Insurance Scheme Offers Protection for Rubber Tappers in India

Insurance Scheme Offers Protection for Rubber Tappers in India

The Rubber Board announced a new insurance scheme designed to provide financial protection for rubber plantation workers in the unorganized sector.

The programme will cover rubber tappers, workers in Tappers’ Groups, and self-tapping growers with rubber areas up to one hectare. Eligible participants must be between 18 and 59 years old and have at least one year of work experience.

The insurance scheme offers comprehensive coverage, including INR 1,00,000 for normal death, INR 5,00,000  for death by accident or wild animal attack, and INR 2,00,000 to 4,00,000 for complete disability resulting from accidents.

Beneficiaries will receive an additional amount proportional to the total premiums paid upon the scheme’s maturity. The minimum premium is INR 300, with the Rubber Board contributing INR 900 per beneficiary.

Interested workers must apply by 21 February 2025, and those previously enrolled in earlier phases must renew their policies by 10 February.

Applicants can contact the Rubber Board’s regional offices or the labour welfare division at the head office for more information.

Tegeta Green Planet Invests In Next-Gen Environmental Stewards Through GIPA Collaboration

Tegeta Green Planet Invests In Next-Gen Environmental Stewards Through GIPA Collaboration

Tegeta Green Planet contributed to a recent youth initiative in Bakuriani by partnering with the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs for its annual summer camp. The collaboration featured a targeted environmental workshop designed to instil stronger ecological values and sustainable habits among the student participants.

A central figure in the proceedings was Tamar Dolidze, Head of the Occupational Safety and Environmental Protection Department at Tegeta Holding. Her address to the attendees covered the mounting pressures of climate change, the finite nature of key resources and the collective duty of citizens to mitigate environmental harm.

Beyond the lecture, the organisation’s team delved into forward-thinking approaches to waste reduction, the operational logic of circular economic models and the regulatory significance of producer responsibility schemes. An open forum followed, enabling the young audience to pose questions and exchange viewpoints, while a subsequent interactive contest added a lighter touch and was accompanied by small prizes.

Long-term engagement with educational spheres remains a cornerstone of Tegeta Green Planet’s outreach, encompassing schools, universities, and seasonal camps. The enterprise views such programmes as vital for bridging theoretical instruction with real-world behavioural change, reinforcing that environmental literacy and enthusiastic youth involvement are fundamental drivers of a more resilient and resource-conscious future.

TyreSafe Partners With RSSB To Strengthen Workforce Safety Across UK Railways

TyreSafe Partners With RSSB To Strengthen Workforce Safety Across UK Railways

TyreSafe has entered into a new collaborative agreement with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), marking a unified effort to mitigate occupational road risks and enhance vehicle safety standards within United Kingdom's rail sector. This strategic alliance will see TyreSafe integrating its expertise with the RSSB’s Road Risk Group (RRG) to bolster safety protocols for rail employees, contractors and all personnel traveling on industry business.

The core objective of this partnership is to embed tyre safety education, awareness and best practices into the rail industry's operational framework. By doing so, the collaboration directly targets the hazards associated with work-related driving. This initiative comes as data reveals that road traffic collisions were responsible for 3 out of 10 workforce fatalities in the rail industry over the five-year period leading up to 2024, underscoring the critical need for enhanced risk management.

In response, the Road Risk Group is spearheading sector-wide improvements by fostering collaboration, sharing safety methodologies and refining safety reporting and analysis. The group is also championing behavioural and cultural shifts within organisations while actively promoting the Occupational Road Risk Management Charter. This partnership recognises that effective risk management encompasses not only driver conduct but also vehicle maintenance and overarching safety culture.

Through joint educational campaigns and resources, TyreSafe and RSSB will encourage rail organisations to prioritise tyre condition as a fundamental component of their road safety strategies. This initiative directly supports the broader objectives of the Rail Health and Safety Strategy, which has identified occupational road risk management as a key priority for safeguarding the industry's workforce.

Lucy Powell, Strategy Manager at RSSB, who approved the partnership, said, “Road risk continues to be one of the most significant safety challenges facing the rail industry beyond the railway boundary. Partnering with TyreSafe enables us to strengthen awareness of one of the most critical elements of vehicle safety. Through education, collaboration and the sharing of best practice, we can help organisations better manage occupational road risk and support our industry’s commitment to protecting everyone who drives for work.”

Caitriona O’Brien, Workforce Health and Safety Manager at Network Rail and Chair of the RSSB Road Risk Group, said, “The Road Risk Group is committed to championing a stronger focus on managing occupational road risk across the rail industry. Working with TyreSafe brings valuable expertise that complements our strategic objectives, helping organisations place greater emphasis on vehicle safety as part of a wider culture of safe driving. By working together, we can continue to reduce preventable incidents and improve outcomes for everyone travelling on work-related journeys.”

Stuart Lovatt, Chair of TyreSafe, said, “We are delighted to become an official partner of RSSB and to support the important work of the Road Risk Group. Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road, yet they are often overlooked in fleet safety programmes. By working with RSSB, we can help embed tyre safety into occupational road risk management across the rail sector, ensuring that employees and contractors understand the vital role that properly maintained tyres play in preventing incidents and saving lives.”

Yokohama Tire And Surfrider North OC Join Forces For Major Seal Beach Cleanup

Yokohama Tire And Surfrider North OC Join Forces For Major Seal Beach Cleanup

Yokohama Tire has renewed its environmental collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation’s North Orange County chapter through a recent coastal cleanup initiative at Seal Beach in Southern California. The joint effort resulted in the collection of dozens of refuse bags, with the total haul of hazardous waste exceeding 100 pounds (approximately 45.36 kg) removed from the local shoreline.

This beach restoration project represents the latest activity in a three-year partnership between the tyre manufacturer and the nonprofit organisation. The initiative falls under Yokohama’s broader corporate social responsibility framework known as the ‘Caring for our Communities’ programme, which coordinates various philanthropic endeavours.

Beyond the direct cleanup efforts, Yokohama continues to provide material support to the Surfrider chapter, including student club memberships, water quality testing kits, cigarette butt collection canisters and replacement equipment for harbour maintenance. The company maintains similar environmental partnerships with Tread Lightly! and the California State Parks Foundation alongside its ongoing work with Surfrider.

Alan Holtschneider, Senior Director of Marketing, Yokohama, said, “It’s been truly gratifying being a part of Surfrider Foundation’s North OC Chapter ongoing work to protect the environment, especially the beaches and oceans. We continue to volunteer on numerous projects with them, and the successful Seal Beach cleanup was another great example. It’s all part of Surfrider’s ongoing mission to protect and preserve the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all to enjoy.”

George Manyak, longtime event coordinator for Surfrider Foundation North Orange County Chapter, said, “We really appreciate all the help Yokohama Tire has given us over the years. Their support has made a major impact on keeping our local beaches clean and safe for visitors to experience.”

Nexen Tire America Overhauls Next Level Dealer Program With Lower Thresholds And Expanded Bonuses

Nexen Tire America Overhauls Next Level Dealer Program With Lower Thresholds And Expanded Bonuses

Nexen Tire America has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its Next Level Associate Dealer Program, introducing structural changes designed to accelerate dealer qualification and enhance reward accessibility. The revised initiative directly responds to dealer input by lowering purchase thresholds and creating new earning opportunities for participants at various stages of engagement with the brand.

Central to the updated framework is a substantial reduction in the quarterly Tier 1 qualification benchmark, which has been decreased by 40 percent from 100 units to 60 eligible tyres per quarter. Additionally, a new introductory earning bracket has been established for dealers purchasing between 1 and 59 qualifying units, granting them USD two per tyre. The programme’s annual True-Up mechanism has also been expanded, allowing dealers who achieve year-end tier qualifications to receive volume bonuses for previous quarters where they initially fell short, with the 2026 annual qualifier reduced to 320 units.

Given the midyear implementation, Nexen has instituted a transitional qualification schedule for 2026, applying the former 100-unit standard to the first two quarters while the new 60-unit tier takes effect for the third and fourth quarters. To commemorate the programme’s relaunch, a Triple Dollars promotion will run from 1 July through 13 September, significantly increasing per-tyre payouts on select patterns, including the N’Blue 4S2, AH5, GTX, HP, CT8, AH7, AH8, N’Fera Sport, N’Priz S, N’Fera AU7, Roadian ATX, Roadian HTX2 and Roadian MTX models.

Participants can monitor their qualifying purchases, tier progression and total earnings through the Next Level online dealer dashboard. Complete eligibility criteria and payout structures are available through Nexen Tire America sales representatives, who can provide detailed guidance on the revised program provisions.

John Hagan, Executive Vice President – Sales, Nexen Tire America, said, “We listened closely to our Next Level dealers, and they have spoken about wanting a programme that makes it easier to qualify and provides more opportunities to earn. These changes deliver on that feedback by opening the programme to more dealers, allowing them to qualify sooner and begin earning rewards faster. We believe the new programme will help dealers grow their business with Nexen and ultimately strengthen our dealer network long term.”