Chittagong, 02 October 2012: Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, the top shipbuilding company in Bangladesh, has achieved two separate certificates for Occupational Health & Safety & Environment at a seminar Monday (October 1st, 2012) at a city hotel.
The company has achieved OHSAS 18001 for Occupational Health & Safety from Bureau Veritas (BV) and and ISO 14001 for Environment during the event. The certificates were handed over by Managing Director of BV Bangladesh, Mr. Golam Kibria to the yard management.
A seminar titled “The Role of Workplace Health & Safety to Gain Access in Global Markets” has jointly organized by GIZ, GmbH, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) and Western Marine Shipyard Limited (WMShL).
Honorable Minister for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Prof. Dr. A. F. M. Ruhal Haque, M.P., has inaugurated the Seminar as Chief Guest.
WMShL is now the first shipyard in Bangladesh to acquire an internationally recognized certification in Occupational Health and Safety which increased the potential to compete in the global market. Due to the simple but highly effective measures introduced under this cooperation with the shipyard, the injury rate has dropped. The additional benefits for the company are reduction in medical costs, property damage, loss of working hours and increased worker’s morale.
The main objective of the seminar was focused on the strong positive correlation between good corporate responsibility and better business opportunity that has been proved through the successful Integrated Public-Private Partnership (iPPP) between MOHFW, GIZ and WMShLto improve the health and safety of shipyard workers and community members alike. With foreign governments being increasingly concerned about social and environmental responsibility of companies they cooperate with, this collaboration has increased the competitive edge of the shipyard on the international market.
Western Marine Shipyard Limited had launched Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policy on March 24, 2011 with the help of GIZ,GmbH & Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The event started with the opening speech by Mr. Olaf Handloegten, Country Director of GIZ where he quoted “Through this cooperation about 25000 people in the direct neighborhood of the shipyard receive primary health care services.” Then followed the presentation of Dr. Paul Rueckert, Team Leader, Priority Sector Health, GIZ about the collaboration.
Mr. Saiful Islam, Chairman, Western Marine Shipyard said, “Over the years, we have perfected our shipbuilding standard because we understand that no matter how skill our human resources are- in the end it is firmly established management system that puts everything in a synchronized motion that matters”
“In the first year of the partnership between WMShL, MoHFW and GIZ, I was quite skeptical. However, now I am fully convinced that it was a farsighted decision. I am satisfied because our investment together with the support of GIZ have resulted in a competitive advantage for our company and secured export orders from global market” was the remark made byMr. Sakhawat Hossain, Managing Director of Western Marine Shipyards in his speech.
The event was highlighted with the presence of bureaucrats and officials from the public & private sector, the development sector and the embassies. The special guests Md. HumayunKabir, Secretary Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Mr. M. Murtozaa Reza , Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Mikail Shipar, Secretary in Charge, Ministry of Labour; K. H. Masud Siddiqui, Secretary, Ministry of Industries were also present.
