5 EMPLOYEES AWARDED FOR BRAVERY AT RSSC

The Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation has awarded five employees for their act of bravery which averted a potential tragic incident that could have resulted in massive damage and even loss of life. 

The incident took place at RSSC’s Simunye Factory after a contractor company worked without caution and two gas cylinders caught fire at the outlet nozzles.

According to a report filed by RSSC after investigating the incident, instead of putting off the fire from the gas cylinders, the contractor’s employees fled the scene without reporting the incident.

When awarding the five brave employees, RSSC MD Nick Jackson said; “Recently, I thanked all of you for ensuring that safety within the business has been elevated taking to consideration that for the past two years RSSC has not experienced any fatality.”

“As management we are proud of the five employees. They have set an example to the entire operations of RSSC and their bravery will forever be recognised mostly because if they had not been brave enough to put off the fire, today we would be talking massive damage and even loss of life.”

Jackson added that the contractor company’s services to the sugar company were consequently terminated because during the investigations it was clearly identified that a number of precautions had not been taken when the incident took place.

The heroic employees were awarded certificates of bravery and shopping vouchers.

These are the names of the employees; Bhutana Magagula (RSSC), Mark Nun (RSSC), Magamecile Dlamini (RSSC), Siboniso Ndlovukazi (4HIM Security) and Derrick Ndlovukazi (4HIM Security).

Narrating the events leading to the successful fight on the fire, Mark Nun said; “The fire was noticed by other sections at the cane yard and raised the factory fire alarm. By then the flame was forceful. A gas cylinder does not need to burn for a long time before a catastrophic explosion occurs. Judging by the time the fire alarm rang before we could react, this must have gone for well over five minutes. By then it was extreme risky for anyone to get closer to the cylinders, but through knowing the dangers possessed by any fire within the factory premises, we summoned all courage to put it off.”

Nun further urged other employees to always ensure that safety is at its best with high risk areas like the factory because such could lead to fatalities that would end a lot of lives.
RSSC has over the past years continued to promote high safety standards and one of those ways was to introduce alcohol testing exercises for every entering and exiting all high risk areas which include factories and workshops. The company has other high level safety control measures which ensure that all employees abide to all safety standards and procedures set.