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250 000 t of e-wasteillegally dumped in western Africa!

No pain and suffering compensation for road-accident victims?

EXCLUSIVE!New series by international safety expert

Conversation: the lifeblood of leadership

train lane goes both ways

s a f e t y | h e a l t h | e n v i R o n m e n t a l i s s u e s | q u a l i t y

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Features

KEEP On tRAInInG 20 IRCA Global has offices worldwide. Besides a diverse footprint, the company offers a wide range of systems, products and services for risk management in the safety, health, environmental and quality-driven industries. SHEQ MANAGEMENT sees what role education, training, research and development play within the company. 250 000 t OF E-WAStE PER AnnUm! WHERE mUSt It GO? 22 Technology has catapulted humanity’s development by enhancing our productivity and making life a whole lot easier … but it doesn’t come without its perils! Electronic waste is a lot more dangerous than one could ever imagine …

QUALItY LEADERS BREED QUALItY RELAtIOnSHIPS 28 According to a paper compiled by Development Dimensions International, conversations are the lifeblood of leadership. When leaders are adept at conversations, they do much more than communicate effectively – they drive stronger business results.

mORE tHAn 7 500 InJURIES! WHAt IS tO BE DOnE? 30 The construction industry is a massive cog in any country’s economy, but this high-risk sector doesn’t come without its costs in terms of injuries … SHEQ MANAGEMENT talks to those in the know to determine what can be done to reduce the risks.

nO mORE CAnARIES DOWn COAL mInES 38 Most of us know how gas detection works today – particularly in the mining industry, but do we understand how it has evolved over time? We investigate.

Published alternate monthly by Charmont Media Global

Unit 17, Northcliff Office Park, 203 Beyers Naude Drive, Northcliff, 2195.

P O Box 957, Fontainebleau, 2032, South Africa

Tel: 011 782 1070 Fax: 011 782 1073/0360

EDItORCharleen Clarke

Cell: 083 601 0568email: charleen@charmont.co.za

ASSIStAnt EDItORJaco de Klerk

Cell: 079 781 6479email: jaco@charmont.co.za

SUB-EDItORJeanette Lamont

Cell: 083 447 3616email: jeanette@charmont.co.za

JOURnALIStClaire Rencken

Cell: 082 559 8417email: journalist2@charmont.co.za

COntRIBUtORSAlbert Mushai

email: albert.mushai@wits.ac.za

Andrew Sharmanemail: info@rydermarshsharman.com

PUBLISHERTina Monteiro

Cell: 082 568 3181email: tina@charmont.co.za

ADVERtISInG SALESBarend van Wyk082 885 9042

advertising@charmont.co.za

Elsie van Wyk072 827 2913

elsie@charmont.co.za

CIRCULAtIOn mAnAGERBev Rogers

Cell: 078 230 5063email: bev@charmont.co.za

DESIGn AnD LAYOUtNelio da Silva

email: nelio@charmont.co.za

© Copyright. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without specific written

permission from the editor. In the interests of preserving the environment, SHEQ MANAGEMENT is printed on environmentally friendly paper, using soya-based ink.

www.sheqmanagement.com

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Charleen Clarke

of ours. In fact, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 805 million people around the world go hungry.

Closer to home, this problem is massive. According to Claire Bloom, ex-United States (US) Navy officer, who is founder and executive director of End 68 Hours of Hunger (a US-based non-profit organisation that fights childhood hunger), childhood hunger – or food insecurity – is a national problem. “After a while, children who receive insufficient food on a regular basis, or miss entire meals, experience ‘fear of hunger’, which affects their behaviour as much as physical hunger affects their bodies,” she says.

Bloom will visit South Africa later this year to present a workshop on ending childhood hunger at the SAPICS 2015 conference, taking place from May 31 to June 2 at Sun City.

According to Bloom, 19 percent of South African children have no breakfast, and 51 percent have no lunch. “Some 800 000 of these children are under the age of five, and the malnutrition they experience has a profound impact on their future. When children are hungry, they cannot learn, and, if they cannot learn, they

cannot master the information and skills they are taught in school,” says Bloom.

Poor food distribution is one of the reasons for this sorry situation. According to the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 30 to 50 percent of food produced on a global basis is wasted before it reaches consumers. It is estimated that South Africa generates over nine million tonnes of food waste per year. “This also results in environmental impacts throughout the supply chain, as well as the waste of resources used in food production and distribution,” explains Bloom.

Meanwhile, the lackadaisical approach to quality control on the part of local food companies is a worry. This is not exclusively a South African problem: in the early 1990s, US fast food chain, Jack in the Box, sold hamburgers contaminated with E. coli bacteria. Hundreds of people got sick as a result and four children died. It is estimated that the company lost US$ 160 million.

Closer to home, some other operational gaps have been made evident in two recent cases. One saw Tiger Brands having to recall around

This month’s column concerns a subject that is extremely close to my heart: food!

S ome people eat to live. Yours truly, on the other hand, lives to eat. I have an unhealthy obsession with food: I simply

adore the stuff.But I am in a privileged position. I am

seldom hungry. If I am, it’s because I am on deadline and I don’t have time to eat. I have never starved because I cannot afford to buy food.

Sadly, this situation doesn’t apply to everyone on this overburdened planet

thoughtFood for

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17 000 of its Tastic Simply Delicious cooking sauces and rice products after tests found traces of potentially carcinogenic ingredients. Tiger Brands reported it had found traces of the colourants methyl yellow and Sudan 1 in some of the products made between June and July 2014 at a factory in India. While the full cost of the recall is unknown, the company’s share value took a slight knock at the time.

The jury is still out on retailer Woolworths surrounding three recent food issues. First, a dead frog was found in a Woolworths lettuce pack; then a roach was found in a pack of its own-label noodles; and, later, a live frog was found in a pack of lettuce.

Woolworths is claiming sabotage, but, as Amanda Rogaly, MD of FoodSure, says: “Whether it’s sabotage or a fault in the food processes used by the retailer, what we have here are operational gaps. While food retailers and manufacturers are doing all they can to comply with necessary food standards, they cannot always be aware of the weaknesses in their operational procedures.”

FoodSure is a food label verification company, which provides independent checks and balances for retailers and manufacturers to reduce the risk associated with non-compliance.

FoodSure is working with Ronel Arnold, a leading consultant in South Africa. “There are some food companies that are very serious about how they operate, although in South Africa we do tend to have a ‘wait and see’ attitude. We’re waiting to see which company will be hit the hardest by a food scare and we are perhaps not taking enough preventative action now,” she tells SHEQ MANAGEMENT.

This is scary stuff! It is clear that this country is facing major challenges on the food front … | SHEQ

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Jaco de Klerk

G HG emissions have long been branded a destroyer of the environment. Many research papers have proved

that they could, and probably would, end life as we know it …

(In SHEQ MANAGEMENT’s July/August 2014 edition we featured a piece, which

proves that, over the next two decades, the world faces a substantially increased risk of a major slowdown in the growth of global crop yields as a result of climate change.)

This is in the “short run”, however. The new study: Coherent changes of south-eastern, equatorial and northern African rainfall during the last deglaciation, led by the United States-based National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), takes things to a whole new level …

To predict the future impact of GHG on rainfall in Africa, the research drew on advanced computer simulations and analyses of sediments of past climate. “The future impact of greenhouse gases on rainfall in Africa is a critical socio-economic issue,” says NCAR scientist Bette Otto-Bliesner, the lead author. “Africa’s climate seems destined to change, with far-reaching implications for water resources and agriculture.”

In the past, as the ice sheets that covered large parts of North America and northern Europe started to melt (around 21 000 years ago), Africa’s climate responded in an interesting way … Following a long dry spell, during the peak of the last glacial period, the amount of rainfall in Africa suddenly increased – starting around 14 700 years ago and continuing until approximately 5 000 years ago. This is known as the

African Humid Period (AHP) as it saw desert areas turn into savannas.

The puzzling part was why these conditions were seen in two different regions at the same time; one north of the equator and one to the south. Previous studies had suggested that, in northern Africa, the AHP was triggered by a 20 000-year cyclic wobble in Earth’s orbit, which resulted in increased summertime heating north of the equator. (In contrast, the northern hemisphere today is closest to the Sun in winter rather than summer.) It’s believed that the summertime heating would have warmed the land in such a way that it strengthened the monsoon winds from the ocean and enhanced rainfall.

Otto-Bliesner points out that the orbital pattern, alone, would not explain the simultaneous onset of the AHP in south-eastern equatorial Africa, south of the equator, since the wobble in the Earth’s orbit led to less summertime heating there, rather than more.

Instead, the study reveals the role of two other factors: a change in Atlantic Ocean circulation, which rapidly boosted rainfall in the region, and a rise in GHG concentrations that helped enhance rainfall across a wide strip of Africa.

This came about as planet Earth emerged from the last Ice Age. GHGs, especially carbon dioxide and methane, increased significantly (almost reaching

New research has found that, thousands of years ago, an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations was a key factor in causing substantially more rainfall in two major African regions. It provides evidence that the current increase in GHG will also have an important impact on our continent’s future climate …

Is increased greenhouse gas a dire situation? Well, not in Africa – 14 700 years ago!

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pre-industrial levels) 11 000 years ago – for reasons that are not yet fully understood.

The authors note that this was the most recent time during which natural global warming was associated with an increase in GHG concentrations. (Because of feedbacks between the two, GHG concentrations and global temperature often rise and fall together across climate history.)

The end of the last Ice Age also triggered an influx of fresh water into the ocean, from melting ice sheets in North America and Scandinavia, about 17 000 years ago. The fresh water interfered with a critical circulation pattern, in which heat and salt were transported northward through the Atlantic Ocean. This weakened circulation led to Africa’s rainfall shifting toward its southernmost point, with it being suppressed in

northern, equatorial and eastern Africa. When the ice sheets stopped melting,

the circulation became stronger again, bringing rainfall back into south-eastern, equatorial and northern parts of Africa. This change, coupled with the orbital shift and the warming caused by the increasing GHGs, is what triggered the AHP.

To piece this puzzle together, the researchers drew on fossil pollen, evidence of former lake levels and other proxy records indicating past moisture conditions. They focused their work on northern Africa (the present day Sahel region encompassing Niger, Chad, and also northern Nigeria) and south-eastern equatorial Africa (the largely forested area of today’s eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and much of Tanzania and Kenya).

In addition to the proxy records,

they simulated past climate with the NCAR-based Community Climate System Model, a powerful global climate model developed by a broad community of researchers, which uses supercomputers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

By comparing the proxy records with the computer simulations, the study demonstrates that the climate model got the AHP right. This helps to validate its role in predicting how rising GHG concentrations might change rainfall patterns in a highly populated and vulnerable part of the world.

“Normally, climate simulations cover perhaps a century or take a snapshot of past conditions,” Otto-Bliesner points out. “A study like this one, which disects why the climate evolved as it did over this intriguing 10 000-year period, is more than I thought I would ever see in

my career.” | SHEQ

What is SHEQsys? SHEQsys is an online web-application, which allows users and managers to log, investigate, report and determine trends of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality related activities. It does this through the use of smaller modules which all work individually, or together, in an easy to navigate web interface with in-built wizards to assist users in operating the system.

Modules SHEQsys is the framework, the modules are the tools you plug into it. This basically means that SHEQsys can be scaled to meet your needs, now or later.

Reports Extensive reporting capabilities are included, across all modules of SHEQsys, from basic listings, to full graphical analysis. Custom filters can be applied and the results are often colour-coded for easy identification.

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Contact Please contact us if you would like to know more, or if you would like to request a demonstration, or evaluation system. Telephone: +27-011-8497053, +27-082-4432281 Website: www.SHEQsys.com Email: info@SHEQsys.com

Innovation Users can log; investigate and implement innovations and ideas which save time; money or improve SHEQ.

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Look after your customer/supplier relations by documenting meetings and assigning individuals to follow up outstanding requests.

Risk Assessment

Record process or system risks and provide proposed suggestions for improvement and reduced risk.

Document Control

Manage controlled company documents and ensure you always have the latest revision as well as access to historical revisions.

Calibration

Keep track of and maintain instrumentation calibration via a schedule with full calibration history.

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No longer simply the buzzword it once was, the concept of sustainability is now being enthusiastically embraced by forward-thinking companies. As part of their strategic trajectories, companies have realised they are going to have to do more – especially if they want their people and profits to stick around for the long haul. In particular, sustainability has been integrated into business strategy and operational practices.

Diagnosis is one thing; providing workable solutions another. More often than not, solutions demand input and insight from a specialist, who boasts a wealth of experience in this highly specialised field and is able to assess the current status of an organisation’s sustainability, and, consequently, develop a bespoke plan.

My own approach would involve what is termed the “six capitals” model. It looks at the following aspects of a company:

• financial capital (profit/loss);• manufactured capital (e.g. buildings

and equipment);• human capital (employees);

• social capital (societal interaction);• natural capital (resources and

environmental impacts); and• intellectual capital (e.g. intellectual

property, processes and systems).

The end result is a complete overview covering all the factors that an organisation requires to do business.

The human factor is often the elephant in the room. When it comes to certain aspects of sustainability – typically those linked to climate change – one tends to come across the educated, the ignorant or uneducated, and those who are contrary just for the hell of it.

The uneducated or contrary will argue that sustainability is for the “greenies”; that it’s a craze centred on conspiracy and hype. What they fail to appreciate, is that sustainability has broad long-term applications that generate benefits for a wide spectrum of society.

In short, implementation is often a journey of convincing.

tjaart Coetzee Associate director at mAC Consulting

SUStAInABILItY tRAnSLAtES IntO GOOD BOttOm-LInE ECOnOmIC SEnSE

South Africa remains locked into an energy crisis. There is not enough power to run the country and there are delays in building new power stations. This is going to impact business and manufacturing, and is likely to lead to investment losses.

Businesses response – investing in generators – is short-sighted however; implementing a building management system (BMS) is a better long-term solution, especially as the benefits of Big Data and smart grids start to emerge.

With every piece of equipment within an organisation (in addition to a multitude of devices and sensors, injecting status reports and event-driven data streams into the cloud), there is an incredible opportunity to harness data to operate smarter, thereby optimising processes and facility systems according to key performance data and need.

Indeed, some BMS providers with global reach are creating platforms where clients can compare their facility’s performance to that of peers and industry benchmarks and also receive automated alerts when performance flags.

In terms of smart-grid benefits, many facilities, especially in the manufacturing sector, will become producer-consumers of energy, contributing to and drawing energy from a grid that is very different from the one we know today.

A BMS will help organisations keep track of usage and contributions, as energy consumption becomes an increasingly strategic component of profitability.

Like any long-term strategy, implementing a BMS and fully leveraging its functionality takes vision. While bottom-line wins may motivate implementation of a BMS, energy conservation and smart management of scarce resources will also benefit the environment, driving benefits in terms of business sustainability.

neil CameronGeneral manager of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency

ADDRESSInG SOUtH AFRICA’S EnERGY CRISIS

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NaNotech sterilisatioN – cleaN oN a molecular level

I would like to introduce a new development in the field of nanotechnology, called MonoFoil. It was developed to sterilise surfaces in surgical wards and intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals. The product is not a chemical, but an antimicrobial solution. The active ingredients are contained in an aqueous solution.

To understand the structure and operation of the product, visualise a string of molecules in the shape of a sword. The short “handle-end” attaches itself to any surface; for example, wood, metals, plastics or fabrics. The solution will adhere to the surface as a transparent and durable, antimicrobial film that will not transfer on contact with other surfaces.

The “long end” of the sword contains a molecule that has a positive electrical charge, which draws all negatively charged bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi from the air. As it has a sharp point, this end will penetrate the outer membrane of the organism, pulling it down on itself, thereby disintegrating the organism. (The MonoFoil does this by discharging its electrical load when the organism reaches the positively charged molecule.)

This process is then repeated over and over again, creating a barrier against the transfer of illness-provoking organisms for more than a month.

We always find it difficult to comprehend the possibilities contained in products operating on this incredibly small scale. The organisms that I’ve mentioned are so small that they are

invisible when using a typical school microscope, let alone the product itself; of which you would need 500 000 to equal the diameter of a human hair!

The product has unlimited applications. It is suited to all industries and places that have a high concentration of people – aeroplane cabins, trains, buses, shopping complexes, restaurant kitchens, schools, factories, hostels, mortuaries, hospitals and clinics, vegetable and flower cultivation tunnels, abattoirs and butcheries – to name just a few.

The integrity of the product has been tested and it has been certified by various international health authorities (even Boeing approved it).

John Howell CEO: ResCov

The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that employers must provide a working

environment that doesn’t present risk to the health of employees … But it is virtually

impossible to protect your workforce from all elements of the outside world.

Millions of harmful bacteria and odours spread on the surfaces we touch during the

course of everyday-life.

MonoFoil provides a shield of protection. Our technology is designed to physically in-

hibit the growth of odour causing bacteria and fungi (mould and mildew), which cause

staining and discolouration between cleanings on treated surfaces. We have developed

antimicrobial products to fi t your unique offi ce protection needs.

By applying MonoFoil to surfaces in your kitchen, bathrooms and throughout the work-

place you provide a long-lasting barrier of protection.

Feel better away from home

Protect your family

Feel better at work

John: 083 700 8931 | Email: john@rescov.co.zaCharlotte: 081 705 9742 | Email: cem.ozonenet@gmail.comAndre: 061 418 1009

Offi ce: 079 616 0463Fax: 012 997 0276Website: www.ozonenet.co.za

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An EXPO BY AnY OtHER nAmE …

“It’s been gratifying to see IFSEC South Africa and OSH Expo Africa build reputations as world-class events that cater specifically to the South African and sub-Saharan African markets,” says Damion Angus, managing director of Montgomery.

“We are encouraged by the success to date of both shows, and we believe that, under their new brand names, they will remain the most important expos in their respective sectors in the African market going forward.”

The security, safety, fire and protection exhibition – IFSEC South Africa – is set to re-launch under the

well-known Securex brand for this year’s show.

The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Expo will be rebranded as African Occupational Safety and Health (A-OSH) Expo, and will run concurrently with Securex.

“It was an opportunity to reposition OSH Expo Africa under a new name to include a growing focus on environmental issues affecting safety and health professionals, and to grow the brand in Africa,” explains Gary Corin, managing director of Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery.

This popular expo is aimed at the African occupational health, safety

and environmental markets and offers professionals and business operators, from across a broad range of industries, the opportunity to source new products, hear keynote seminars and take part in exclusive networking events tailored for the African market.

Securex and A-OSH Expo will run from May 12 to 14, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

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The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa), has started to roll out the use of balers at two of its 23 operational depots – the first time that balers are being used for waste tyre management in Africa.

Stacking and transporting waste tyres is particularly difficult, due to their size and weight. Balers are assisting this process by ensuring that the tyres can be easily loaded, transported and stored.

This is achieved by compressing the waste tyres into blocks, which are easily loaded with a forklift, and stacked on transporter trucks. The increased space means that a truck can take 34 t of baled tyres, as opposed to 15 to 18 t of unprocessed tyres.

Viability of the depots rests on the ability to function as effectively as possible. Depots with balers have the benefit of including more waste tyres in a single load – ultimately reducing carbon emissions, as fewer loads are required. The depots’ capacity to take on additional tyres is also increased and significantly less storage space required, resulting in smaller, more easily managed and more central premises.

Currently, balers are running at the Vissershoek and Pretoria East depots. Four more balers were brought into the country at the end of September for use in Durban, Ladysmith, Pretoria and Bloemfontein, and plans are in place to roll out more around the country at a later stage.

nEW tECHnOLOGY FOR WAStE tYRES

International SOS has released a new mobile app designed to help share its medical and travel information on Ebola. The free app is now available on iOS and Android devices. It provides online, instant access to key sections from International SOS’s dedicated Ebola website.

Doug Quarry, medical director for information and analysis at International SOS, says: “The ongoing Ebola outbreak has become a global health emergency, where rapid communication of advice and information is absolutely critical. We know people want up-to-date, accurate information as quickly as possible. They want it from a trusted source, and they want it wherever they are. We designed this app to help meet that demand.”

The app is part of a wider International SOS communication initiative aimed at supporting the global fight against Ebola. Organisations in western Africa and beyond are using International

SOS’s educational material, which has been translated into 21 local languages. Public awareness broadcasts are available and the app includes access to the video: Ebola – What business travellers need to know.

The International SOS website dedicated to Ebola (www.internationalsos.com/ebola) has been made freely available to all, removing the normal requirement for membership access. This site currently has around 10 000 visitors a day.

Quarry says: “Every day, we continue to get new calls from our members who have questions on Ebola. These might be calls from organisations with operations in western Africa, or from employees sitting at their desks in Europe. These members can get the latest, updated information from us, alongside easy access to the key facts. With our freely available website and the new Ebola app, the wider public can now also access this expertise.”

FREE EBOLA APP

CALL 011 865 4249 or EMAIL sales@evac-chair.co.za. View VIDEO on our website www.evacchair.co.zaThe EVAC CHAIR is manufactured and distributed in South Africa by Edwards & Buckley Systems (Pty) LTD under license to Evac Chair International LTD

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The EVAC CHAIR is manufactured and distributed in South Africa by Edwards & Buckley Systems (Pty) LTD under license to Evac Chair International LTD

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FIRE PROtECtIOn; AGAIn, AnD AGAIn, AnD AGAIn … Personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount when working in high-risk environments. It can prevent debilitating accidents or even death. You might not be as thoroughly covered as you thought, however …

“Some flame resistant (FR) fabrics run the risk of losing their flame resistance after washing, and are subject to excessive shrinking, colour fading, premature wear and ultraviolet degradation,” explains Dries Coetzer, sales and marketing director of Charnaud – an international protective clothing manufacturer. “It is critically important that the clothing remains flame resistant for the life of the garment.”

He points out that Charnaud’s electric arc flash garments are arc rated and are

guaranteed to remain flame and arc resistant for the life of the garment, which means that these qualities cannot be washed out of the fabric.

An arc flash hazard analysis, where the potential incident heat energy – expressed as units of energy per square centimetre of surface (cal/cm2) – is determined, revealed something very interesting …

“A test was carried out on a piece of the Charnaud FR fabric, which had an arc rating of 12,4 cal/cm2 as a new garment,” notes Coetzer. “It was re-tested after being used actively for four years, and having had about 200 washes. The results revealed a 30 percent increase in the arc rating. This proves that the safety of Charnaud’s garments actually increases over time.”

A new R300-million, 23 000 m2 manufacturing facility, regardless of what it will produce, is definitely something to get excited about … but DCD Wind Towers offers an even greater reason to smile! It marks a new era for South Africa’s renewable power-generation capabilities, while contributing to the long-term stability of national electricity supply.

Located at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), in the Eastern Cape, the manufacturing facility of DCD Wind Towers is a joint initiative between the DCD Group, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC).

Ayanda Vilakazi, head of marketing and communications at CDC, says: “We want to attract investors to the Coega IDZ who are able to add value to the supply chain and align with national

government’s drive for localisation of manufacturing, especially in the renewable sector where there are many gaps for high-tech innovation and manufacture. A prime example of the success of this approach is DCD Wind Towers.”

IDC senior account manager for the metal, transport and machinery products unit, Joseph Sithole, believes that the manufacturing sector is of tremendous importance to South Africa’s long-term economic prospects. He suggests that the establishment of the DCD Wind Towers manufacturing facility is the first step in boosting investor confidence within the renewable sector.

“Facilities such as this create direct jobs, while sustaining a large number of jobs in raw material supply and service sectors,” he states.

LOCAL IS LEKKER

The Lockout/Tagout procedure, which involves the isolation and inoperability of the energy supply of industrial machinery during maintenance, is gradually becoming standard equipment in many European, Middle Eastern and African production sites. It is easy to understand why …

The procedure protects workers from the risks posed by live machinery, driven by various energy sources. It includes the use of lockout devices, personal padlocks and keys – depending on an industry’s specific needs.

Based on requests from Sweden’s automotive industry, Brady is now offering a line extension of its Lockout/Tagout Twist and Secure Push Button and Emergency Stop Safety Covers.

Just like the original red covers, the transparent Twist and Secure is a convenient lockout tool, which has the extra advantage of providing an obvious visual indication of the ON/OFF status of control buttons.

Both the steel industry in Poland and the mining industry in South Africa also requested a next generation Lockout/Tagout keybox. Brady answered this request by providing the new Safety Redbox Group Lockout Box, which can be placed (or mounted), in various contexts, while its quick-release mechanism offers great flexibility and portability.

At the same time, the new lockbox can be locked in place, preventing any possibility of retrieving a key, outside the lockout procedure, by purposely shaking the box.

WHEn tHE LIGHtS nEED tO StAY OFF

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In this inaugural piece (from a series of extracts that will run throughout 2015) ANDREW SHARMAN explores corporate safety culture and provides an arsenal to build a solid, sustainable culture of safety

W hat is culture and why does it matter to safety professionals? The answer to why

it matters is simple; culture heavily influences an individual’s behaviour by setting group norms. Answering the first question is a little more difficult. In 1952, a list of 164 definitions of “culture” was

created, yet more than six decades later, opinions are still divided on what the term means.

Ultimately, in a workplace setting, “culture” concerns the collective grouping of the organisation in a particular way of thinking and acting, in order to meet its prescribed objectives. This sense of strategic programming often simplifies

culture as: “The way we do things around here.” Although this idea is simple to understand, it feels rather vague …

Perhaps a more meaningful definition of culture is: “The system of information that codes the manner in which the people, in an organised group, interact with their social and physical environment, where the frame of reference is the set of

turn up the bass!An exploration into corporate safety culture

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follow, and the material objects they create.”

So, culture is the way we do things; guided by the values that we hold dear and regulated by the methods and practices accepted in the workplace.

Definitions of safety culture are myriad. There may even be as many, if not more than those on the “culture” list. Most contemporary definitions appear to be based on the one generated by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations following the Chernobyl disaster, so this is a good place to begin:

“The safety culture of an organisation is the product of individual and group values, attitudes, competencies and patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organisation’s health and safety programmes.”

While safety culture is acknowledged as an important concept, its content and consequence have enjoyed little consensus of opinion over the last few decades, and an absence of models that specify relationships between culture, safety management and safety performance persist. Dialogue around safety culture has emerged as a popular theme in contemporary scholarship, usually as an answer to accident causation, and as the silver bullet for performance improvement.

In modern times, the term is typically connected with the prevention of accidents, and it enjoys centre stage as an approach to driving sustained performance improvement. Safety culture as a concept is not without conflict, however. Despite its popularity and many attempts at its definition, the term remains an abstract concept.

Fortunately some definitions are used more frequently – by both researchers and practitioners – than others. Here are some of the most popular ones:

“The set of assumptions and associated practices, which permit beliefs about danger and safety to be constructed”;

“The embodiment of a set of principles, which loosely define what an organisation is like in terms of health and safety”; and

rules, regulations, mores and methods of interaction within the group.”

Edgar Schein, former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has spent his career studying culture in the workplace. Accordingly, his definition may bring value to our discussion: “Culture is a pattern of shared tacit assumptions learned by a group as it solved its problems,

of external adaptation and internal integration, that has worked well enough to be considered valid and, therefore, to be taught to new members as the correct way to perceive, think and feel in relation to those problems.”

From a psycho-social perspective, culture is defined as the: “… values that group members share, the norms they »

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“The attitudes, beliefs and perceptions shared by natural groups as defining norms and values that determine how they act and react in relation to risks and risk control systems.”

Although the term safety culture is now widely used and defined, it holds a relatively young pedigree. Following the Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion on April 26, 1986, the International Atomic

Energy Agency identified that the “poor safety culture” at the plant was the primary cause of the accident.

Subsequently, many other major accident investigations, including those looking at the Piper Alpha oil platform, the Kings Cross train station, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Challenger space shuttle and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, have pinpointed safety culture as a key contributory factor. It may be that the concept of safety culture has evolved as a direct response to such events.

But, hang on, instead of tying ourselves in knots trying to define the term here, why not choose a preferred definition and move forward. I see safety culture as a product of three interrelated aspects:

• Psychological (individual and group attitudes, perceptions and values);

• Behavioural (safety-related actions and behaviours); and

• Situational (policies, procedures, organisational structures and management systems).

Looking from this perspective, we can see that safety culture is the effect of

how the formal and informal aspects of an organisation’s daily life influences safety in either a positive or negative way.

This influence is generated on two levels by: • Setting the values and norms as well as

the underlying beliefs and convictions, through which workers deal with, or disregard, risks; and

• Influencing the conventions for safe or unsafe behaviour, interaction and communication.

Safety culture is not only similar to organisational culture, but, indeed, an inextricable part of it; actively influencing attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of individuals with regard to workplace

safety. Remove the word safety (and any reference to it) and you can see that we’re talking about the same thing with which we began this article.

It might just be worth a quick diversion to briefly touch on an aspect we have come to refer to as “climate”. Organisational climate, especially related to workplace safety, has been the subject of much study over the last three decades. Several writers have proposed its use as a robust leading indicator for workplace safety. Interestingly, the term safety climate appears to be used as a synonym for safety culture, despite some argument that they are completely separate entities.

Often, the desired state of corporate culture (whether related to safety, or more generically) is presented in a series of vision, mission, policy and value statements; however, these statements and the actual practice may not match. Why? Well, because in simple terms, we don’t create a culture in an organisation; it is already there.

We can develop that culture, refine it, enhance it, or even attempt to change it, but we don’t create a completely new one. Blindly overlaying aspiration across your existing culture is like laying a carpet over a wooden floor. The wood still exists: the boards still squeak as you walk over them and the woodworms and mites are still busy deep within the grain.

Really understanding your corporate culture and its nuances is vital. Purchasing an off-the-shelf audit, management system or behavioural safety programme just won’t cut it. Yet some organisations continue to gleefully forge ahead on this route; essentially inflicting a programme or system upon themselves that just doesn’t fit congruently with “the way they do things”.

Most of the main theoretical models of safety culture appear to have been adapted and enlarged from Edgar Schein’s model, which advocates that there are three components that make up and influence culture:

Organisational Artefacts: These are readily observable in the workplace and can

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include a particularly prevalent architectural or furniture style; dress code; artwork; symbols or graphics; communication styles and media; rituals, ceremonies or established events. Typically, artefacts can be recognised by people, internal and external to the culture or organisation. While tangible and easy to spot, the meaning of organisational artefacts is harder to decipher or interpret.

Espoused Values: These are not necessarily directly observable, but can be distilled from watching how people behave. The espoused values are essentially how the workers, at all levels, choose to represent the organisation, both to themselves and to others. They may lie within the organisation’s stated beliefs, principles and mindsets or be expressed in official philosophies, public statements or rules. They may also form part of a vision of the future, of what individuals or the organisation hope to become; for example, the popular maxims of “safety first” and “zero accidents”.

Shared Basic Assumptions: These are the source of the organisational values and artefacts and form the essence of culture. They are the deeply embedded, taken-for-granted behaviours, which are typically carried out unconsciously. These assumptions are so well engrained in the organisational dynamic that they are difficult to identify and observe – even from within the corporation.

Now you may be starting to wonder how you can influence the culture in your organisation, positively, towards safety. In order to build a framework to do this, I’ve studied the literature for you with the aim of identifying the main factors that influence an organisation’s safety culture. While there appears to be no overall agreement on the most important elements, common themes and patterns do exist in the research.

Here are the top ten:• Management commitment;• Risk perception and management;

• Safety systems and procedures;• Work pressures and scheduling;• Employee training and competence;• Genuine and consistent management

of safety;• Clear communication;• Employee engagement and involvement;• Responsibility; and• Regulatory compliance.

So now we know that we need to consider the artefacts, values and assumptions of our organisation and that there are ten key factors for us to work on if we are to build a solid, sustainable culture of safety, but how should we move forward?

You could start by considering the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (otherwise known as a SWOT analysis) for action against those ten factors listed above. Then, narrow your focus to the key areas that will really make a difference, and you have a framework for action.

Next, turn down the volume on the aspects of the old culture that you wish to change and turn up the bass on the new. Take every opportunity to reinforce the new assumptions, values and artefacts. Be an apostle. Recruit disciples. Keep your foot on the gas – remember the journey from accidents to zero never

ends. | SHEQ

Sharman on Safety is a series of extracts that we’re running this year, from Andrew Sharman’s new book: from accidents to Zero: a practical guide to improving your workplace safety culture. Sharman is an international member of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) and the chief executive of RyderMarshSharman — consultants on leadership and cultural excellence to a wide range of blue-chip corporates and non-government organisations globally. More at www.rydermarshsharman.com. SHEQ MANAGEMENT readers can get 20 percent off Sharman’s book at: www.fromaccidentstozero.com using the code SHEQSA.

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“Many major accident investigations

have pinpointed safety culture as a key contributory factor.”

From Accidents to ZeroA practical guide to improving your workplace safety culture

Thought-provoking and insightful. From Accidents to Zero progressively pushed me to see new connections, and new ways to address organisations’ safety culture and risk management challenges.Mieke Jacobs, Global Practice Leader – Employee Safety, DuPont

This A to Z of safety represents an eminently practical knowledge toolbox, one fi lled with tools which will add value to the CEO and the front line Safety Practitioner in equal measures. Relevant, accessible and applicable, this is safety distilled and a ‘must-read’.Steven Brown, Brewery Manager, Heineken Read more at www.fromaccidentstozero.com

This A to Z of safety represents an eminently practical knowledge toolbox, one fi lled with tools which will add value to the CEO and the front line Safety Practitioner

applicable, this is safety distilled and a ‘must-read’.Steven Brown, Brewery Manager, Heineken

Read more at www.fromaccidentstozero.com

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At the end of 2014, it was reported that one of the main state social security entities, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), may in future not pay compensation, for damages such as pain and suffering, to victims of road accidents. This change is contained in the legislation the RAF seeks to place before Parliament

First, the RAF performs the vital

function of compensating victims of

road accidents, or third parties, injured

or killed, due to negligence or some

other wrongful act on the part of drivers,

owners of motor vehicles, or their

employees. The negligence, or wrongful

act, must occur in connection with the

driving of a motor vehicle on South

African roads.

Legislation, in the form of the Road

Accidents Fund Act of 1996, specifies

the circumstances under which the RAF

shall become liable to compensate road

accident victims.

Second, the RAF also acts as an insurer

for persons whose negligence or wrongful

acts may result in the Fund being liable

for a claim.

As a general rule, a road accident victim,

whose claim meets the requirements of

the Road Accidents Fund Act of 1996, is

prohibited from suing the negligent driver,

vehicle owner or employee of the owner.

The victim must instead claim from the

Fund.

implications? Failure of state social security – what are the

t he proposed change has

been necessitated by the

Fund’s desire to cut costs

and improve its financial

soundness. This is part of a process dating

back to 2007/8 when the RAF started

implementing reforms to curb various

items of compensation it pays to victims of

road accidents.

The RAF is a statutory body owned

by government and is funded through a

levy on fuel purchased at the pumps by

motorists. Its purpose is twofold.

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In the past, the RAF paid claims in

terms of common law rules. In other

words, there were few restrictions on the

amount one could claim, as long as the

amount was proved and justified to the

satisfaction of the parties or the court.

Over the years, a number of restrictions

to amounts payable have been introduced

in an attempt to cut costs and improve

the solvency of the Fund. For instance,

claims for loss of income were limited to

R160 000 per annum in 2008.

While the primary objectives of the

RAF are noble, the institution has fallen

victim to serious agency issues, which

have culminated in escalating costs over

the years. As a consequence, the Fund

has been insolvent for the past 30 years.

Previous attempts to cut costs and return

the institution to financial viability have

been unsuccessful, and it remains to

be seen whether the results of current

proposals will be any different.

Interestingly, the main causes of

the Fund’s skyrocketing costs are well

known. For example, it is an open secret

that legal fees are perhaps the single

largest cost item in the entire structure

of RAF claims, but little appears to have

been done over the years to address this

problem.

However, a more relevant question for

purposes of this discussion is: What are

the implications for employers when a

“While the primary objectives of the

RAF are noble, the institution has fallen

victim to serious agency issues, which have culminated in

escalating costs over the years.”

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state institution, meant to perform a vital

role like the RAF, fails?

It must be noted that a sizeable number

of vehicles on public roads are owned by

employers and, at any given time, these

vehicles are driven by employees of the

owners in the course of employment.

At common law, if such a vehicle is

negligently driven and causes injury to

a third party, the third party has a claim

against the employer of the driver under

the doctrine of vicarious liability.

However, due to the existence of the

RAF, this common law position has over

the years generally been inapplicable,

because, once a claim meets the

requirements of Section 17 of the RAF

Act, the driver, and by implication his

employer, cannot be sued as Section 21

of the Act prohibits such actions.

It is, however, conceivable that

a common law claim could be brought

against the driver and his employer if, for

some reason, the RAF is unable to pay a

particular claim.

Given the cuts seen in recent years

to amounts victims can claim from the

Fund, it is important to determine how

these savings will be used. Take the

current proposals by the Fund, to stop

paying damages for pain and suffering,

as an example. The question is: If victims

of serious road accidents are no longer

allowed to claim these damages from the

Fund, then who will be responsible for

their payment?

One can foresee two possible solutions

to this question. One option would be to take

the route used in workmen’s compensation

and ban such claims altogether. In terms of

South African workmen’s compensation

legislation, an employee injured in the

course of employment cannot claim

common law damages, including pain and

suffering, from the employer in terms of

Section 35 (1) of the Compensation for

Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act

no. 130 of 1993.

Another option would be to transfer

the claims, excluded by the RAF in its

cost-cutting drive, to drivers and owners,

whose negligence or wrongful acts result

in injury to third parties. Thus, in terms

of the current proposals, if Parliament

resolves that the RAF should not pay

damages for pain and suffering anymore,

then victims should instead be allowed to

sue the driver, owner, or employee of the

owner (and by implication his employer)

for those damages.

Option one appears a less likely

proposition. This is because people put

vehicles on public roads for a variety

of reasons, including for the purpose of

business and pleasure. If all vehicles plying

our roads were serving the same purpose

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– being used for business and, therefore,

helping in wealth creation for the country,

for example – then option one would have

some merit.

The reality is, however, that not

all vehicles are on the road for business

purposes. Some are on the road for social

and other reasons, which have nothing to

do with business. As a result, when drivers

of vehicles negligently injure or kill third

parties, against a background of increasing

failure by state entities, like the RAF, to

meet their obligations, we should expect to

see more responsibility for the cost of these

accidents being shifted to private individuals

and employers (in the case of accidents

caused in the course of employment).

The persistent restriction of claims, for

which the RAF accepts liability, represents

a failure on the part of this vital institution.

It is unbelievable that the RAF has been

insolvent for such a long time without a

solution being found.

In addition, when state entities

designed to provide a critical, social and

economic service, such as compensating

victims of road accidents, respond to their

failure by limiting the scope of protection

they are supposed to provide, under the

banner of cutting costs, invariably the

very same costs that are cut (if at all)

are transferred to the people who are

supposed to be protected.

When the RAF was established,

employers were, to a very large extent,

insulated from vicarious liability claims

associated with negligent driving of

motor vehicles by their employees. This

is because, as long as the accident fell

within the scope of the RAF Act, the driver

(employee) could not be sued and nor

could the employer.

At the time, cover provided by the RAF

was wide, since victims were compensated

according to common law principles.

Today this is no longer the case. The RAF

cover continues to shrink with the net

result that liability for damages, for which

the RAF is absolving itself from paying,

will ultimately be borne by employers and

private individuals. | SHEQ

Legally Speaking is a regular column by Albert Mushai from the school of Economics and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. Mushai holds a master’s degree from the City University, London, and was the head of the insurance department at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe before joining the University of the Witwatersrand as a lecturer in insurance.

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I RCA Global, which began its local

operations in 1993, went from

humble beginnings (starting

in a small flat in Hillbrow) to an

international contender (with offices

in Africa, the Middle East, China and

Australia).

It has expanded its risk management

solutions to cover several areas in the

SHEQ-driven industries. These include

assessing, advising and assisting various

organisations to reduce operational risk

exposure.

This is all made possible by the

company’s research, development, training

and education divisions …

What role do training, education, research

and development play within IRCA

Global? And how important are these to

the company and your clients?

Misrole: They play a key role within the

organisation. Our research enables us to stay

abreast with the latest trends, both locally

and abroad. It also helps us to keep tabs

on any new developments, and the way in

which the SHEQ industry is progressing …

What training and development courses

do you offer?

Venter: We provide a vast range of health

and safety courses including short courses.

The course categories include: SHEQ

management, incident analysis, legal liability

and skills programmes. We also offer risk

assessments and auditor programmes.

On the education side, we’ve got

certificate courses, diplomas and a Bachelor

of Commerce degree, which are customised

for operational risk management. We

provide these together with the Da Vinci

Institute for Technology Management (a

registered higher education and training

institution).

How have the training and education,

and the research and development

departments developed as the company

has grown?

trainingKeep on

IRCA Global, as the name suggests, has offices worldwide – but it has more than a diverse footprint … It offers a wide range of systems, products and services for risk management in the areas of safety, health, the environment and quality (SHEQ). JACO DE KLERK speaks to Wensley Misrole, executive of research and development, and Lynne Venter, executive: training and education

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Often the shortcomings are in the area

of middle management, resulting in

organisations not being as successful as

they could be.

On the formal education side – which

includes certificates, diplomas and degrees

– there are a lot of industry practitioners,

with years of experience. This is difficult

to convert into a full qualification. We’ve

expanded our partnership with the Da Vinci

Institute to offer formal qualifications that

enable people with extensive experience

to receive recognition of prior learning.

Candidates can, therefore, be given credit

for skills, knowledge and experience gained

through working and learning – enabling

them to continue to work towards formal

qualifications.

What challenges does IRCA face and how

is the company overcoming these?

Misrole: On the formal education side one

of the challenges is the cost. This prevents

many people from actually pursuing a

formal education.

How is this being dealt with?

Misrole: In some cases companies are

paying for their employees. In other cases,

employees are paying for themselves

by taking loans. They see education as

an investment in their future. There are

no bursaries at the moment, but it is

something that we are looking into and

working towards.

Venter: From Da Vinci’s side, it assists

by offering students a monthly payment

option – so it isn’t necessary for them to

pay all their fees up front.

What does the future hold for IRCA

Global?

Misrole: With our current initiatives, and

our ongoing research and development, we

believe the future for IRCA is quite bright.

We are broadening our scope of services

that we can offer to clients, and, through

that, we’ll keep the company sustainable

into the future. | SHEQ

Misrole: Since we started, we’ve grown the

list of courses that we offer to the public

exponentially. We currently have over 100

courses and we’re constantly innovating

and adding new ones to satisfy our clients’

requests.

We’ve learned a lot from the field

exposure we have had over the years, and

we have ploughed back the knowledge we

have gained into the training courses.

What trends are you most excited about?

Misrole: There are quite a few, but the one

that stands out the most is the safety

leadership programme for supervisors.

We’ve identified problems in this area in

the industry. We have found that many

supervisors do not have all the tools and

knowledge to do what is expected of

them.

We are, therefore, offering courses in

safety leadership for supervisors, because

they play a key role in any organisation.

“With our current initiatives, we believe the future for IRCA is

quite bright.”

Technology has catapulted humanity’s development by enhancing our productivity and making life a whole lot easier … but it doesn’t come without its perils! Electronic waste (e-waste) is a lot more dangerous than one could ever imagine …

U nited States-based Cen Cal Ewaste, a company that offers free recycling solutions to help both businesses and

residents to properly recycle electronic equipment, shines some light on the matter: “When you look at a computer or cellphone, it doesn’t appear to be dangerous. Typically, only the outer casing is visible, but it’s what’s inside that poses a threat to the environment, people and animals.”

It adds that electronic products are

jam-packed with heavy- and semi-metals, including various chemical compounds that can leak into soil – becoming hazardous along the way. “Lead, mercury, copper, barium, nickel and even arsenic are all present within a variety of electronic products,” states Cen Cal. “When they’re thrown away or placed in landfills, these products often break apart, which can expose the inner workings and those dangerous chemicals and metals.”

According to Cen Cal, 80 percent of the electronics that are bought and used

every day aren’t recycled properly! Closer to home things look even more bleak.

Explains Christopher Olver, former contributing editor to Journalist’s Resource (named one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association): “Information communication technology (ICT) products, such as computers and cellphones, have proliferated throughout the world, and many developing nations are consuming them at an increasing rate.”

This is only half of the story. “As these

e-waste per annum!250 000 t of

Where must it go?

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51Unisa

Tshepang W MasipaProgramme Assistant (TQM)Tel: +27 12 352 4319/4290Cell: +27 71 442 4053Email: masiptw1@unisa.ac.za

Ms Rosina M KomaneProgramme Assistant (TQM)Tel: +27 12 352 4290/4319Email: komanrm@unisa.ac.za

Prof Rigard J SteenkampFax-to-email: +27 86 682 9213Email: steenrj@unisa.ac.za

Website: www.unisa.ac.za/cbm

Module 1An overview of TQM and the creation and maintenance of a quality culture.

Module 2Developing the TQM system, the tools and the techniques for the continuous improvement of quality.

Module 3Implementing TQM and sustaining continuous improvement.

Module 4Integrated SHEQ management based on ISO and OHSAS system standards.

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goods become technologically outdated in wealthier nations, they are often shipped to developing countries for refurbishment, recycling or disposal,” writes Olver. “However, such countries are sometimes ill-equipped to deal with the parts found in many products in an ecologically sound manner.”

To determine the effects of e-waste, the United Nations (UN) examined the ecological and economic impact of electrical and electronics equipment (EEE)

recycling, and disposal practices, in five countries in western Africa. The report, entitled: Where are WEee in Africa?, looked at Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.

Olver quotes from the report: “Seventy percent of all imports, to the five countries, are used EEE, with 30 percent of this being non-functioning EEE.” He says that computers imported from Western countries account for between ten and 70 percent of all ICT in these nations.

“Despite strict regulations governing the trade of damaged ICT, 30 to 50 percent

of these items make their way to the western part of Africa,” Olver points out. “Close to half of the items are repaired, while the rest are recycled or discarded.”

Nigeria reportedly leads the region in e-waste volume, generating approximately 1,1 million tonnes annually.

As for the exporting countries, the report states that the United Kingdom (UK) leads the pack, followed (with large gaps in between) by France and Germany … “In the case of television receivers

and monitors, it is apparent that German exports are rising sharply, while UK exports are declining,” relates Where are WEee in Africa? “Both countries provide nearly 100 percent of the television and monitor exports to western Africa.”

Nearly all of the region’s e-waste ends up being processed by a largely unregulated, informal recycling industry. “Recycling activities often take place on unfortified ground where harmful substances released during dismantling are discharged directly into the soil,” states the UN.

“Burning copper cables and wires, as well as monitor and TV casings, creates an accumulation of ash and partially burned materials at the burning sites,” the international organisation points out.

“Insulating foam from dismantled refrigerators (primarily polyurethane containing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)), or old car tyres are often used as the main fuels for the fires … contributing to acute chemical hazards and long-term contamination at the burning sites, as well as emitting ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.”

Olver adds that workers in the western African scrap metal and recycling industry have to contend with health risks ranging from cuts to spinal injuries and respiratory illnesses – all for a daily wage below the international poverty line … (around R10 a day).

The report’s authors conclude: “Altogether it is roughly estimated that during the past few years, at least 250 000 t of e-waste per annum ‘illegally’ entered the ports of the five selected western African countries … This is comparable to the total amount of e-waste generated in small European countries such as Belgium or The Netherlands, and equates to approximately five percent of all e-waste generated in the European Union.”

Africa is certainly climbing the technological ladder. Over the last decade, the penetration rate of personal computers in western African countries has increased tenfold, and the number of mobile phone subscribers has increased one hundredfold …

E-waste definitely needs to be addressed while it is still a “small” problem, as development without sustainability isn’t much development at all! | SHEQ

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Brought to you by:

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Various respiratory protective products are available on the market. Precision Safety Appliances (PSA) shares some insights about respirators and how to choose the right one for the job

tYPES OF RESPIRAtORSAir-purifying respirators: These are used in environments where sufficient oxygen is present and the specific gas hazard has been identified and quantified. Portable or fixed instruments are able to provide continuous oxygen readings, and are also available with toxic sensors to detect and quantify specific toxic hazards.

Independent air supply: Self-contained breathing apparatus or airline respirators are suitable for environments where the oxygen content is low, or the toxic gas is beyond the protection ability of air purifying respirators, since they provide an independent source of safe air. Despite the independent air source, there is still the possibility of a flammable atmosphere that needs to be considered, which is why the environment should still be tested.

WHAt EQUIPmEnt LImItAtIOnS nEED tO BE COnSIDERED WHEn SELECtInG RESPIRAtORY PROtECtIOn?Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA):

SCBAs provide a readily available supply of independent air; however, they are restrictive in that they will only provide working time relative to the pressure available in the cylinder (typically about 30 to 40 minutes).

Airline respirators: Using a suitable compressor as the source of air provides the benefit of continuous availability of air, while the compressor is running. The connection points are, however, generally fixed around the factory and may not always be situated close enough to where the compressor is required. Portable compressors providing “breathing quality air” are very useful, but costly, and thus often considered more suitable as a rental option.

Escape respiratory protective devices: These are available in either “air-purifying” or “stored pressure” format. The former is often worn by personnel in factories as personal protective equipment where the general possibility of a specific gas hazard, or potential leak, is present. In such instances, the respirator is quickly

put on and the worker evacuates the plant. They are not suitable for oxygen-deficient atmospheres.

“Stored pressure” escape devices have compact air cylinders containing sufficient air for escape purposes and provide an independent supply of air, thus making them suitable for oxygen-deficient atmospheres. While they are more cumbersome than air purifying devices, they provide a suitable backup should the airline supply line be interrupted.

WHY DO YOU nEED BOtH GAS DEtECtIOn AnD RESPIRAtORY PROtECtIOn?Respiratory protection does not provide the user with a means to detect the presence of flammable vapours, toxic gases, volatile organic compounds or an oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched atmosphere. Gas detectors should be considered, even while donning the respiratory protection, since the results provide an indication of the concentrations in the atmosphere. | SHEQ

breathtake a deep

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tIPS

// FOURWAYS tel: (+27 11) 704 6597

// DURBANtel: (+27 31) 571 6700

// PORT ELIZABETHtel: (+27 41) 374 1336

// CAPE TOWNtel: (+27 21) 486 1000

// VANDERBIJLPARKtel: (+27 16) 931 2050

NATIONWIDE BRANCHES:

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“Creating a healthy, safe & prepared working environment for all”

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ATA_fireFirstEvac_ad.indd 1 2015/02/12 1:07 PM

Action Training Academy (ATA) director, Alastair Farish, pointsout that the solution to managing medical emergencies,unexpected fires or building evacuations is astructured health and safety (H&S) approach

StEP OnE: tRAInInG Companies are required to ensure that their workforces are trained in the disciplines of firefighting, first aid and evacuation planning.

It is important to ensure that the trained H&S team is evenly spread out across the organisation’s building structure. Take, for example, a large organisation that has ten buildings. If there is a heart attack in building number eight, then it is of utmost importance that there is a person trained in first aid within that building.

It is best practice to have a first aider located within four to six minutes of any location within the organisation. If someone suffers cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be administered within four to six minutes – if this doesn’t happen, irreversible tissue damage to the brain can occur.

In addition, it is important to carefully select staff for each role and to ensure that each H&S team member is trained in only one of the disciplines. Very often

we find that, in haste to complete training requirements, organisations often train one person in first aid, firefighting as well as evacuation planning – only to find that during a real emergency or evacuation drill, they can fulfil only one role.

Have three people trained in separate disciplines, instead of one person in all three disciplines. It is important to spread these lifesaving skills across the workforce.

StEP tWO: EQUIPmEnt With a trained health and safety team, the organisation needs to ensure that appropriate equipment is procured and installed in the correct locations across the company’s premises.

It is often difficult for organisations to determine what they actually need to comply with the regulatory requirements, as these are quite complex and there is definite science behind it. ATA’s H&S practitioners often assist organisations with an “H&S Equipment Assessment” which determines what equipment is necessary.

The size of the premises, type of production being undertaken and occupancy classification all form part of the assessment. Technicians then supply, install and maintain the firefighting, first aid, evacuation and H&S equipment.

StEP tHREE: mAnAGEmEntThe success of creating a healthy, safe and prepared environment depends largely on senior management/executive buy-in, as well as the establishment of an H&S committee – which is responsible for driving the success of the H&S strategy.

The committee is made up of health and safety supervisors and representatives, who are required by law to meet at least every three months.

ATA’s aim is to assist organisations to prepare themselves for unplanned emergency crises. Our philosophy is to create awareness and preparedness, and, in so doing, minimise risk and loss of life. H&S is not an option, it is an obligation, and we need to create a healthy, safe and prepared environment for everyone! | SHEQ

emergency Preparing your business for an

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According to a paper compiled by Development Dimensions International (DDI), conversations are the lifeblood of leadership. When leaders are adept at conversations, they do much more than communicate effectively – they drive stronger business results

O ver the last 30 to 40 years,

perhaps the most significant

change in the corporate

landscape has been the

transition from an economic society

based on physical and tangible assets, to

one based on intangible assets, such as:

customer relationships, ideas, innovation

and brand.

Human beings are social creatures.

In our daily lives and at work, we are

constantly interacting with others.

Whether these interactions happen face-

to-face, over the phone, or through e-mail

or text, the way we treat others, and how

we communicate with them, makes an

impact – for better or worse. So, what

are the skills required to conduct effective

interactions?

During its 40-plus years of assessing

talent, conducting research and creating

development programmes, DDI has found

that there is a core set of skills everyone

needs to master in order to effectively

build relationships and get work done.

A wide range of interactions define

a leadership role, including: conducting

team meetings, providing coaching,

seeking input from stakeholders on key

decisions, listening to customers, leading

major changes, influencing the direction

of a new structure, delegating tasks and

assignments, and conducting performance

discussions.

Leaders can meet practical needs

and structure discussions by using five

interaction guidelines. These form a five-

step process and provide a direct route for

the discussion – which will take leaders to

clear and agreed-upon outcomes.

Open: Ensures that discussions have

a clear purpose and that everyone

understands the importance of

accomplishing it.

Clarify: There are two types of information

to collect in this step: facts and figures,

as well as issues and concerns. Both are

essential to building a complete picture of

the situation.

Develop: When developing ideas, it is

important to ask questions and include

others in the process. Most leaders will

have ideas about what to do, and they

should share them. However, they should

also put equal emphasis on seeking ideas

of others.

Agree: Leaders and the people involved in

the conversation should agree on a plan for

following through on the ideas that were

developed, and for supporting those who

will take action.

Close: The final chance to check that

everyone is clear on the agreements and

the next steps, and are committed to

following through.

DDI also identified seven “interaction

Quality leadersbreed quality relationships

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sins”, which capture some of the common

missteps that befall leaders – at all levels

– when it comes to conducting effective

conversations:

StRAIGHt tO FIXInG tHE PROBLEm

Leaders, who have often been rewarded

for getting things done and fixing problems,

jump too quickly to presenting the solution.

They fail to understand the context of a

situation and miss opportunities to involve

other parties.

OnE SIzE FItS ALL

Over time, leaders develop a preferred

style and/or approach to meetings and

interactions. They can be oblivious to the

impact that this approach has on certain

situations or individuals. They may also

struggle to accommodate different

perspectives.

AVOIDInG tHE tOUGH ISSUES

Many leaders struggle to address the

tough issues, particularly those relating

to performance. They lack the skills and

insight to diffuse situations and/or tackle

areas that are perceived to be more

sensitive. As a result, the issues can be left

unresolved; leading to increased tension

and consequences.

InCOnSIStEnt APPLICAtIOn ACROSS

DIFFEREnt COntEXtS

Leaders often adopt a different approach

to different situations and contexts. Skills

that they readily apply in one situation may

not be deployed in another.

For instance, the highest levels of

empathy and diplomacy are often saved

for situations where people are trying to

influence peers. In these situations, they

are more likely to demonstrate diplomacy

and tact, and will more effectively clarify a

situation in order to calibrate each party’s

understanding of the issue at stake.

InFLUEnCInG tHROUGH tHE FACtS

OnLY

Leaders need to spend much more time

understanding the perspectives of others

before presenting and positioning ideas.

Too often they rely on logic and rationale to

position an argument or point of view.

They need to embrace more subtle

means that proactively build stakeholder

networks and appeal to the unique

needs and circumstances of particular

stakeholders.

SPOttInG OPPORtUnItIES FOR CHAnGE

BUt FORGEttInG tO EnGAGE OtHERS

Leaders often recognise the need for

change. They identify opportunities for

improvement in areas such as products

and processes. However, they struggle to

engage others in the change process.

They don’t proactively encourage

others to develop ideas; they oversimplify

the issues surrounding change; and they

show little appreciation for the impact of

a change, assuming others will simply get

on board.

nEGLECtInG tO COACH In tHE mOmEnt

When asked to coach direct reports, leaders

are generally effective at clarifying what

performance is required, having an open

dialogue, and offering support for future

challenges. However, they often neglect

to provide guidance “in the moment of

need”. Furthermore, their assessment of

development needs can be superficial;

missing opportunities to investigate

underlying performance gaps. | SHEQ

“Leaders need to spend much more

time understanding the perspectives of others before presenting and

positioning ideas.“

QUAL

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Quality leaders

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The construction industry is a massive cog in any country’s economy, but this high-risk sector doesn’t come without its costs in term of injuries … JACO DE KLERK talks to Herman Enoch, inland regional manager for the Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance Company (FEM), and Alco-Safe’s MD, Rhys Evans about reducing the risks

z ero harm. Something all high-risk industries aspire to, but, if you look at the injury figures for a large portion of South Africa’s

construction industry between 2004 and 2014, it would seem that they are building castles in the sky rather than implementing sound safety practices …

Statistics from FEM, which has been licensed to transact workmen’s compensation insurance claims for the building and construction industry since 1936, shows that injuries within South Africa’s construction industry rose from 8 144 in 2004 to 10 391 in 2009. This number did, however, come down to 7 584 in 2014. *

The numbers are, at least, declining. Enoch adds: “The construction undertaken in the lead up to the World Cup in 2010 was a major contributor to the increase in 2009. I can only surmise that the recent decline in accidents is as a result

of tougher legislation and a change of attitudes towards health and safety among construction companies.”

It appears that the construction industry is moving in the right direction. “Health and safety should, however, begin at project conceptualisation and planning stage and not be implemented only in later stages,” Enoch emphasises. “Adequate funds and resources should be allocated to any project, irrespective of size.”

It would be wise for a part of these funds to be used for drug and alcohol testing devices … Evans emphasises the importance of drug and alcohol testing within the construction industry: “A study showed that, in the construction industry, approximately one in five people arrive at work under the influence of alcohol.”

He continues: “Construction is a high-risk environment, and to add alcohol into the mix as well just makes the situation

worse. We don’t actually know how bad the problem is with drugs. There are no statistics available, but, going on what you see in the papers and a lot of the tests that we see, there is also a big drug abuse problem in the construction industry.” Evans adds that it is, thus, extremely important to test.

“We did a study with a company, based in KwaZulu-Natal, and found that, after about nine months of introducing alcohol testing – just alcohol testing – accidents and disability claims went down by about 55 percent.”

Testing equipment also provides much faster, more accurate and reliable results than in the past. “In the old days, equipment could do one or two tests a minute – now it can do close to 18 tests in the same time,” Evans points out.

“The speed of instruments has increased dramatically, which makes them a lot more popular,” he adds. “Companies find that

7 500 injuries!more than

What is to be done?

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they no longer have to wait half an hour to test their people, as they can do the same number of tests in five minutes.”

Drug and alcohol testing isn’t without its challenges, however … “The biggest challenge relates to the use of the equipment,” Evans points out. “The equipment is so good now that people don’t really challenge its accuracy. What they would challenge, however, are the structures and the policies around it.”

He adds that companies, therefore, have to have good substance abuse policies in place. These have to state that the company is aware of the alcohol abuse problem in South Africa as well as the Occupational Health and Safety Act, which specifies a zero-tolerance approach to intoxication in the workplace.

“It also has to state that the company will be undertaking random and compulsory testing; when and why that testing will be done, and what actions will be taken against people who are found under the influence,” Evans points out. “This is very important, as workers might want to challenge the legality of a test.”

On this subject, he adds that there are rumours that substances containing alcohol, such as mouthwash and cough

syrup, can influence the test equipment – ending in a false accusation. “If you don’t follow proper procedure, this is possible,” says Evans. “A breathalyser is designed to test for alcohol, but the correct procedures will help to differentiate whether the alcohol is only in someone’s mouth or if it is in their blood.”

The procedure in question is another test. “If an employee tests positive the first time, the operator has to wait for 15 minutes before testing the person again,” Evans points out. This time period allows alcohol in the mouth to evaporate.

“So, if an employee tests positive the first time, he or she will be taken aside for 15 minutes. They will not be allowed to eat, drink or smoke, to ensure that there isn’t anything that could cause

a false positive,” Evans explains.

“The result of the second test will tell us whether

the alcohol was only in their mouth or in their blood,” he

points out. “If it is still positive, it is definitely blood-related

alcohol, as it takes one’s liver about one hour to remove just one

drink from the blood, but alcohol in the mouth normally evaporates

within five to six minutes.” Testing equipment can, thus,

help to keep intoxicated worker from entering a site – which is an

absolute necessity when working in the construction industry’s high-risk

environment … This industry still has a way to go

before the injuries are reduced to a totally acceptable level (namely zero), but keeping intoxicated employees at bay will be a massive step in the right direction. | SHEQ

* These are only FEM stats and represents around 70 percent of the building and construction industry. The balance would have to be obtained from the Department of Labour …

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As an employer, you are responsible for making sure that your employees receive immediate attention if they take ill, or are injured at work. First aid can save lives and prevent minor injuries from becoming major ones ...

E ven a low-risk workplace such as a small office should have a first-aid kit and a person appointed to take charge

of first-aid arrangements, such as calling the emergency services, if necessary, and stocking the first-aid kit. In this instance, the appointed person does not need specific first-aid training.

Workplaces where there are more significant health and safety risks are more likely to need a trained first aider. A first-aid needs assessment will help employers decide what first-aid arrangements are appropriate for their workplace. Such an assessment should include consideration of the workplace, the workforce and the hazards and risks that are present.

The findings should indicate the level of first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel required.

Occupational Health and Safety Training (OHST) is a fully accredited Sector

Education and Training Authority (SETA) institute with further accreditations with the Department of Labour. Gary Singh, business manager at OHST, says: “We offer expertly delivered first-aid courses on levels one, two and three.” Singh shares the following useful information regarding first-aid training:

The key aims of first aid (also known as the “three Ps”):• Preserve life: the main aim of all medical

care, including first aid, is to save lives and minimise the threat of death.

• Prevent further harm: this covers both external factors, such as moving a patient away from any cause of harm, as well as applying first-aid techniques to prevent the condition from worsening; for example, applying pressure to stop bleeding.

• Promote recovery: first aid also involves trying to start the recovery process after

the illness or injury, and in some cases might involve completing a treatment, for instance applying a plaster to a small wound.

The first aider is also likely to be trained in dealing with injuries such as cuts, grazes or bone fractures. He or she may be able to deal with the situation in its entirety (a small adhesive bandage on a paper cut, for instance), or may be required to maintain the condition of something like a broken bone, until the next stage of definitive care (usually an ambulance) arrives.

skills – it is all about the abcsCertain skills are considered essential to the provision of first aid and are taught ubiquitously. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation. The ABCs, which focus on critical life-saving intervention, must be rendered before treatment of less serious injuries.

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The same system is used by all emergency health professionals. Attention must first be brought to the airway to ensure it is clear and open. Obstruction (choking) is a life-threatening emergency. Following evaluation of the airway, a first aider would determine adequacy of breathing and provide rescue breathing if necessary. Assessment of circulation is done to determine if artificial circulation (chest compressions) is required.

Training is generally provided by attending a course, typically leading to certification. Due to regular changes in procedures and protocols, based on updated clinical knowledge, and to maintain skills, attendance at regular refresher courses or re-certification is often necessary.

In South Africa, the legislation is promulgated by the Occupational Health and Safety Act no. 85 of 1993. Specifically, the General Safety Regulation – GSR 3(4) provides for the requirement on compliance.

KnOW YOUR DUtIES AS An EmPLOYERThe training institute must be SETA-accredited. It should also have further accreditation with the Department of Labour and be issued with a certification number, which must be displayed on all certificates.• The validity of these certificates must be three years.• First aiders must be trained and appointed, as per GSR3(4).• First-aid kits must be made available by the employer, as per GSR3(a).

FIRSt-AID KItSAt least one first-aid kit should be provided for each workplace, although more than one might be required on larger sites. Kits should be made easily accessible. The contents should be checked frequently and restocked after any use.The kit should provide basic equipment for administering first aid for injuries including: • cuts, scratches, punctures, grazes and splinters; • muscular sprains and strains; • minor burns; • amputations and/or major bleeding wounds; • broken bones; • eye injuries; and • shock.

Quick access to the kit is vital. First-aid kits should be kept in a prominent, accessible location where they can be retrieved promptly.

EVACUAtIOn CHAIRS FOR StAIRWAY EVACUAtIOn“In case of emergency, do not use the lifts, use the stairs!” This a familiar sign next to all lifts, but few stop to think of the implications for those people who cannot use the stairs, due to injuries or other mobility impairments. These people’s lives would indeed be in danger if an emergency evacuation from the upper levels had to take place and there were no adequate plans to ensure their safety.

Employers are required to maintain proper evacuation plans and equipment, train staff accordingly and to practise the procedures during regular fire drills.

First aiders are trained and equipped to provide “basic life support and emergency first aid” to people with injuries, but may not be adequately equipped to provide for safe evacuation down the stairs. It is always a slow and difficult process to carry a stretcher down stairs and would require at least four able-bodied people.

Specialised equipment, such as stairway evacuation chairs, are available and should be considered as one of the essential tools necessary to protect valued staff, customers and other visitors to the upstairs levels of buildings.

Roger Buckley, managing director of Edwards & Buckley Systems, which manufactures the Evac Chair in South Africa, stresses the importance of having a comprehensive emergency evacuation plan, which includes safe evacuation for people with injuries or physical disabilities. “Having the right equipment in place, as well as ensuring correct usage through proper training and practise, are the keys to providing a truly safe environment for all building occupants. Evac Chairs are not just for people with disabilities. Anybody could be injured or collapse, for example due to smoke inhalation, and would then also need the correct equipment to be available.”

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First aid should also be used to help with the recovery process after an illness or injury – for instance, giving an employee a pain pill for a sprained neck.

Access should also be ensured in security-controlled workplaces.

In addition, kits should be located close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness. For example, a school with a science laboratory or carpentry workshop should have first-aid kits located in these areas.

If the workplace occupies several floors in a multi-storey building, at least one kit should be located on every second floor. Emergency floor plans displayed in the workplace should include the location of first-aid kits.

A portable first-aid kit should be provided in the vehicles of mobile workers if that is their workplace (for example, couriers, taxi drivers, sales representatives, bus drivers and inspectors). These kits should be safely stored so as not to become a projectile in the event of an accident. | SHEQ

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Workplace accidents happen – First Aid will make the difference

Workplace accidents will happen. When your employees complete a comprehensive St John First Aid course they will be able to:

recognise when first aid is neededprovide first aid at an emergency sceneknow when more qualified emergency medical assistance is necessary

We know the importance of having proper, professional skills in an emergency and that’s why at St John we continually revise our courses to ensure they are:

Our range of First Aid training courses include:

Accredited with the Resuscitation Council of SA

Contact us to book your first aid training course today:

We stock a range of first aid kits so contact us to discuss your needs

www.stjohn.org.za

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W orking at height takes

place across multiple

scenarios where

safety plays a major

role. Since these environments are diverse

and multi-disciplined, they require a full

range of fall protection solutions to meet

the needs of a variety of workplaces.

Pole climbing workers, for example,

may be required to climb light and

electrical poles made out of both

wood and steel. In addition, finding a

comfortable position to stand or rest

is often difficult – particularly when

weather conditions are not ideal.

“However, effectively ascending

and descending poles, using proper

techniques and safety equipment, can

ensure that the handling, transportation,

installation, and removal of utility poles

are safe and efficient,” says Joshua Low,

African Occupational Safety and Health

(A-OSH) event director at show organiser

Specialised Exibitions Montgomery.

“Our exhibitors will be on hand at the

A-OSH Expo to guide utility and municipal

risk managers on the most appropriate

equipment to use in each specific

application,” he points out. A-OSH Expo

is the re-launched brand of OSH Africa

– and will continue to feature a number

of seminars and conferences on current

health, safety and well-being issues in the

area of fall arrest. (You can read all about

the rebranding process on page 8.)

“Maintenance and general contractors

also find themselves working in a variety

of environments, and face different

challenges on a daily basis,” adds Low.

“This is why it is critical to find a flexible

solution to fall arrest issues that will

provide user comfort, maximised personal

safety and optimised productivity. Fall

protection equipment should be mobile,

lightweight, portable and modular in

order to adapt to different applications.”

It is very important to know what to

look for. A full-body harness is designed

with straps that fasten around the body

in order to distribute the fall arrest forces

over the upper thighs, pelvis, chest and

shoulders. Protection should be provided

to reduce the impact on the internal

organs, as well as major muscle and bone

groups around the pelvis.

When selecting a full-body harness,

users are advised to consider the back

D-ring/web loop, with dorsal web loops

being preferred; the webbing, which

must be durable and UV protected;

cloud nine Keeping you on

It’s said that falls from heights are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and account for 50 percent of all fatal accidents. It is, thus, very important to know what to look for when choosing fall arrest equipment …

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the adjusting points (for good fit and

comfort); leg straps; and whether it has

pelvic support (for additional support).

They should also check whether it

has labels detailing date of manufacture,

inspection details and user instructions;

double box stitching, which provides

maximum strength and durability;

padding, with cushioning to provide

extra comfort; breathable lining; impact

indicators (if available); a quick-connect

buckle; and a seat sling.

Shock-absorbing lanyards should

have rugged and durable webbing and a

vinyl covered cable, which provides extra

durability. They should be the right length

– long enough to be user friendly, but

short enough to minimise fall distance.

They should have an auto-locking

connector/hook (for added safety) and a

shock absorber, which limits the force on

the worker to below eight kilonewtons

(kN), with up to 1,8 m free fall.

The design of anchorage connectors

depends on whether they will be

connected to steel, wood or concrete

and whether they are fixed or mobile.

Snap hooks and carabiners should be

self-locking to eliminate the danger of

rollout (accidental disengagement of a

connector). They should be simple to

operate and capable of withstanding a

22 kN load.

A-OSH adds that a reputable

supplier should always be used for all

fall arrest equipment. For example,

Heightsafety Gear specialises in the

design, development, manufacturing,

assembly and distribution of a full

range of fall arrest, rope access and

rope rescue equipment and systems

for working at height. Products include:

harnesses, lanyards, slings, connectors,

helmets, descenders, ascenders, pulleys,

retractable life lines, ropes, bags,

accessories and ready-to-use systems.

Another such company is HSE

Solutions (exclusive partners of

Honeywell Safety products), which has

a comprehensive range of fall arrest

equipment, under the Miller brand,

including: full-body harnesses, ascenders

and descenders, confined space and

retrieval equipment, permanent fall

protection systems and lifelines,

anchorage systems, connecting devices

(such as lanyards and self-retracting

lifelines), rope grabs as well as rescue

and evacuation equipment.

The Work at Height Theatre at A-OSH

– which will be held at the Gallagher

Convention Centre, in Midrand, from

May 12 to 14 – will focus on issues

surrounding those people who work at

height as part of their job function.

“Advice on relevant fall arrest safety

equipment and safe working practices

is central to the success of the seminar

programme.” | SHEQ

Working at HeightsNOSA is an accredited height safety training provider through Services SETA

0861 11 NOSA (6672) info@nosa.co.za www.nosa.co.za

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PPE

Most of us know how gas detection works today – particularly in the mining industry, but do we understand how it has evolved over time? CLAIRE RENCKEN investigates

blanket. Sometimes he would hit a huge

pocket of methane, which would ignite the

entire area around him.

The next method of detection was

to take a canary into the mine. Canaries

were used because they have an

extremely loud chirp. Additionally, the

canary bears the closest resemblance

to the part of our nervous system that

controls breathing.

A miner would carry the bird in its

cage into the mine. It was said that when

a canary was about to die, it would start

to shake the cage. Then the miners knew

to exit the mine. If the canary wasn’t

making any noise, they knew to make

an even more urgent exit, as the canary

had died!

Later, a flame light was used. The

flame was encapsulated in a flame-

arrestor shell so that it could not ignite

the outside atmosphere. On the outside

of the flame light was a glass piece that

had three incisions running horizontally

along the glass.

The miner always started the flame

in the middle line, while in a fresh air

environment. If he noticed that the flame

was lowering down to the bottom line

and starting to go out, he knew he was

in an oxygen-deficient environment.

If miners noticed the flame rising to

the top line, they knew the atmosphere

was either beginning to have methane

current or they were in an oxygen-enriched

environment. However, the flame light

still posed a threat to miners. If it was

accidentally dropped, and the glass broke

while the flame was lit, it could ignite the

atmosphere if methane was present.

The first gas monitor was a device

with a valve that analytically showed

how much methane was present in the

atmosphere. The methane was detected

through a sensor called the catalytic

diffusion sensor.

Today, gas detectors have batteries,

which enable the instrument to run for

long periods of time without having to

be turned off. Also, modern-day monitors

not only measure oxygen and methane,

but can measure several different gases

simultaneously.

Thankfully, we’ve come a long way

since unsuspecting birds were taken down

mines. | SHEQ

coal minesno more canaries down

t o understand just how far

we’ve come in gas detection,

we need to know its history.

When gas detection was first

needed, the light bulb hadn’t yet been

invented. With the beginning of the

Industrial Revolution, fuel became very

important.

Coal had to be mined from the ground,

which required extensive manual labour.

Methane is especially dangerous, because

it cannot be seen. It has no smell and

appears naturally from the ground. When

miners began to realise how dangerous

methane was, they began exploring ways

to detect it.

The first method involved using

humans – back then the feeling was that

it was better to lose one man than to lose

an entire group of workers. The miner

wore a wet blanket over his shoulders

and head, and carried a long wick with its

end lit on fire.

He entered the mine and began to

move the flame of the wick along the walls

of the mine. When he hit a small pocket of

methane gas, it would ignite, but the miner

remained fairly safe under the dampened

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SAFE

tY

As soon as the lights go out, the generator is started – but what are the hazards? LEIGHTON bENNETT, vice chairman of the Safety First Association, shines some light on the matter

tHE RISKS: Generators do not have earth leakage protection like those installed on the electrical distribution panels/boards in buildings. Earth leakage protection can be added, however, by using an earth leakage device, depending on where the generator power supply is connected to the electrical distribution board.

Earth leakage protection is strongly advised as generator electricity is unlikely to trip should one get an electric shock … This shock risk is also increased if the generator is not earthed by not being connected to an earth spike driven into the ground.

For safety reasons, have an earth leakage protection device fitted into an extension box, which is made for your generator, and connect all extension leads from this earth leakage box, and not directly from the generator. This box will trip the electricity if there is any electrical shock or short to an earth.

mAKE tHE RIGHt CHOICE Every generator has a maximum output capacity. If it is plugged into a house system where the power demand could

be exceeded, it could blow the generator’s electronics. It is, thus, important to calculate your maximum demand. Add up the wattages marked on all the electrical appliances and fixtures that would require generator power. Your generator will need to have output wattage that is greater than your total demand wattage.

Use the formula “Watts = Amps x Volts” to calculate the required capacity or size of the generator you would need to acquire as your emergency power source.

Obviously, you would not be able to use high power demand items like geysers, stoves, ovens and appliances like kettles or irons, which require significant watts to operate. Fridges, freezers, security and gate access systems, computers, the TV and some light lamps, with energy-saving globes, can all be run off a medium-sized generator, however.

PuttiNg it all together – correctly To connect your generator to your existing electrical board, a proper turnover isolation switch must be fitted, by a competent electrical person, to safely separate between the two power supply systems.

If the building power supply is not

properly isolated with a turnover switch, between the generator and the building system, the generator will be destroyed when the normal power supply returns.

If an isolation switch is not used, one can use specific, separate, permanent extension leads fitted from the generator location to emergency power plug points in the desired locations in the building or house. When the generator is running, you just have to unplug the item from the normal plug and connect it to the generator plug point and reverse the process when the normal power supply returns.

Some generators are being plugged into the house/office wall plug using an extension lead fitted with a double male electrical plug, however … This is hazardous as the plug pins could be live if the extension is plugged into a running generator. Such a practice is illegal in terms of the electrical wiring codes and will be considered gross negligence should a fatality occur.

The lights might be out, but the danger is still there …

It is essential that all electrical plug points and electrical appliances, such as stoves and irons, are treated as being “ON” to avoid injury. | SHEQ

generator risks After Eskom blackouts,

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GUIDEBUYER’S

Published by Charmont Media Global, 17 Northcliff Office Park, 203 Beyers Naude Drive, Northcliff, 2195 PO Box 957, Fontainebleau, 2032, South AfricaTel: +27 11 782 1070 Fax: +27 11 782 1073email: bev@charmont.co.za www.sheqmanagement.com

SHEQ MANAGEMENT aims to provide up to date, relevant information to ensure the safety and wellbeing of employees in the workplace, while assisting them in preparing for emergencies and preventing disasters. SHEQ MANAGEMENT is the definitive source for reliable, accurate and pertinent information to promote environmental health and safety in the workplace. It is our objective to raise the profile of these important subjects: these issues belong in the boardroom!

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Mercedes-Benz:the planet’s sustainability star

Apathy: the downfall of mineworkers

Shocking results fromstress survey!

Dead end for silicosis litigation

All the news from Noshcon

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Best and brightest at OSH Expo 2014

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Bracing thebackbone of PPE

Classrooms:the source of quality

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Eat responsibly, save the environment

Quality life meansquality business

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Flashlight or

Drugs?

CALL +27 (0) 11 465 9959 OR VISIT WWW.DRAEGER.COM

1340

See clearly: drug and alcohol detection solutions from Dräger.

Drugs and alcohol abuse in today’s society is on the increase, that’s a fact. Therisk to the health and well-being of personnel is never more focussed than in aworkplace environment, especially when the operation of vehicles or machineryis necessary. Ensure you can see the risks clearly.