The American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T) hosted the 11th Annual National Excellence in HSE Awards in recognition of companies in Trinidad and Tobago that have shown a commitment to HSE excellence and leadership within their operations.
The National Awards which have been officially endorsed by the Ministry of Labour since 2011 were announced on the final day of AMCHAM T&T’s 25th Annual HSSE Conference. For a second consecutive year, the event was held virtually due to the ongoing restrictions caused by the pandemic.
Nevertheless, this year saw another record number of companies vying for awards honouring HSE excellence in eleven categories related to the specific size and sector of their respective industries. Overall, the coveted National Excellence in HSE Award 2021 was awarded to Nestle, Trinidad and Tobago in the Manufacturing Large Company Category, while Bristow Caribbean Limited copped the same prize in the Services Medium Company Category. Meanwhile, an Honourable Mention was given to PBS Technologies (Trinidad) Limited.
Nirad Tewarie, AMCHAM T&T CEO who officiated the virtual ceremony said organisations that actively promote a culture of HSE excellence typically reinforce positive influences of health and safety practices and processes well beyond their company. “Today, we are witnessing these knock-on effects that see organisations emphasising high levels of HSE performance in their operations demanding higher standards of HSE performance from their contractors, service providers and support systems,” Tewarie said. “When this happens, it ensures the broadening and deepening of best practices, the continued leadership on health and safety in every aspect of the operations, and the strengthening of the resilience of fence line communities.”
Despite companies having to deal with restricted budgets, reduced investments in projects and other disruptions brought on by the pandemic, Tewarie said the awards have grown and strengthened in stature because of the large number of applications received this year. “I am pleased to see that we were able to match last year's record when we had the largest number of applications for these awards. That’s a strong testament to the level of investment and long-term commitment companies are making towards their employees and customers health, safety, and overall wellbeing,” Tewarie said. “Today, that’s what we hope to reward and acknowledge with these awards. It’s also what we hope we lead with well beyond this pandemic.”
The high number of applications reported this year can be attributed to the heightened awareness and consideration given to health and safety not only in the workplace but throughout society because of the pandemic. For a second year, the awards evolved with the introduction of the Business Continuity & Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) award which recognises entities that have sought to manage their business response to the interruptions caused by COVID-19 and have reviewed and updated their business continuity plans to ensure their operational resiliency. Companies vying for this award were judged based on their: Risk Management Plans; Business Impact Analysis; Incident Response Plans; and Recovery Plans.
This year, Angostura Limited took home the prize in the Manufacturing Large Company Category, while PBS Technologies (Trinidad) Limited won in the Medium Size Company Category and the National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago won in the Small Size Company Category.
Below is the complete list of WINNERS at the 11th Annual National Excellence in HSE Awards.
COMPLETE LIST OF WINNERS OF
AMCHAM T&T’S 11TH ANNUAL NATIONAL EXCELLENCE IN HSE AWARDS 2021:
(Company Size Categories were determined according to the Ministry of Labor guidelines and specifications.)
Outstanding OSH/Environment Project 2021
Awards Criteria: The company engaged in a significant project, or “first steps”, on the journey towards achieving HSE excellence. The company demonstrated that its Project entailed the implementation of several of the key elements of formal HSE management systems, i.e. elements of Planning, Risk Management, Implementation or Execution, Monitoring and Measurement, Handling Nonconformities, and/or Continual Improvement, OR that the Project addressed systems for building a positive HSE organisational culture, AND that the Project contributed to overall positive Occupational Safety and Health, and/or Environmental Results.
- Outstanding OSH/Environment Project in the Energy Sector (Large Company Category) - bpTT
- Outstanding OSH/Environment Project in the Services Sector (Medium Company Category) - PBS Technologies (Trinidad) Limited
- Outstanding OSH/Environment Project in the Services Sector (Small Company Category) - Ramps Logistics
- Outstanding OSH/Environment Project in the Energy Sector (Small Company Category) - Trinidad Offshore Fabricators (TOFCO) (Honourable mention)
Most Improved HSE Performance Award 2021
Awards Criteria: This award is intended to recognise companies that have achieved significant improvements in the management of occupational health and safety and environmental management. It seeks to encourage companies to successfully establish, implement and maintain HSE management systems to achieve a full systems approach to HSE management.
- Most Improved OSH/Environment Performance in the Services Sector (Small Company Category) - Weldfab Limited
Business Continuity and Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) Award 2021
Awards Criteria: The Business Continuity and Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) Award is a Special Award, that aims to recognise the excellent job that companies have done in managing its business response to the interruptions caused by COVID-19 to ensure operational resiliency. Companies are judged and awarded for having implemented a strong Risk Management Plan, Business Impact Analysis, Incident Response Plan and Recovery Plan.
- Business Continuity & Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) in the Manufacturing Sector (Large Company Category) - Angostura Limited
- Business Continuity & Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) in the Services Sector (Medium Company Category) - PBS Technologies (Trinidad) Limited
- Business Continuity & Surviving the Pandemic (BCP) in the Energy Sector (Small Company Category) - National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago
Excellence in HSE Award 2020
Awards Criteria: The Company has earned the premier award, the category of ‘Excellent HSE Performance’. This company has established a strong HSE Management Systems AND has achieved excellent occupational health and safety, and Environmental Results. The awardee will serve as a paragon of HSE Excellence in practice and will go on to share their Success Stories with companies within the AMCHAM T&T Membership and beyond so that we all can firstly believe that impeccable occupational safety and health, and environmental performance records can be achieved and maintained over the years, and we can learn best practices and how to overcome the practical challenges.
- Excellent HSE Performance in the Services Sector (Medium Company Category) - BRISTOW Caribbean Limited
- Excellent HSE Performance in the Manufacturing Sector (Large Company Category) - Nestlé Trinidad and Tobago Limited
- Excellent HSE Performance in the Services Sector (Medium Company Category) - PBS Technologies (Trinidad) Limited (Honourable Mention)
AMCHAM T&T would like to congratulate all the WINNERS of the National HSE Awards 2021 and thank them for the leadership they have shown towards achieving HSE excellence in their safety measures and overall business operations. AMCHAM T&T would also like to thank BHP - (Title Sponsor) for their unwavering support since the inception of these awards. AMCHAM T&T extends our sincere gratitude to the HSE Awards Committee and the judges for conducting the virtual walkthroughs and interviews with employees and management of all companies that participated this year in the National HSE Awards 2021.
Through these awards and the Annual HSSE Conference and Exhibition, AMCHAM T&T continues to uphold and promote HSSE excellence as a key performance indicator towards business success and ensuring the safety and protection of all employees and citizens of our nation.
For further questions or comments please contact: Nirad Tewarie, CEO AMCHAM T&T at niradtewarie@amchamtt.com.