The Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) has announced its new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Occupational Health and Safety Accreditation (ISO).
The most prestigious worldwide accreditation for occupational health and safety management systems is the new Occupational Health and Safety Accreditation, often known as the ISO 45001: 2018 certification.
After independent certification audits of the firm's facilities were conducted by DNV, a well recognised authority in business assurance and risk management with its headquarters in Norway, the certification was granted to the company in April 2022.
The leading midstream gas company in the nation, GNGC, owns and manages the gas infrastructure necessary for gathering, processing, transporting, and marketing natural gas resources in Ghana and abroad.
inauguration ceremony
The company's Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ben Asante, said that one of the successes of a new management strategic direction was the development and implementation of the company's Occupational Health and Safety management system to meet international standards. He was speaking at a ceremony in Accra on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, to announce the implementation of the ISO 45001: 2018 certification.
Dr. Ben Asante, the Ghana National Gas Company's CEO, speaking with several ministers at the occasion.
The primary goal of the ISO 45001 certification, according to him, was to enable management to implement and maintain a current, comprehensive health and safety system that "provides a framework for the prevention of work-related injury and ill health to workers, and to provide safe and healthy working conditions."
The ISO 45001:2018 certification, he continued, was also created to support ongoing development of Ghana Gas' corporate operations and procedures.
"Ghana Gas has distinguished itself as the first entirely state owned firm in the energy sector of Ghana to have acquired this coveted accreditation," said Dr. Asanted. "By this health and safety management system certification."
According to him, the nature and rapid expansion of the firm's business operations and infrastructure in line with the management's vision were major factors in the company obtaining the ISO 45001: 2018 certification.
Successes
He said that the ISO 45001 certification process has so far made it possible for the company's health and safety procedures and general business operations to be integrated at all levels of the organisation. This has raised employees' involvement in all corporate activities.
"ISO 45001 is the highest auditable accreditation and internationally recognised standard for occupational health and safety management system," he said. "It sets the standards for ensuring suitable systems, procedures, and controls are applied by the certified organisation."
There were many people there.
In order to fully implement the new health and safety system, Dr. Asante noted that the company's entire staff had received adequate training. She stated that "some of the key trainings include ISO 45001:2018 awareness for all staff, ISO 45001:2018 internal auditors, and ISO 45001:2018 lead auditor's trainings."
Benefits
Robert Lartey, the general manager in charge of operations, said the business will gain in a number of ways. He claimed that the new framework had improved organisational efficiency, performance, and resilience overall as well as the control and efficacy of internal operations.
He said that the new accreditation has strengthened the organization's commitment to creating a safer workplace and preventing occupational illness and injury for all of its employees, including management and junior staff.
According to Mr. Lartey, the ISO 45001: 2018 accreditation will increase the trust of important stakeholders in the business' operations and improve its reputation on a worldwide scale.
Expectations
But he went on to say that going ahead, a variety of elements, including leadership style and dedication, particularly from the top, will determine the success of this ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety management system accreditation attained by Ghana Gas.