MBA North announces winners of 2020 safety competition

On 18^th September 2020, the Master Builders Association North (MBA North) announced the winners in its prestigious annual safety competition, which recognises best practice in construction site safety. Awards were given in nine categories. The formal Safety Competition Awards Ceremony did not take place this year in order to comply with COVID-19 regulations.

“Despite the fact that this year’s Master Builders South Africa (MBSA) National Safety Competition was cancelled, our members asked us to go ahead with the regional safety audits. This year, health and safety (H&S) is obviously very much top of mind for everyone,” says Gerhard Roets, Health & Safety Manager- MBA North. “However, in the end, the turmoil caused by COVID-19 resulted in only 26 entries being submitted; a 61% drop compared to last year despite the fact that entry was complimentary to MBA North and Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance members.”

The key criterion used in judging entries was the company’s commitment and investment in H&S rather than project size. Entries were submitted from several major players in the industry, all of which have confidence in MBA North to assess their H&S compliance. Entries were also received from smaller companies (including home builders) for project values of less than R15 million.

The auditors used the MBSA Occupational Health & Safety Audit System during the judging, and added questions to the audit system to monitor and evaluate the companies’ compliance with COVID-19 protocols.

“Because it attracts entrants from across the construction industry, the competition is playing a vital role in building a safety culture that benefits everybody involved,” says Roets. “We look forward to a bigger field of entries next year, and to the continuation of the MBSA National Safety Competition. MBA North congratulates the winners for their consistent commitment to Health and Safety.”

Category A—Plant and Storage Yards

First: Tiber Construction (Village Deep Plant Yard)

Second: Gothic Construction (Plant Yard)

Category B—Allied trades

First: Form-Scaff (Polokwane Yard)

Second: Form-Scaff (Nelspruit Yard)

Third: Viva Formwork & Scaffolding (Nooitedacht Yard)

Category C—Less R15m

First: Giuricich Bros Construction (Distell Wadeville Amarula Cellar)

Category D—R15m to R40m

First: Belo & Kies Construction (Houghton Estate)

Second: G.D. Irons Construction (Mandela Presidential Centre)

Category E —R40m to R100m

First: WBHO Construction (93 Grayston Square)

Second: Tri-Star Construction (Riverside View RDP)

Third: Tri-Star Construction (Kempton Park Square Phase 2)

Category F—R100m to R250m 

First: WBHO Construction (SAB Mariachi)

Second: WBHO Construction (Irene Link Building)

Third: WBHO Construction (CocaCola Beverages Warehouse Extension)

Category G—R250m to R450m 

First: Tiber / ISF Joint Venture (100 Grayston Drive – Investec Refurb)

Second: WBHO Construction (Woodland Altron)

Third: WBHO Construction (Castle Gate)

Category I—R750m PLUS        

First: Tiber Construction (ACSA Western Precinct)

Second: G.D. IRONS construction (Steyn City Centre 1 – Phase 3)         

Sub-contractor (without site establishment)    

First: Viva Formwork & Scaffolding (DSV Warehouse)   

Second: Presto Electrical (Steyn City Centre 1-Phase 3)