CrestClean has strengthened its focus on health and safety by joining an influential group of industry movers and shakers.
Being a member of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum dovetails with CrestClean’s ongoing drive to raise safety standards in New Zealand’s cleaning industry, the company said.
Grant McLauchlan, CrestClean’s Managing Director, said his first attendance at the forum at Auckland’s Sky City saw 120 CEOs present. It was a very meaningful and worthwhile session, he added.
“It was very refreshing to be in the same room with other likeminded leaders of organisations that are committed to health, safety and wellbeing in New Zealand’s corporate world.”
The forum aims to achieve “Zero Harm Workplaces” by developing world-class CEO safety leadership in New Zealand. Members of the forum’s steering group include CEOs of WorkSafe NZ and ACC, as well many leaders of other major New Zealand companies.
Forum members share information on how they are leading health and safety improvements in their businesses. They are also expected to participate in the forum’s benchmarking initiative by sharing their health and safety data.
Grant said Health and Safety was a core pillar of CrestClean’s business operations.
“We are very comfortable where we sit in regard to best practice safety culture in New Zealand.
“One of your largest assets is your people. It’s important to ensure they are operating in a healthy and safe manner while undertaking their roles.”
CrestClean has been proactive to meet Health and Safety obligations. The company developed SafeClean, a full Health, Safety and Environmental Management System that focuses on work safety, protecting personnel, customers and the public.
A key initiative of the forum is identifying ways for CEOs to drive health and safety performance within their supply chains – particularly among their contractors.
Grant said ears pricked up when he explained to forum members some of the operational challenges of running a commercial cleaning company in regard to health and safety.
“I said to them I’ve got 1500 people out tonight over 4,000 sites and they all sat up and paid attention.
“The common theme of the forum was it’s great that we’ve got our own businesses under control but it’s our supply chain that can be a weak link.”
Grant said as an industry leader on health and safety in the cleaning industry, CrestClean had invested heavily in training.
All personnel are fully trained by CrestClean’s inhouse training arm, the Master Cleaners Training Institute. Regular upskilling is mandatory and participants earn industry-relevant qualifications in commercial cleaning.
“Customers can see we are committed to health and safety and they be assured our personnel are fully trained and compliant.”
Being a member of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum was an obvious next step for CrestClean, said Grant.
“We’ve joined a whole new echelon of people committed to safety. Ultimately every business is different but they will all have concerns about health and safety issues around their sites.”
Grant hopes CrestClean’s involvement in the forum and its contribution will be beneficial to other members.
“This forum has been going for five years and for us to come in now as we’ve matured and grown is good timing. We have developed a best-in-class safety system and have overcome some of the same challenges other members may be experiencing.”
Forum members host a handful of unique shared learning events each year, where CEOs present their organisation’s safety journey, and lead a frank discussion on common health and safety challenges.
