At the 2024 SafetyCloud NOSCARS Awards, the pinnacle of safety recognition, HydraArc stood tall as one of the top winners – a recognition that not only celebrated their operational excellence but also their commitment to safety.
For Cobus Smith, Group Executive SHEQ & Liaison at HydraArc, the achievement was the result of vision, discipline, and a company-wide culture of safety.
Established in 1987, HydraArc has evolved from a specialised welding supplier into a leading player in refinery maintenance, turnarounds, steel fabrication, and construction across multiple high-risk industries.
Expert Guidance for Complex Risks
HydraArc operates primarily in the petrochemical industry – a sector where risks are inherent and consequences significant. Here, SafetyCloud’s professionalism and expertise have been invaluable.
“With over 70 years’ experience and global recognition, we expect no less than professionalism from SafetyCloud,” says Smith. “As a specialised welding company, we are no strangers to risk, and we have been assisted numerous times with both internal and external complexities requiring the guidance of SafetyCloud and their expert staff.”
A Shared Vision Brought to Life
“The common vision of the HydraArc Group in being a global leader in the steel construction and fabrication industries has become a phenomenal reality,” says Smith. “This journey has been challenging, yet absolutely achievable, thanks to total buy-in and ownership from both executive management and the rest of the HydraArc team.”
That collective dedication is what earned HydraArc the prestigious NOSCARS recognition, reinforcing that safety and operational excellence go hand-in-hand.
Standing Out in the Market
In the year since their win, HydraArc has seen how NOSCARS prestige translates into business value. Beyond being a certification necessity, it has become a mark of distinction in a competitive industry.
“This win allowed us valuable bragging rights,” Smith explains. “It makes HydraArc stand out amongst competitors as not only a force to be reckoned with, but also worthy partners with whom to form strategic alliances.”
The award elevated HydraArc’s credibility in the eyes of clients and partners, underscoring their commitment to a world-class safety culture.
Leveraging the NOSA Five Star System
While HydraArc already holds ISO 45001 and ISO 9001 certification, the company actively leverages the NOSA Five Star Auditing System to benchmark both externally and internally.
“We use the Five-Star Rating System to benchmark not only with NOSA but also between our own companies within the HydraArc Group,” Smith notes. “This encourages continual improvement and helps us maintain our NOSCAR status across all three of our companies.”
This internal benchmarking has created a culture of healthy competition and accountability, ensuring safety performance is never static.
Reinforcing a Strong Safety Culture
For HydraArc, safety culture is embedded in daily operations. The company runs a fully implemented Behaviour-Based Care programme that is embraced at every level.
“Leadership commitment and employee involvement in the day-to-day running of the organisation is what continues to strengthen a positive safety culture,” says Smith. “We are well acquainted with the NOSA brand as the go-to auditing and training company, and we believe our affiliation with SafetyCloud truly strengthens how others perceive the HydraArc Group.”
Looking Ahead: Continuous Improvement
HydraArc’s integrated SHEQ system has already reached maturity, but the company is far from complacent. Their priorities remain clear: a healthy and happy workforce, sustaining NOSCAR status, and ensuring continuous improvement.
The NOSA Five Star System continues to guide this journey, providing a structured, risk-based framework aligned with the Plan, Do, Check, and Act (PDCA cycle). “It helps us take a proactive approach to operations by evaluating effort and effectiveness and opening opportunities through external audits and shared best practices,” he explains.
Recognition That Drives Progress
For HydraArc, the NOSCARS are not just about recognition – they are about accountability, improvement, and leadership. With SafetyCloud and the NOSA Five Star system as trusted partners, the company is setting benchmarks for safety in one of the most high-risk industries in the world.
As Smith reflects, the NOSCARS win has not only validated HydraArc’s safety culture but also reinforced their position as a global leader – committed to excellence today and into the future.
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