Master Builders Association North (MBA North) members have continued their multi-year winning streak by being placed in the top four of every category in the 2024 Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) National Safety Competition (NSC) – the flagship event for health and safety in the building industry.
Gerhard Roets, Health and Safety Manager at MBA North, says the competition was particularly fierce at this year’s NSC, which pits members from seven MBA districts against each other. The competition aims to encourage and reward health and safety best practice in construction, which is by its nature a dangerous sector to work in.
The 2024 MBSA National Safety Competition received 44 entries and 3 voluntary withdrawals. Audits were conducted at 42 construction sites, including plant yards and manufacturing premises, across various categories over six weeks from 18 June to 31 July 2024. During this time, the two auditors travelled a total of 10 403 km by road and air.
“MBA members who take part in the regional competition and progress to the national competition are committed to best practice in occupational health and safety. The fact that so many of them are top performers year after year is encouraging and sets a good example to others in the industry. This year, the competition at the national level was tough, with an exceptionally high average compliance rate of 98%. This meant that a mere 0.01% could be the difference between taking first and second place in the competition,” Roets says.
MBA North members – most of whom have won several safety awards – took one first place, two second places, four third places and two fourth places in the 2024 competition.
WBHO Construction Signage Manufacturing was placed first in Category B2 for manufacturers. This is the third time WBHO has been a top achiever in the National Safety Awards, finishing in the top 3 of every category from 2021 to 2024.
Form-Scaff Nelspruit finished second in Category B1 for allied trades and GVK-Siya Zama Building Contractors took second place in Category F, for the Bertrams Multi-Purpose Centre. Form-Scaff is a multi-award winner in the National Safety Awards having won twice before.
Third places were taken by Tiber Construction Village Deep Yard in Category A, Washirika 3 Oaks for a Bedfordview Residential Development in Category D, Tri-Star Construction for China City Shopping Centre Crown City in Category E, and a joint venture between WBHO and Trencon for Barlow Park Residential Phase 2 in Category G. Tiber Construction has won 4 National Safety Awards, while Washirika 3 Oaks has 2 to its credit and WBHO has 6.
Fourth places were awarded to WBHO Construction for Teraco JB5 in Category H, and GVK-Siya Zama Building Contractors for the Soshanguve Plaza Redevelopment in Category I.
Roets congratulated the MBA members, noting that participation in the regional and national safety competitions is voluntary, and that only companies committed to health and safety and seeking to benchmark themselves against industry best practice participate.
“With a 2% improvement in average compliance rates, the compliance rate this year was one of the highest ever,” Roets says. “This may be due in part to the fact that the construction industry is better regulated than many others. In addition, industry bodies and stakeholders like MBA North and the Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) play an active role in improving health and safety in construction.”
MBA North and FEM collaborate on a range of initiatives to improve workplace health and safety on site, as well as working to enhance awareness of the importance of other factors that influence workplace safety, such as nutritional status and HIV management.
