SAFE at STMicroelectronics

Sedqa recently presented a certificate of appreciation to STMicroelectronics (Malta) Ltd shortly after the agency's Substance Abuse-Free Employees programme was implemented for the company's key resources.

This is the second time that SAFE was delivered to members of staff at STMicroelectronics, with the first course conducted in 2002. Last year's course reached staff through an exhibition of prevention material, two courses for management reaching around 50 participants, and an ongoing programme for employees.

Furthermore, two representatives of the company participated in the newly-launched SAFE follow-up course held last December. ST is very active in deploying awareness and education initiatives for the welfare and wellness of its human resources integrated in its strategy for social accountability.

Sedqa's Primary Prevention Division aims to avert substance misuse by conducting interventions in various areas to reach different target audiences in their environment. Since 1996, when SAFE took off, over 100 companies have benefited from it, and around 150 exhibitions have been set up.

Moreover, 1,700 managers and frontline supervisors have been reached by management training programmes, and over 5,000 employees participated in employee training programmes.

In the past years of Sedqa's operations in the prevention field, programmes have been developed to train supervisors and help employees deal with alcohol and drug-related problems.

SAFE is a programme which aims to promote health, safety and well being among employees for the benefit of both the individual employees and the company. Prevention initiatives forming the structure of SAFE vary from exhibiting preventive material, holding meetings with different levels of management, individual contact by professionals working in the field of addiction, group work, and the delivery of talks on topics related to substance misuse.

The new format of the follow-up course included sessions on gambling, binge drinking, health and safety aspects of drug abuse, real life experiences by Sedqa clients, and policy highlights.

Furthermore, the agency also offers on-going confidential support to both management and employees of the enterprise where SAFE would have been conducted.

For more informatio on SAFE or any other primary prevention programme, call Sedqa's Primary Prevention Team on 2124-4226 or e-mail prevention@ waldonet.net.mt. Further details about Sedqa and its services can be obtained by visiting www.sedqa.gov.mt and www.mfss.gov.mt.