Online Reporter
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S ambition to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) is anchored on industrialisation, infrastructure development, and the creation of safe and productive workplaces.
At the centre of this transformation is Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO), whose commitment to world-class occupational safety and health standards is increasingly earning recognition from industry stakeholders across the country.
This was evident during a recent benchmarking visit by a high-level Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Committee comprising representatives from the Public Service Commission (PSC), the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, the Health Apex Council, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
The committee, chaired by Maxwell Dube, Director for Human Resources in the Public Service and deployed in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, undertook the visit as part of ongoing efforts to identify best practices in occupational safety and health management within Zimbabwe’s growing industrial sector.
The delegation toured key operational areas of the integrated steel plant, including the blast furnace, Safety Office, Steel Making Plant, and Steel Rolling Plant, where they observed first hand how safety management systems are implemented across one of the country’s largest industrial investments.
What emerged from the visit was a picture of a company that has embedded safety, quality, and environmental stewardship into the core of its operations.
Committee members were particularly impressed by the high safety standards maintained throughout the facility. From active gas monitoring systems in the blast furnace cast house to strict personal protective equipment (PPE) compliance, robust lockout-tagout procedures, and exemplary housekeeping practices, the company demonstrated a proactive approach to risk management in a high-hazard industrial environment.
The Safety Office also drew praise for its use of real-time safety data, detailed documentation, and operational procedures that are not merely filed away but actively implemented on the production floor.
A key highlight of the visit was DISCO’s adherence to internationally recognised management systems, including ISO 45001 for Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 14001 for Environmental Management, and ISO 9001 for Quality Management.
The integration of these globally recognised standards reflects a company that understands that sustainable industrial growth can only be achieved when safety, environmental responsibility, and quality production work hand in hand.
For an operation as complex as a blast furnace steel plant, the implementation of all three standards represents international best practice and demonstrates that safety is embedded within production processes rather than treated as an afterthought.
The delegation also identified several standout practices that could serve as benchmarks for other organisations across Zimbabwe’s industrial landscape.
Among them was the company’s carbon monoxide monitoring and alarm system in furnace areas, which incorporates automatic evacuation triggers designed to protect workers from potential exposure. Equally noteworthy was the rigorous ladle integrity inspection regime conducted before every tap, ensuring that equipment used in molten metal handling meets stringent safety requirements.
The integration of safety toolbox talks into every shift handover further demonstrated a culture where safety communication is continuous, practical, and worker-centred.
Beyond systems and procedures, the visiting team noted a visible commitment to occupational safety and health from management. Safety investment, dedicated staffing structures, and strong leadership involvement were cited as indicators of a company that places worker welfare at the forefront of its operations.
Employees interviewed during the tour displayed a clear understanding of workplace hazards and the controls required to manage them, reflecting a culture of awareness that can only be achieved through consistent training and management commitment.
The lessons emerging from the benchmarking exercise extend beyond the steel sector. The committee observed that organisations across Zimbabwe can benefit from investing in engineering controls before relying solely on personal protective equipment, making safety information accessible to all employees, and conducting realistic emergency drills that prepare workers for worst-case scenarios.
These principles align closely with Zimbabwe’s labour laws and occupational safety requirements, which place a responsibility on employers to provide safe working environments and protect employees from workplace hazards.
As Zimbabwe accelerates industrialisation under NDS2, companies such as DISCO are demonstrating that compliance, productivity, and employee welfare are not competing priorities but complementary pillars of sustainable growth.
The Manhize-based steel giant is not only contributing to the country’s industrial output and import substitution agenda but is also helping establish a new benchmark for responsible industrial development.
By embracing international standards, investing in modern safety systems, and cultivating a culture of accountability throughout its operations, DISCO is proving that world-class manufacturing can thrive in Zimbabwe while fully respecting occupational safety, labour regulations, and environmental obligations.
The benchmarking visit ultimately reinforced a growing consensus among stakeholders: that the future of Zimbabwean industry depends not only on production capacity and technological advancement, but also on creating workplaces where safety is embedded in every process and every decision.
In that regard, Dinson Iron and Steel Company is emerging as more than a steel producer. It is becoming a model of industrial excellence and a key contributor to Zimbabwe’s vision of sustainable economic transformation under NDS2.
derick.khumalo