the history of the organisation that a hospital had won this award. 

Hemas Hospitals – Wattala was awarded with the special achievement award of ‘Systematic Hazard Identified Organisation’ recognising their risk identification and mitigation process.

In addition, General Manager – Nursing Dorine De Souza was awarded with special achievement award for ‘Outstanding line Manager for Safety’.

In order to achieve these awards, the hospitals had to go through a methodical selection process of three comprehensive tiers. The first step of Desk Review included a standardised document to assess the applications in accordance with 80 unique elements of the Safety Management System of the organisations. The top scoring applicants of each sector were then promoted to the next tier of assessment which is the Field Verification Visits. The Field visitors were comprised of NIOSH Team Member, a Factory Inspection Engineer and one member from Siam City Cement as a ‘Technical Consultancy Partner’. 

Top scoring applicants were then promoted to final tier of assessment which was to present the company OSH Standards to a panel of judges consisting of OSH experts from industries including Siam City Lanka as well as NIOSH team who interviewed each of the finalists based on 15 unique elements of Safety Management System.

Moving forward, Hemas Hospitals, reiterated its commitment to provide a safe and healthy work environment to all staff, patients, families, volunteers, contractors and visitors, through a dedicated process of continuous development and improvement of safety management systems, identification of risk and implementation control measures, report, record and investigate incidents injuries and illness. Through strict adherence to internationally accepted safety standards the hospital ensures an environment that promotes and supports the physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of staff and patients alike.