Babcock is proud to recognise Giuliana, Executive Assistant at Jet Park, as the Africa Safety Star winner for October 2026 for her caring and innovative approach to strengthening workplace safety and employee well-being.
Giuliana's idea for "Buddy Up" emerged following a near miss at Plant that highlighted an important gap. Colleagues do not always know critical information about one another, such as allergies, emergency contacts, or who should be contacted if someone is unable to communicate for themselves.
Rather than viewing the incident as an isolated event, Giuliana recognised an opportunity to create a meaningful solution that could strengthen both safety and human connection within the workplace.
Buddy Up is built around a simple but powerful concept: every employee is paired with a workplace buddy and encouraged to connect at least once every four weeks.
Whether over a casual coffee, a cool drink or simply a 10 to 15-minute conversation, the purpose is to check in, listen and ensure colleagues feel supported.
These regular conversations create opportunities to identify potential safety concerns, personal challenges or well-being issues before they escalate. Importantly, the initiative also helps ensure that critical personal information is known and accessible should an emergency arise.
By transforming an important safety observation into a practical, caring and sustainable initiative, Giuliana has demonstrated leadership, empathy and personal ownership. Buddy Up reinforces an important message: safety is not only about processes and procedures, but also about looking out for the people around us.
Congratulations to Giuliana on being recognised as the Africa Safety Star for October 2026. Her initiative demonstrates how a simple idea, driven by genuine care for others, can make a meaningful contribution to a safer, more connected workplace.
