Prior to coming onboard at BIC , Nonhlanhla had been employed in chemical manufacturing as well as oil and gas sectors , which are notorious for their stringent safety protocols and high-risk environments . " In my role as the Manager for Health , Safety and Environment at BIC , I am grateful to be part of a company that places such a high value on safety . BIC is an organisation that truly values its people , and that support is evident from management ' s buy-in to our safety initiatives ," she explains .
" BIC implemented an innovative near-miss reporting system that employed QR codes , which ensures that anyone at BIC - from security guards to contractors - can easily flag potential hazards . This has enabled every voice to be heard in pursuit of a safer work environment . The company ' s 2022 theme , Safety Starts with Me , urged employees to take personal responsibility for their own safety as well as that of their colleagues . And because safety doesn ' t end at the workplace but extends to our families , the following year saw the introduction of the theme You Come to Work Safe , You Work Safe , and You Go Back to Your Loved Ones Safe . The backing of leadership has been instrumental in achieving the company ' s safety milestones and it is a great source of pride that our plant right here in South Africa was acknowledged among 24 BIC manufacturing facilities worldwide . I am very grateful for it as we strive towards greater heights ".
Nonhlanhla is passionate about mentoring the next generation of women at BIC .
She observes that many of the factory ' s female employees are second-generation workers who have followed in their mothers ' footsteps .
" I want to help women see beyond where they are now ," she says . " There ' s a whole world of opportunities in logistics , marketing , and elsewhere that they may not have considered ."
Outside work , Nonhlanhla is a devoted wife and mother . She says hiking helps her connect with nature and refocus her mind while participating in Park Runs on weekends grounds her for the week ahead . She also enjoys chatting with life coaches and taking her seven-year-old son to swimming , which she unsurprisingly regards as an important safety and life skill .
It ' s not only Nonhlanhla ’ s immediate family that has benefited from her keen awareness of the importance of connecting with people at the deepest level ; she also has deep roots within her community . She frequently donates stationery for schools and distributes food parcels for those in need .