Safety Week 2025: Safety Innovation across Africa

Key aspects of the week included discussions on new safety approaches, the launch of improved systems, and practical workshops. Five critical priorities for 2025–2026 were outlined to improve safety performance, including comprehensive risk assessments, meaningful inspections, proactive reporting, timely corrective actions, and a no-blame culture. Workshops emphasized transitioning to real-world safety practices and tools like audits, reporting systems, and change management procedures. 

Across Africa many of our teams took part in various local initiatives, reinforcing safety awareness in all the team members. Here’s some of the initiatives organised by our local HSE Champions: 

South Africa and Zimbabwe: Caught Being Safe Campaign

At Cotecna South Africa and Cotecna Zimbabwe, they celebrate with the ‘Caught Being Safe Campaign’. This initiative is all about spotting and celebrating the everyday moments where we see each other making safe choices, no matter how small. Whether it’s someone wearing the right PPE, reporting a near miss, checking on a coworker, or simply following procedure to the letter - it all matters. 

Team members could take a moment and add the colleague they caught being safe name, on the ‘Caught being safe’ card, and submit it to the box. These team members were recognised daily throughout safety week, and the winners have been announced and rewarded for their safe behaviour. 

During Safety week an Ergonomic Survey was conducted at our office in Umhlanga, this survey will help to determine risk factors in the office and enable injury prevention and employee well-being. 

Another ongoing safety initiative in South Africa is the defensive driving initiative. This short course teaches our drivers and staff the importance of road safety and safety while driving, making sure all our team members are equipped with the right tools to stay safe on the road.

Cote d’Ivoire:

Cotecna Côte d’Ivoire marked the 6th edition of Safety Week with a series of impactful initiatives aimed at reinforcing their commitment to health and safety across operations. The week-long activities brought together staff in a shared mission to promote a safer working environment.

Key highlights included: 

• Safety Training and Awareness: Employees participated in a dedicated training session focused on safety rules, followed by the distribution of updated safety awareness materials. 
• Partner Engagement: A visit to Cotecna’s partner laboratory, ENVAL, provided an opportunity to exchange best practices and strengthen collaboration around safety standards.
• Hands-On Medical Training: In a practical session led by SAMU doctors, staff received essential training on the management of burns, trauma, fractures, and cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs). 

Through these initiatives, our team in Côte d’Ivoire continues to foster a proactive safety culture, ensuring that every team member is informed, prepared, and committed to maintaining a safe workplace. 

Ghana:

Our Cotecna Ghana team our team took part in different activities to strengthen their workplace safety culture and celebrate safety week.  

Safety Inspection audits were conducted across all three scanning sites in Ghana. Interactive sessions with staff, focusing on the 10 Life Saver Rules was another way the team reaffirmed their commitment to safety. The 10 Lifesaver Rules are a vital framework designed to prevent serious incidents and promote responsible behaviour on the job. 

The initiative aimed to refresh employees’ understanding of these critical safety principles, encouraging them to “walk the talk” and integrate safety into their daily routines.  

The week concluded with positive feedback from the teams, highlighting a “proactive incident reporting spirit.” This response reflects the growing commitment among our teams to not only recognize potential hazards but to take initiative in reporting and addressing them.

Egypt:

Safety is at the heart of Cotecna Inspection Egypt’s operations, from vessels and ports to labs and offices. 

This year’s Safety Week reinforced our commitment to a “Zero Accident” vision by fostering a proactive safety culture across all teams. In high-risk port environments like Alexandria and Dekheila, activities included emergency fire and spill drills, PPE compliance checks, and toolbox talks on safe boarding, confined space entry, and hazardous material handling.  

Laboratory initiatives focused on chemical handling workshops, equipment calibration, and health and hygiene awareness. 

Office programs promoted overall well-being through ergonomics training, first aid and CPR sessions, and safety awareness talks.  

By prioritizing precision and safety, Cotecna ensures employees return home safely every day while protecting clients and the environment. Safety Week reflects our belief that safety is not just a rule, it’s a lifestyle. 

“Safety is not an event, it’s a mindset. At Cotecna Egypt, we believe that every action we take, whether in the port, on a vessel, in the lab, or even in our private life, should reflect our commitment to protecting lives. Safety Week is a reminder that together, we can achieve our Safety Goals.” 
Yasser Yassin, Country Manager, Cotecna Inspection Egypt 

Benin:

At Cotecna Inspection Benin, safety is more than a policy, it’s a responsibility. During this year’s Safety Week, our team came together to strengthen their commitment to creating a secure and healthy work environment for everyone. 

One of the activities included a comprehensive risk assessment of routine activities, identifying potential hazards and implementing preventive measures. To ensure hygiene and well-being, the team carried out a disinfestation of the premises, creating a cleaner and safer workspace. 

The field teams conducted two inspections at solvent and paint factories, where they emphasized the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe handling practices. Back at the office, the entire team participated in first aid training, equipping employees with essential skills to respond effectively in emergencies. 

Through these efforts, Cotecna Benin aims to strengthen their HSE practices and encourage a collective safety responsibility.  

Kenya:

At Cotecna Kenya, Safety Comes First! During their Safety Week, they challenged their entire team to take a closer look at their workplaces, identify potential hazards, and propose practical corrective measures. 

The full team participated in this initiative. From insightful observations to innovative safety solutions, the staff demonstrated great commitment to creating a safer and healthier work environment for everyone. 
 
They also held engaging training sessions to reinforce safety awareness and best practices, because in our line of work, every detail counts. 

To crown it all, they celebrated their Safety Champions, the individuals whose contributions stood out for their creativity and impact. They received tokens of appreciation, but more importantly, they earned the pride of knowing they’re helping to make Cotecna Kenya a safer place to work.

Nigeria:

Cotecna Nigeria brought energy, insight, and purpose to Safety Week 2025 with a dynamic three-day program designed to elevate safety awareness and leadership across its teams. 

Each day was packed with meaningful activities, reinforcing the message that safety is not just a policy, but a shared responsibility and a way of life.

Here’s a recap on their daily activities:  

Day 1: Safety Week kicked-off with powerful talks on safety leadership, emphasizing personal accountability and proactive hazard reporting. The day also featured interactive HSE games and a wellness session on cancer awareness and early detection. 

Day 2: On the second day, the team visited the OLAM warehouse, where Cotecna’s commercial team operates. The Staff received training on key HSE topics such as, Unsafe Acts, Hazard Identification and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Compliance. 

Day 3: On the final day, Cotecna Nigeria hosted a safe driving workshop led by the Federal Road Safety Corps, covering road signs, seat belt use, and vehicle checks. The session closed with a strong message: “It’s better to say welcome than to say sorry.” 

From thought-provoking presentations on personal accountability and safety culture to hands-on training and wellness talks, the events showcased Cotecna’s unwavering commitment to creating safer workplaces and communities.  

Until next year, Thank Safe, Act Safe, Be Safe!    

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About Cotecna

For over 50 years, we have been supporting agriculture, food and pharma, minerals and metals, and consumer products supply chains all over the world. We provide testing, inspection, and certification services to help our clients navigate evolving regulations, ensure product compliance, and support their sustainability journey.