Cargo Carriers: a story of health and safety excellence

Cargo Carriers, one of South Africa’s premium transportation, logistics and supply chain service providers, ensures that the health and safety of its employees and customers is nurtured and well managed. It forms part of the Accountability value so passionately enshrined by founder Des Bolton way back in 1956. This still holds true today, 60 years later, where health and safety awareness is highly visible in the company offices, boardrooms and branches.

The logistics provider is constantly innovating its culture of learning new ways of doing business, responding to improved methodologies for health and safety; and in so doing, propelling itself forward.

Cargo Carriers enjoys the acknowledgement of several industry regulatory accreditation bodies, including DEKRA (an international body overseeing safety and quality standards for companies dealing with technology, the environment and mobility). The company is a signatory to the Responsible Care programme of the Chemical Allied Industry Association (CAIA), which promotes the safe handling and transportation of hazardous substances. The Sasolburg, Secunda and Cape Town branches have been rated as “preferred haulier” in terms of the CAIA criteria. The Sasolburg branch continually achieves a score of over 95 percent.

Regular external and internal audits are conducted to ensure that high standards are maintained.  Internal Occupational Health & Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 compliance checks are also conducted bi-annually to confirm the logistics provider implements its own internal policies and procedures in its branches. External OHSAS 18001 accreditation is carried out annually and Safety Quality Assessment System (SQAS) assessment is carried out every two years. Legal compliance experts also conduct audits to ensure the company is compliant.

Information gained assists the company in research and development of new and improved methodologies to ensure the haulier is constantly top of its game and providing the best for its employees and customers. Ongoing “Road Safety Management System Compliance” audits are conducted by customers on a regular basis; affirming consistent high scores that keep the company a step ahead of the industry.

Skills development has long been part of the company’s driving ethos. Employee training is vital to the success of the business, ensuring essential up-to-date information and learning is shared with drivers on an on-going basis; and thereby fostering a culture of constant improvement and a quest to learn more. Drivers undergo annual health checks to ensure they are fit to drive and the customers’ needs are met in a safe manner.

Driving these initiatives is Group SHEQ manager, Mercia Maletswa, a Health and Safety professional with a Master’s of Management degree, specialising in Safety, Health and Environment. For Maletswa, her job is to ensure that the requirements of the customer are continuously met and exceeded.

“We are very proud of our commitment to health and safety; it is part of the DNA of our culture. We do our utmost to ensure the risks to our employees and the business is minimised. Strict processes are in place to ensure the safety and security of our people – compliance is ‘non-negotiable’,” she says.
 
Cargo Carriers walks the talk on the topic of health and safety. Regular communication, known as “Toolbox Talk”, is shared with employees on a weekly basis. All learning, improvements, successes and challenges are documented in this internally driven educational programme. It forms part of fostering a learning culture.

Because it’s a practical business that poses obvious dangers, daily briefings are held at branches around the country where information regarding safety is discussed amongst drivers before they set out on their routes, ensuring safety is constantly top of mind. Branches are responsible for the training of their employees and ensuring they are in a fit state of health; and all safety compliance standards are met, maintained and surpassed.

Murray Bolton, CEO of Cargo Carriers, believes in finding safe solutions for every customer’s need. The Cargo Way espouses strong values and a high work ethic.

“Health and Safety are intrinsic to the Cargo Carriers culture. We are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for our most important asset, our employees; aligning to our value of Accountability,” concludes Bolton.