SHEQ November-December 2014

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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

sheqmanagement.com

Delicious and nutritious, but is your food safe?

sheq rules in the world of wheels

Don’t get bitten by a venomous lack of risk management

PPe for ladies -the stylish side of safety

Carel labusChagne:a true Captain of our industry

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www.beiersafety.co.za

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features

VENOMOUs KNOWLEDGE 16 even before little miss muffet sat on her tuffet, human civilisation had a morbid fascination with all types of venomous creatures. But do we really have to be afraid of them? and how should we manage them in the workplace?

sAFE sNACKING 18 it is critical that employers take all due precautions to eliminate the spread of illness or contamination through unsafe handling of foodstuffs. sheq manaGement reports.

AUDITOR COMPETENCY: A KEY TO FOOD sAFETY 20 Best practice and innovation are driving food safety across global supply chains, writes Cor Groenveld, chairman of the foundation for food safety Certification, and global head of food supply Chain services for lloyd’s Register quality assurance (lRqa).

sINGING THE sHEQ sONG 22 one of the most memorable cinematic intros, ever, is probably that of the sound of music, where maria (a mischievous nun turned governess, played by Dame Julie andrews), sings her way through a picturesque meadow … We discover, the hills are alive with the sound of sheq – the transport hills that is.

WHAT’s MINE Is MINE 24 more than 850 exhibitors showed off their innovations, products, services and technologies, across 38 000 m² of exhibition space at the electra mining africa 2014 exhibition. it took place at the nasrec expo Centre, Johannesburg, from september 15 to 19.

sOMETHING FOR THE LADIEs 33often, women are less fortunate than men when it comes to finding personal protective equipment (PPe) that fits properly. sheq manaGement takes a look at how some suppliers are catering specifically for the fairer sex.

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: [email protected]

AssIsTANT EDITORGavin myers


sUB-EDITORJeanette lamont


JOURNALIsTsJaco de Klerk


Claire RenckenCell: 082 559 8417

email: [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORsalbert mushai


Jannie Koegelenbergemail: [email protected]

PUBLIsHERtina monteiro


ADVERTIsING sALEsBarend van Wyk082 885 9042

[email protected]

CIRCULATION MANAGERBev Rogers


DEsIGN AND LAYOUTnelio da silva


© 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.


m e d i a g l o b a lC H A R M O N T

regulars

editor’s letter 2sheq sound off 4letters 6news 7legally speaking 10Raising the Bar 13Brainwave 21for safety sake 35subscription form 36

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Charleen Clarke

been mooted as a possible bioterrorism

weapon! of course, this is a truly daft

notion – it’s tricky and highly dangerous

to handle the virus … so the terrorists

would probably end up dead (which, of

course, is not entirely a bad thing).

Bearing this in mind, and also noting

that it could impact on business in south

africa, i decided to do a little bit of

research, and hopefully separate the

facts from the fallacies. so here goes …

let’s start at the very beginning.

While much has been said and written

about the disease of late, it’s not actually

new – ebola first came to the fore in

1976 in africa. according to the Centres

for Disease Control and Prevention, the

virus was named after the ebola River,

which is where it was first spotted.

technically, there are actually

five different ebola viruses – Zaire,

Bundibugyo, sudan, taï forest and

Reston. the latter affects animals only;

the other four can be contracted by

humans and animals.

all five are very nasty viruses, in that

they kill 90 percent of the people they

infect; the most notable symptoms being

a dangerously high fever and extensive

internal bleeding.

now the million-dollar question: how

do you catch it? according to the medical

experts, ebola can only be transmitted by

direct contact with the blood, secretions,

faeces or body fluids of someone who

is infected.

the virus is not transmitted through

the air. Because the virus is carried by

animals, it’s possible to catch it when,

for instance, killing and butchering an

infected animal.

Workers in laboratories can

also become infected (much like the

aforementioned terrorists) by coming

into direct contact with the virus. once

the virus has been transmitted, it takes

two to 21 days for the symptoms to

manifest themselves.

so, how do you know that someone

has ebola? Well, many of the symptoms

are not unique to this virus – they include

high fevers, headaches, sore muscles,

stomach pain, diarrhoea, a sore throat,

red and itchy eyes and even hiccups.

once the person gets really ill, vomiting,

rashes and severe bleeding (both internal

and external) follow. this is followed by

terrible chest pains, acute shock and,

sadly, death.

until recently, it was believed that

let’s put things into context: hiv/aids, cigarettes and even road fatalities currently kill far more people than ebola – even though over 10 000 people have now contracted this virus. But, if ebola does come to south africa (as i pen this column, we’re currently e-free), it could have a crippling impact on our country and its economy …

alert! EBOLA

We’ve all been reading

masses of stuff about

ebola. horror stories

pertaining to its

contraction and impact abound. it’s even

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there was no guaranteed treatment or cure for the disease.

the World health organization has noted that “there is no

specific treatment or vaccine” for ebola. this situation is

changing fast, however, as medical professionals gain a better

understanding of the virus. Recently, for instance, a second

Dallas nurse infected with ebola was cured and appeared at a

typically triumphant news conference to mark her release from

emory university hospital in atlanta.

“i’m so grateful to be well. first and foremost, i want to

thank God,” said amber Joy vinson, 29, who was infected with

the virus at a Dallas hospital while caring for thomas eric

Duncan, the liberian man who died of ebola in october.

“While this is a day for celebration and gratitude, i ask that

we not lose focus on the thousands of families that continue

to labour under the burden of this disease in West africa,” she

added.

of course, prevention is much better than cure. so what can

be done to prevent the spread of the disease in the first place?

it’s vitally important to avoid any contact with the blood or

secretions of an infected patient. then, if that patient dies, it’s

vital to avoid direct contact with the corpse. this is obviously

tricky for medical personnel; we have all seen how they are

suiting up in personal protective equipment (PPe) to avoid any

possible interaction with bodily fluids.

the ideal solution would clearly be vaccination. the

good news is that novavax, an american clinical-stage

biopharmaceutical company that specialises in this field, is

already a long way down the road in this regard.

“We are developing our recombinant ebola GP vaccine using

the same platform we used to develop vaccine candidates

against several pathogens including respiratory syncytial virus

(Rsv), seasonal and pandemic influenza, and middle eastern

Respiratory syndrome (meRs),” stanley erck, president and Ceo

of the company, tells sheq manaGement.

“our proprietary platform allows us to quickly develop, and

manufacture an ebola vaccine candidate at large scale, which

we believe can provide a necessary tool to fight this global

health crisis,” he adds.

novavax has already tested the vaccination on animals

and a Phase one clinical trial to evaluate the safety and

immunogenicity of the vaccine in humans is planned for

December 2014. a total of 150 people will participate in this

trial. if everything goes according to plan, manufacturing of this

vaccine is planned for the first quarter of 2015.

We can only hope and pray that this vaccination is available

before ebola arrives in south africa, because, unfortunately,

the arrival of this virus is much like the death of nelson

mandela. it’s something we will dread, but we know it’s

inevitable. | SHEQImproving performancereducing risk

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Jaco de Klerk

While smoking does not

present the same work-

related problems as alcohol

or (other) drug abuse –

as explained in the piece myers wrote

– it does present various dilemmas (not to

mention the health risks it holds …).

“smoking in the workplace remains a

topic of heated debates between smokers

and non-smokers,” explains Jan du toit,

senior consultant at the south african

labour Guide, in his piece: how many

smoke breaks? yours truly fully agrees,

having been on both sides of the fence …

(i kicked the habit in april this year, after

nearly ten years of enslavement.)

Du toit continues: “this is not because

employers allow employees to smoke in

non-designated areas, but rather as a

result of the amount of time employees

are allowed spend smoking during working

time.”

he adds that legislation is silent on

how many smoke breaks an employee may

take while on the clock. “as such, it is

recommended that employers introduce

workplace policies regulating when and

where employees are allowed to smoke.”

Du toit warns that, if this isn’t controlled, it

may result in the employer paying for time

that employees aren’t working.

“employers are, therefore, advised

to consider the impact that unregulated

and paid smoke breaks may have on

the operations of the company,” Du toit

points out – driving his point home with

an example. “if smokers who, for instance,

consume a packet of cigarettes per day are

allowed to smoke whenever they want to,

it may well result in one smoke break every

hour of the working day.”

he notes that smoke breaks last around

ten minutes, on average, excluding the

time that it takes an employee to get to the

smoking area and back. “During a typical

nine-hour working day, such an employee

will take only three unpaid smoke breaks

during lunch and tea times. this means that

there may well be six, ten-minute breaks

during the rest of the day paid for by the

employer.”

adding fuel to the anti-smoking fire,

Du toit point out that, over a 12-month

period, an employee, who works five

days per week, will get paid to smoke

for 28 working days. “even if one halves

this, it still equates to 14 working days,

per smoker per year that the employer

subsidises. even if one halves this …” he

asks if discrimination could be argued by

non-smokers under such circumstances.

i see his point … but in smokers’

defence, many willingly offer up their

lunch break to compensate for the time

spent puffing. using my old habit as an

example, i smoked a packet a day, which

resulted in an outing every hour … But the

whole exercise (from when i left my desk

to my return) took about five minutes.

During my-nine hour working day i spent

45 minutes polluting my body – leaving

a 15 minute leeway of the lunch break i

didn’t take.

some smokers even go “electric” to save

on time as, owing to a lack of regulations,

electronic cigarettes “can” be used at your

desk. “Government recently announced,

however, that it is considering legislation

with regard to the use of e-cigarettes in

public areas, especially since the long-term

health implications of the inhalation of

nicotine vapour (which the devices use

instead of conventional tobacco) has not

yet been established,” says Du toit.

there are mixed feelings about these

“electronic” devices. some say that they

are healthier than normal cigarettes and

others are wary of the unknown effects.

Personally, i’m in favour of the battery-

operated versions – but to be used only to

kick the habit, as they wean you off the

thousands of chemicals found in cigarettes,

while keeping the ritual intact. (it makes

things a lot easier to fight the cravings and

habit separately.)

at the end of the day, the massive

amount of evidence out there is clear …

nicotine addiction will probably kill you –

regardless of whether you get your fix on

or off the clock. | SHEQ

in the previous edition, assistant editor Gavin myers wrote about substance abuse; how to screen for it and what to do if you find an offender. this got me thinking … what about the substance that employees shamelessly abuse?

put that in your pipe and

sMOKE IT?

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www.fema.co.za

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MAILsheQ

nearly ten times more people are killed on

our roads each year than from all country-

wide industrial fatalities combined. Chances

are, if you’re going to lose someone over

the holiday season, it will be on the roads.

in spite of substantial funding, the

Department of transport’s Road traffic

management Corporation is unable to

provide road accident statistics. We are

effectively flying blind; we cannot improve

something that we are not measuring. the

cost of road accidents runs into billions

– we could easily build and maintain our

road infrastructure if we could halve our

accidents.

there are three things that kill people

on the roads: fatigue, speed and drinking.

if drivers are tired and take their eyes

off the road (fatigue), the likelihood of

accidents increases dramatically. encourage

the habit of taking a break and getting

my Cool tool toolbox talks and cover the

road safety topics of seat belts, attitude,

road signs, pedestrians and vehicles. i am

offering this series of six CDs at a special

discounted price of R2 750.

Get your she representative to hand out

a leaflet listing advanced driving tips. look

at activities you can sponsor at schools in

your neighbourhood; for example, driving

lessons or driving simulators for schools.

Jürgen Tietz

Thought leader and professional

speaker

YEAR-END sAFETY TIPsenough sleep before a road trip. speed

reduces the opportunity to react to any

unforeseen event and stay in control!

Drinking and/or drugs have a disastrous

effect on a driver’s reaction time and the

ability to stay awake and alert.

let’s influence our employees to

become active safe road users. Draw up

your plan for the year-end now! involve

your safety, health and environment (she)

representatives. some ideas:

hand out a road safety cookie to

engage all your employees in road safety

and to remind them to take a safety attitude.

these have been specifically branded with

road safety signs and the cookie inserts are

road safety messages. one idea is to put

the name(s) of employees killed during the

year in road accidents on the cookie inserts

(for example: in memory of …).

Road safety toolbox talks are part of

www.psaafrica.co.za

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NEWssheQ

VANGUARD PROVIDEs A LIFT FOR WIND ENERGY PROJECT

a specialist in turnkey heavy lift,

transport and plant relocation,

vanguard is providing the craning

solution for 20 wind turbine

generators (WtGs) at the new

Grassridge wind energy facility near

Port elizabeth in the eastern Cape.

vanguard will lift and position

the WtGs at an average rate of

two per week on the R1,2 billion

facility, which can generate up to

60 megawatts (mW) of renewable

energy – enough for about 40 000

homes.

once the base of the turbine

tower is secured on its foundation

at the wind farm site, vanguard’s

GtK1100 crane and support crane

are then positioned to “top and tail”

the two top tower sections of each

turbine, according to project manager

Joost heystek.

“We then lift and position the

remaining components of the turbine,”

explains heystek. “these include the

nacelle (the housing which covers

all the generating components), the

generator and drivetrain, hub and the

three 55-m turbine blades.”

the drivetrain alone weighs about

60 t, with the combined weight

of the nacelle and its contents

exceeding 130 t. the considerable

size and weight of the nacelle

makes it necessary to transport

its components separately and to

assemble them on site, requiring

well-coordinated operation among

the service providers.

Chosen for the strength of

its winds, the site poses its own

challenges for the lifting team. “We

carefully monitor the wind speeds and

wind gusts,” heystek says. “Different

components are more aerodynamic

than others, so they have differing

maximum wind speeds in which they

can be safely lifted and positioned.

on occasion we simply have to wait

for calmer conditions before we can

continue.”

vanguard teamed up with the

azari Group, which is the mechanical

and electrical installation service

provider of the WtGs.

FILTER OUT ENERGY

CONsUMPTION

atlas Copco compressor

installations can now benefit

from improved filtration, with the

launch of a range of class-leading,

energy-efficient filters.

according to the company,

as soon as a filter is fitted, the

clogging process begins and

the pressure drops gradually.

this clogging process increases

at a rate dependent on

environmental and working

conditions. each

drop in pressure

of 0,5 bar draws

as much as three

percent more

energy, which

leads to an increase

in power consumption

and operational costs.

the atlas Copco

filter range is specially

designed to reduce

the pressure drop to

minimal proportions,

thereby dramatically

reducing power

consumption and

maintenance costs,

with a consequent

boost to overall

efficiency.

www.srg.co.za

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BATTLEFIELD: CORPORATE CRIMEGOOD TRAINING YIELDs REsULTs

For sustainable energy.

210 x 148_02_repro.indd 1 2014/11/03 02:50:57 PM

santhos manilall forensics, run by advocate santhos manilall,

says more and more fraud is being uncovered as companies,

employees and even the public sector become more aware of

commercial crime.

“Companies are working hard to become more compliant and

to put better corporate governance in place. at the same time,

employees are becoming more intolerant of dishonesty in the

workplace and are using whistle blowing lines to anonymously

report it,” manilall says.

he points out that the most disturbing current trend is

increased procurement fraud, which extends from collusion

between officials and suppliers to cover quoting.

“more complex syndicated crimes are being discovered.

We are seeing more racketeering cases being reported and

prosecuted. these are the types of cases where there is

organised crime and where you require specialist forensic

investigators to put everything together,” he explains.

he notes that many criminals within the corporate sector

often walk free, due to bungled investigations – and, therefore,

advises companies to bring in experts from the outset.

“managers can’t just go off on a tangent and seize computers.

once you start interfering and change things on that computer,

the evidence become inadmissible,” he warns.

Contract mining firm Redpath mining africa is celebrating

27 months of fatality-free work, following a fatality

prevention programme established in 2012.

Redpath mining africa sheqt general manager, Johan

Jansen van vuuren, says that during the 2013 calendar

year, the company achieved three months of accident-free

and eight months of lost-time-free work across africa.

While these are some of the best safety results the

company has achieved, Jansen van vuuren admits that

mobile equipment remains a key issue in the cause of

serious injury and fatality. “as a result, we are currently in

the process of rolling out a mobile equipment initiative and

awareness campaign to maintain safety in this regard.”

Jansen van vuuren says sheqt leadership is extremely

important, and leaders in this field should always be

present to train, coach and audit the various work teams.

“supervisors and management have clearly defined

responsibilities within the organisation. their leadership

within these areas is important, as it plays a key role in

defining the company’s culture. sheqt leadership will

continue to be a focal point for Redpath africa,” he notes.

www.africaenergyindaba.com

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BAGs OF GOODNEss!now here’s a really nice feel-good story

that has reached the eyes and ears of sheq

manaGement. the fifth annual Diamond

Route Conference recently took place at the De

Beers Corporate headquarters in Johannesburg.

the Diamond Route required bags for storing

conference notes, however, they decided to do

more than just acquire bags; they also wanted

to upskill and uplift disadvantaged south

africans … while cleaning up our environment

at the same time!

enter eclipse Promotions, which provided

bags made out of PvC billboard. these bags were

specifically sourced because of their associated

benefits – they are locally manufactured (by

a team of previously disadvantaged south

africans) and they are produced from south

african waste.

the talented team of bag producers started

working out of the back of a garden shed with

a couple of sewing machines two years ago.

thanks to the support of companies such as

De Beers, the team has now relocated to a

proper workshop with machinery for all aspects

of billboard bag production. today, the team

comprises six full-time bag producers, and up to

15 people are employed during peak production

periods.

now isn’t that nice? hats off to the Diamond

Route and eclipse Promotions!

LEFT: Pictured are lynn Berowsky (left), senior communications officer corporate affairs, De Beers Consolidated mines, and tarryn Burger from eclipse Promotions.

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is occupational disease in south african mines a problem without a solution?

occupational diseases can be

described as the “achilles

heel” of the south african

mining industry. they

represent perhaps the most pressing

challenge faced by the industry simply

because, although they were first

recognised in the late 19th century, to

this day no long-lasting solution appears

to have been found.

Disease rates among miners remain

high and in some cases there are clear

signs that the problem is worsening.

occupational diseases raise many socio-

economic issues. among these, two

stand out. first, there is the issue of

what can be done to reduce disease

rates among mine workers. then there

is the issue of how occupational disease

sufferers should be compensated.

there are no easy solutions to

these issues. each requires coordinated

interventions at a policy level by relevant

stakeholders; notably government,

the mining industry and worker

representatives.

occupational diseases in south

african mines have a long history.

there is irrefutable evidence that as

early as 1896 silicosis had reached crisis

proportions in south africa! today, even

though estimates vary, it is evident that

the problem is not being overcome; if

anything it is getting worse.

for instance, according to the

south african national institute for

occupational health Pathology Disease

surveillance Report for 2012, pulmonary

tuberculosis (tB) and silicosis rates

remain very high among black gold

miners at 352 and 396 per 1 000

miners respectively.

in 2011, the rates for pulmonary

tB and silicosis stood at 346 and 362

per 1 000 miners, respectively. among

the countries where accurate records

are available, south african occupational

disease rates are the highest in the

world.

the surprising thing about

occupational diseases in south

siCk

sYsTEM

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african mines, is that the local mining

industry and policymakers have

perhaps the longest history and

experience worldwide in dealing with

this problem … occupational diseases

have been recognised as a problem since

the beginning of commercial mining.

one would be forgiven for thinking

that all these years of gaining

experience and scientific insight

into occupational diseases have

yielded cutting-edge solutions to this

problem.

indeed, in the 1930s, south africa

was regarded as a world leader in mine

occupational health and safety research

and risk management. evidence gathered

locally was used in other countries such

as the united Kingdom and australia to

shape occupational health and safety

policies and legislation.

furthermore, south africa also

hosted several high-profile international

conferences on mine health and safety

around the same period. yet, the problem

of occupational diseases in the mines

has continued with no sign of being

eliminated.

the sad reality is that many experts

in this field privately agree that

occupational diseases in south african

mines may never be totally eliminated.

mining activities are governed by several

pieces of legislation, most of which aim

to improve occupational health and

safety.

for instance, the mine health and

safety act 29, of 1996, has extensive

provisions on occupational health and

safety risk management in the mines.

it imposes a wide range of obligations

on mine employers to ensure health

and safety of employees and third

parties.

some of the obligations imposed

by this act include a duty to: provide

employees with adequate health and

safety equipment; establish a health

and safety policy; provide health and

safety training; assess and respond to

risk; and, establish a system of medical

surveillance.

if it is accepted that mining companies

are complying fully with the provisions

of this act, which are clearly intended to

reduce and possibly eliminate inter alia

the problem of occupational diseases,

then one fundamental question

immediately comes to mind: why does

the system appear to be failing? Disease

rates remain unacceptably high, despite

all the efforts to control the problem.

should someone be blamed for this and,

if so, who?

this brings us to the second

fundamental issue posed at the

beginning of this article – how should

occupational diseases sufferers

be compensated? in 2011, we wrote

on the landmark Constitutional

Court judgment in the case of

thembekile mankayi versus anglo Gold

ashanti.

in this judgement it was decided

that a mineworker, who contracts an

occupational disease in the course of

employment, is not barred by section 35

(1) of the Compensation for occupational

injuries and Diseases act (CoiDa) 130

of 1993 from suing the employer

for damages, in addition to claiming

statutory benefits, provided fault can be

established.

at the time the judgment was handed

down, it was hailed in the media and

other sections of south african society »

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by legal risks associated with non-compliance, as well as by formalised management system frameworks and guidelines such as the King II Code on Corporate Governance, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18000.

‘Clarifying Compliance Complexities’

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 Wits University as a lecturer in insurance.

as a major victory for mineworkers. We

argued then that this was misplaced

jubilation. if we assume that mining

companies are doing all they are required

to do, by law, to improve occupational

health and safety, then litigating against

them – which requires proving fault – will

not be easy.

suing employers at common law,

which the manakayi case authorised, has

historically never been an easy process.

in fact, all available evidence suggests

strongly that suing the employer for

damages has been an ineffective option

in many countries, and it is for this

reason that workmen’s compensation

schemes were introduced in the early

1900s. suggesting that suing the

employer is a solution worth celebrating

is, therefore, inconceivable as it takes us

back a hundred years.

the current system of compensating

occupational disease sufferers in the

mining industry, where they are required

to sue their employers, hardly improves

their position. against the background of

high disease rates, which show no signs

of improving, the last thing one would

want to see is a compensation system

that further complicates the position of

occupational disease sufferers.

suing employers at common law is

a very slow and expensive process. for

instance, the mankayi litigation started

in the south Gauteng high Court in

2006, and the Constitutional Court only

ruled on the existence of mankayi’s right

to sue the employer in 2011; some five

years later.

herein we find another

misconception, which was clearly

evident soon after the judgment was

handed down. many people, including

some leading media reports, were

under the mistaken impression that the

Constitutional Court awarded mankayi

damages. it did not. the Constitutional

Court merely ruled that mankayi had a

right to sue the employer. this means

that, on the question of whether he

was entitled to any damages at all,

the matter was supposed to go back

to the high Court for this issue to be

determined.

unfortunately, mankayi died before

this process (which could have taken

another several years) could begin. had

this process continued, there was no

guarantee that damages would have

been awarded to him. likewise, it is also

uncertain what their quantum would

have been. this serves as a classic

illustration of how slow litigation can be

to yield compensation – it can take years

before issues are finalised and, in the

interim, victims will be suffering with no

compensation at all.

suing the employer is also an

expensive process – more so in

occupational disease cases where issues

involved can be extremely complex. to

resolve them, scientific evidence and

expert witnesses are usually required.

if there is one area where litigation is

not desirable as a compensation option,

it is occupational disease claims. large

portions of potential compensation end

up being transferred to third parties, such

as lawyers and expert witnesses, leaving

disease sufferers with very little.

the current policy and system for

dealing with occupational diseases in

south african mines seems to be failing,

both in terms of trying to reduce the

scale of the problem, as well as assisting

those who are affected by diseases at

work.

What is needed is a system that

responds quickly and fairly to the needs

of occupational disease sufferers,

and not one that leaves them at the

mercy of lawyers and the slow judicial

machinery. | SHEQ

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People talk, but do they really listen? in your quest to be a good mentor, good communications skills are a must

in order to become a great coach

and mentor we need to hone our

communication skills and, therefore,

must explore the possible barriers

to effective communication. there

are two basic barriers preventing good

communication: “perception” and “noise”.

People’s perceptions differ due to a

number of factors: past experiences,

personal preferences, interest, individual

needs, education, environment and

first language. as a result, two people

communicating will do so from their own

unique, individual perspectives.

this form of communication breakdown

occurs when the sender assumes that the

perception of the receiver is identical to

their own. misunderstanding and confusion

result. it is, therefore, of the utmost

importance for the sender to acknowledge

that everyone has a different perspective

and to put themself in the shoes of the

receiver before initiating communication.

another barrier to avoid is that of

“noise”. noise can be either physical or

psychological (inside the mind) in nature.

examples of noise are interruptions,

loud equipment, a stuffy atmosphere

and other distractions such as writing,

speaking, misspelling, typographical errors,

ambiguous sentences, bad pronunciation

and even a sloppy appearance. these are

all classified noise barriers.

Bear the following in mind when

coaching or mentoring someone and avoid

being guilty of these nonverbal codes:

space or proximity: Do not invade the

person’s space bubble.

Facial expression: this reveals so

much of what the sender is feeling. there

are six recognisable expressions that

appear to cross all cultures: happiness, fear,

anger, sadness, disgust and surprise.

Gaze: looking into someone’s

eyes means you are engaging them in

conversation, while avoiding eye contact

indicates an unwillingness to talk.

maintaining eye contact shows you are

listening and giving the sender your full

attention.

Physical appearance: your clothes and

the way you wear them communicates your

personality, culture, status and occupation.

Movement: moving your head or

limbs can indicate your willingness to

communicate or ignore the other person.

Voice: not the actual words you use,

but the way in which the words are spoken

(tone of voice) can convey frustration,

depression, tiredness, sarcasm and

sincerity. Pay special attention to the way

you use your voice.

Listening: this is the most important

part of any communication. it is important

to remember that communication is a two-

way process and the main reason for poor

communication, or no communication at

all, is the listener not listening. one needs

to consciously pay attention to the person

speaking.

What prevents us from being a good

listener?

• multi tasking; we try packing too much

into our days and thus have little time to

pay attention and listen to anyone.

• information overload; being exposed to so

much detail, knowledge and information

makes it difficult to absorb anything else.

We, therefore, switch off when hearing

someone speak as our mind tries to rest,

resulting in us not listening.

• tuning out; when we don’t like what we

are hearing, we tend to stop listening or

change the subject.

• tiredness; listening requires energy.

sometimes we are just so tired that we

merely stop listening.

• mental distractions; if we don’t work on

giving someone our full attention our

minds wander.

Questioning: this is as important

as listening. asking questions builds

understanding, promotes a higher level

of thinking, encourages others to speak,

collects information, finds possible solutions

and builds trust.

ask open-ended questions that will

provide additional information to allow for

greater understanding of the situation and,

thus, continue the conversation.

in the next article we will explore

mentoring. | SHEQ

mastering the skill of

LIsTENING

Jannie Koegelenberg is passionate about promoting positive customer experiences. He runs the EDGE Training Consultancy, a leading provider of world class training and development programmes that meaningfully change and impact on people’s lives. He has a 38-year track record in the motor industry, having worked at Mercedes-Benz distributor United Cars and Diesel Distributors, Ford Motor Company SA and Toyota SA Marketing.

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Carel labuschagne, Ceo of iRCa Global, is helping to drive south africa’s safety, health, environment and quality (sheq) industry to the top

Working in the local and global sheq industry for

nearly 30 years affords a person the experience

to make some objective observations. one such

observation labuschagne has made is that the

“sheq issue” is becoming a lot more topical and has escalated

to the boardroom – as a result of numerous activism factors such

as corporate governance requirements, changing legislation and

the fact that financial and reputational impacts on organisations

could be devastating.

“look at how the shares in BP plunged when its oil rig in the

Gulf of mexico blew,” labuschagne says. “over £13 billon (R233

billion) was knocked off the company’s stock market value.

“so we are seeing a lot more pressure being exerted from

the boardroom to ensure that organisations more scientifically

identify all pure and speculative risks, and that appropriate

measures of control are put into place. one of the most

important observations is that organisations do not understand

how to implement a fully integrated approach,” he explains.

“there are companies with good intentions that are trying

very hard, but do not have a fully integrated strategy to deal with

all the complexities, and the management teams responsible

for the implementation and maintenance of these strategies

often do not have exposure as to the latest international

developments. this, in my view, is a big obstacle, because they

are the drivers of the process.”

this is why labuschagne has ensured that iRCa has kept up

with the changing international landscape; operating in more

than 23 countries has been one of the main reasons why it’s

able to stay at the forefront of technology.

labuschagne says that iRCa was one of the first companies

of experienCe and

OBsERVATION

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to establish a fully fledged behavioural-based care methodology

in south africa that dates back to 1997. “this process has

been revolutionised over the last 17 years and has been

implemented by numerous organisations globally with huge

success,” labuschagne says.

iRCa has also led the field in risk assessment: “We recruited

some of the world’s leading risk assessment specialists as

this is a resource that was very scarce in the south african

environment at the time. they were at the forefront in bringing

in technical expertise from the united Kingdom to develop the

first real risk assessment programmes,” says labuschagne.

iRCa has constructed its business around a model

(labuschagne’s “baby”) that has influenced the way

organisations can achieve world class sustainability. “We

believe this is the first time in south africa that a business

enterprise has been used to incorporate standards into the

business processes, bringing the aspects of risk assessment,

consulting, training, behavioural-based care, business

continuity, management, auditing and software solutions

(each of which has it’s own division within iRCa) into

context.”

labuschagne takes a step back to explain the vision behind

iRCa: “Right from day one, we wanted to be the preferred

provider of integrated operational risk management solutions.

sheq is our focus, but it has subsequently expanded drastically

into enhancing every aspect of the business via our unique

integrated electronic Business management system.”

following an 11-year career as the risk manager within the

Barlow Group of companies, and then moving on to become the

group general manager for risk for the entire transnet group

(which he proudly explains was one of the most senior positions

in the field at the time), labuschagne started iRCa with only his

secretary and one other employee on July 1, 1993.

in 21 years the company has experienced enormous growth.

it now has 160 full-time employees in offices around south

africa, and has international franchises in oman, saudi arabia

and Dubai that employ around 80 people. While sub-saharan

africa is also a big focus point for the company, the Zambian

office is among its stars in africa.

“at the time we entered this market space there was one

non-profit organisation and we saw the opportunity to enter as

an additional service provider, with a wider scope to give a more

holistic solution and incorporate international best practices,”

he explains.

in the early years, labuschagne spent a lot of time overseas

with the international loss Control institute and was able to

deliver papers on the subject in many countries, working closely

with safety gurus such as Professor frank Bird, Professor George

Germain and David Bird Junior. With them, he recently co-authored

and released the third edition of a Guide to managing Risk. “this

book is prescribed by a number of universities as apart of their

BCom management Degrees,” he explains.

“i had the privilege of getting a good feel for what was

happening around the world because of my exposure to so many

countries. today, with our substantial international footprint,

we view ourselves as a learning organisation, interfacing with

relevant associations, and have partnered with universities and

other niche service providers.”

it’s this knowledge and experience labuschagne aims for

iRCa to share. “many companies are working for the system,

instead of the system working for them. so executives must

take the time to keep abreast of the latest standards. the day

that companies make the comment that they have implemented

a standardised system, is becoming irrelevant, as everything

they do should be risk based and should address the risks

associated with their business. the international standards

organisation (iso) provides a framework to this effect.

“there is no rocket science … you just need to understand the

complexities of risk and the devastating effects it can have on a

business.” this is perhaps a simple observation, but also one of

the most powerful. | SHEQ

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your hands when you’re just walking in

the bush … a bite on the hand means you

were trying to handle the animal,” leeming

explains. “all we want employees to do

when they find a venomous animal is to

not try to kill it, but to call someone to

remove it. those basic steps will promote

health and safety with regard to venomous

animals.”

“HAs ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE DIED FROM A sPIDER BITE?”“the fact is that we have zero direct

spider-bite related deaths in our country,”

leeming notes, despite us all having highly

dangerous brown button spiders nesting

around our homes. “look for spiky egg sacks

under places such as windowsills. they

are cosmopolitan creatures; they’ve spread

throughout the world due to the moving

of goods, but there are a lot of stories,

rumours and misdiagnoses regarding spider

bites.”

the fact is, for spiders, snakes, scorpions,

bees and wasps, venom is a very important

form of defence. they won’t just take the

first opportunity to waste it, but rather

send a warning signal or try to retreat

before biting or stinging.

“to get bitten by a snake you have to

do something to get that reaction from

it. snakes are not aggressive – they are

defensive,” says leeming. “look at the

Cape Cobra, it rears up and spreads its hood

as a warning not to go any nearer, instead

of hiding in the shadows until you walk

past so it can bite your ankles … if you back

even before little miss muffet sat on her tuffet, human civilisation had a morbid fascination with all types of venomous creatures, notes Jonathan leeming, Ceo of venom Works. But do we really have to be afraid of them? and how should we manage them in the workplace?

“What’s worse than

lying in bed watching

a rain spider crawling

on the ceiling? you

can feel it plotting and scheming on how

it’s going to get you …” leeming begins,

with the audience squirming in their seats.

“often it’s a paranoia thing – it’s in our

imagination. the general perception is that

venomous creatures will bite us, sting us or

do some sort of harm to us …”

it was clear that many people in the

audience attending leeming’s talk at

noshcon 2014 were there for the morbid

fascination aspect (yes, we definitely

include ourselves), but there was an

altogether more serious side to the talk.

human industrialisation being what it is,

when we alter the natural environment,

we are bound to come into contact with

wildlife.

“this is especially important in the

workplace, for instance on the mines, but

that’s no reason to get upset and fear these

animals – understanding goes a long way,”

leeming notes. “We often find, however,

that organisations don’t want training on

venomous animals until the day they have

a snake in the workshop. that’s not a

proactive way to go about it,” he says.

it’s not as big a deal as one would

imagine, either. leeming points out that, as

with any health and safety risk, managing

venomous animals the right way reduces

all the associated risks. “With the right

mindset, the correct training and the correct

personal protective equipment, you can do

just about anything.”

this is what venom Works aims to

do, often interactively, by making use of

live animals. “We try to touch something

inside people, instead of telling them

what to do. We look at the people side,

the environmental side and the safety

side; they all fit together. if you educate

people, they will protect and respect the

environment – and they will look at animals

in a very different way.

“Why must you kill a snake in the

workplace? most people get bitten by a

snake when trying to kill it – usually on their

hands. there’s no way you’d get bitten on

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Marsh Risk Consulting's (MRC) delivers a range of value-added property risk engineering and loss control identification, assessment and mitigation consulting solutions. Our services, uniquely aligned with each client's organization and objectives, qualify and quantify operational, hazard and business risks associated with real assets and their performance; spanning the lifecycle of a property and its operation, from planning, design, construction, maintenance and renovation to disposal.

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• Process Safety Management Consulting/Audits • Compliance Risk Assessment

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Mobile: +27 83 456 7424 | 0

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SHEQ Magazine A5_Nov2014

04 November 2014 11:35:28 AM

reaction to the venom, called anaphylaxis.

again, learning more about them makes

them more manageable,” leeming advises.

“A LITTLE BIT ON INFORMATION GOEs A LONG WAY …” “… the problem is how to spread it to

the whole organisation,” leeming notes,

delving into the venom Works approach.

this consists of a training and skills-

development plan; from employee

induction, general awareness lectures

with live creatures, first aid, removal and

relocation and dealing with anti-venom.

(leeming says that there is a lot of

misinformation about anti-venom, as well

as a lot to learn about the management of

it, but organisations mustn’t be afraid to

stock and use it.)

skills development is aimed at the

different levels of an organisation with

increasing roles and responsibilities.

“touching the baseline workforce is best

done with live animals, not by giving them

big manuals. Working with animals is all

about being confident and doing so in a

calm manner. Just letting someone hold the

creature is a powerful way to change their

mind about it.”

leeming also notes that spending a bit

of the training budget on the employees,

who have not been trained in first aid,

and teaching them the basic policies and

procedures of how not to get bitten or

stung, means that fewer first aiders will

be required.

Correct risk assessment is also a must.

this includes baseline risk assessment,

policies and procedures, site location and

the location of the preferred medical facility;

“simple things”, according to leeming. “it is

also important for your organisation to

have organisational policies and procedures

aligned to venomous animals.”

it’s clear that managing the risks

associated with these creatures is no more

daunting than the perceptions most of us

have of them. “We’re told that if they bite us

we could die, that all snakes are venomous

or evil, that nature is out to get us – the

reason we’re afraid of these animals is

not based on fact,” leeming reiterates.

not that it helps with much of the

squirming … | SHEQ

away, it will back down and move on.”

We all know that scorpions with

large pincers and thin tails are the least

venomous, but those with big tails and

small pincers are highly venomous. in south

africa, two species are known to cause

deaths. “if you’re stung by the world’s least

venomous scorpion, you’ll itch for about

two minutes and that’s it. Get stung by

one of the dangerous ones and it’s a ride

in a speeding ambulance to the hospital,

and hope they have anti-venom … the only

treatment for highly venomous scorpions.”

leeming notes that knowing the

behaviour of these creatures is a good

thing. scorpions, for example, come out

after the first rains – which makes that the

best time to launch awareness campaigns.

the insect we should all be especially

weary of, however, is the paper wasp –

probably the most venomous creature

people most often come into contact with,

as they like to make their nests around

human habitation. “more people die of

wasp and bee stings than snake bites,

spider bites and scorpion stings combined

… the big risk if you’re stung is an allergic

www.marsh-africa.com

it is critical that employers take all due precautions to eliminate the spread of illness or contamination through unsafe handling of foodstuffs. sheq manaGement reports

safe

sNACKING

the Centres for Disease

Control and Prevention

(CDC) and food and Drug

administration (fDa)

in the united states cite five highly

infective pathogens, which can easily

be transmitted by food workers and

cause severe illness. these five food-

borne pathogens, also known as the “big

five”, include norovirus, the hepatitis a

virus, salmonella typhi, shigella spp. and

escherichia coli (e.coli) o157:h7 or other

entero-hemorrhagic or shiga toxin-

producing e.coli.

other less-infectious pathogens,

which can also be transmitted by

food employees to consumers

through contaminated food, include

staphylococcus aureus, salmonella spp.,

and streptococcus pyogenes.

thorough hand washing is

necessary, but alone it might not always

successfully remove pathogens from

heavily contaminated hands, and infected

employees may not always be identified

and removed from food preparation

activities. the responsibility for providing

appropriate protective equipment

therefore rests with the employer.

Personal protective equipment (PPe)

in the food and beverage environment

includes rubber aprons, rubber (or

other protective) gloves, rubber boots,

body covering, head covering, and

face covering; such as masks or visors.

Clothing specifically manufactured for

use in freezer rooms is also available and

provides protection from frost burn.

one of the focuses of osh expo

africa 2015, to be held between may 12

and 14, will be on safe food handling.

it will highlight protective and other

equipment used in the food and beverage

industry to enhance health and safety of

both workers and consumers.

among the products on show will be

three types of gloves from honeywell

safety Products, namely; Dexpure gloves,

tuffshield Deep Blue gloves and Chainex

gloves. Dexpure gloves are ideal for use

in the agri-food industry for the final

phase of the processing of fish, meat

and poultry, dairy products, cheese and

biscuits. tuffshield Deep Blue gloves

provide protection against extreme cut

risks, encountered in slaughtering, food

preparation and the fish preparation

industry. Chainex gloves are used when

working with knives or cutting and/or

punching tools.

Dromex will also be exhibiting its

gloves for cold room use. DuPont will be

exhibiting its garments made of tyvek

and tychem, which are designed to

help prevent contamination from dust

particles, bacteria, spores and parasites

carried on regular clothing, or the human

body, during the processing of food.

employees working in the food and

beverage industry are notoriously prone

to slip-hazards on wet or contaminated

floor surfaces. Coba Plastics will be

showcasing a wide range of safety

matting solutions developed for the

food and beverage sector.

there are also companies, such as

aspirata, that have experts in the field

who can help their clients to adhere

to industry-specific legal obligations to

ensure safe, quality food and immaculate

hygiene. With a network of offices

throughout south africa, aspirata’s

team of hygiene, food-safety and quality

specialists and practitioners can assist

the industry in complying with its legal

obligations.

aspirata offers the following services:

• food hygiene, food safety and quality

systems audits;

• legal compliance audits;

• hazard analysis and critical

control point (haCCP) prerequisite

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programmes: auditing;

• abattoir and dairy audits;

• Client-specific second- and third-party

audits;

• hazard and risk assessment;

• food, water and swab sampling;

• food poisoning: epidemiological

investigations;

• food adulteration and sabotage

investigations;

• Due diligence evaluations/investigations;

• food safety and quality: forensic

investigations;

• Customer/consumer complaint

investigations; and

• Broiler chickens: humane rearing

practices and food safety audits.

furthermore, aspirata provides industry-

specific training and development

programmes.

south africa is a major exporter of

food-related products, which account

for about eight percent of all exports,

highlighting the need for increased food

safety awareness and certification among

local suppliers and producers. if our

country is to continue its successful food

exports to markets in the united states

and the united Kingdom, which are

considered to be the leaders in food

safety standards, it is imperative that

the industry adopts high levels of food

safety standards. | SHEQ

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While robust independent assessment

underpins an organisation’s commitment

to food safety, there is also a need for

the auditors to have a consistent level of

experience and expertise. this is known

as “calibration”. fundamental to ensuring

the integrity of the assessment process,

calibration assures auditors that their

assessment reports have been completed

consistently and their operations conform

to the relevant standard or scheme –

irrespective of geographical location.

mark overland, director for Global

Certification at Cargill, agrees: “We are

rolling out fssC 22000 to over 1 000

plants in 67 countries. our customers

expect to have the same level of food

safety execution at every plant.”

increasingly, organisations such as

Cargill are taking a global, integrated

approach to supply chain and food safety.

another development is the increasing

use by organisations of customised

second-party audits. this allows an

organisation to work with a certification

body to develop a bespoke management

system and audit approach, which includes

the certification audits and incorporates

industry best practice with company-

specific systems and processes. in addition

to the system becoming more robust over

time, the audit process begins to drive

internal efficiencies and identify areas for

further training and improvement.

some of the world’s leading

organisations have turned to customised

assurance programmes. audits are

undertaken by skilled and calibrated

assessors, who cover all the requirements

and processes relevant to the organisation,

resulting in reporting that visualises

the level of compliance and enables the

organisation to improve.

Cathy stannard, global head of

quality & food safety management at

mars, incorporated explains: “for mars, a

quality management programme – that is

compatible with the requirements set out

in the Gfsi recognised schemes – offers

us consistency and efficiency, which

helps across the entire supply chain.”

Whatever the approach, the integrity

of the audit ultimately depends on the

expertise, experience, training, knowledge

and insight of the auditing team.

management standards and

assessment are helping to ensure that

issues can be quickly identified and

corrected. manufacturers and retailers,

that previously may have considered

improved efficiencies as the main

indicator for success, are now putting

management systems at the heart of their

organisations.

in these times of ongoing food scares

and economic uncertainty, this could prove

to be a key differentiator and an ongoing

source of competitive advantage. | SHEQ

Best practice and innovation are driving food safety across global supply chains, writes Cor Groenveld, chairman of the foundation for food safety Certification and global head of food supply Chain services for lloyd’s Register quality assurance (lRqa)

auditor CompetenCy: a key to

FOOD sAFETY

the globalisation of supply

chains and the need for

transparency and traceability

have triggered changes in the

way food safety is approached.

While innovation, collaboration and

change are driving food safety across

global supply chains, there is more to be

done. each year:

• About 1,8 million people die from

contaminated food and water;

• There are an estimated two-billion cases

of food-borne illnesses;

• An estimated one in four to six people in

developed countries suffer from a food-

borne disease;

• In the United States, food-borne illnesses

cause 5 000 deaths and cost us$ 162

billion (about R1,8 trillion).

in 2000, leading global manufacturers

and retailers united to form the Global

food safety initiative (Gfsi), primarily to

drive the harmonisation of food safety

standards and certification.

since then, experts have been

collaborating in numerous technical

working groups to tackle food safety

issues defined by Gfsi stakeholders.

together with the international

organisation for standardisation (iso),

the Gfsi has driven the move towards

a set of globally accepted management

standards.

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employers need to ensure that the workplace is a zero harm zone … they are, unfortunately, faced with another reality – incidents do occur. according to occupational health & safety training (ohst), a company that lives up to its name, the employer has a duty of care and needs to ensure that an affected employee is provided with the proper level of treatment

kit and trauma pads would be a great

addition to a standard first-aid kit.

for organisations that handle or use

hazardous chemical substances, an eye-

wash fountain and emergency shower

should be available and operable. first

aiders must also have access to the

relevant material safety Data sheet (a

document that contains information on

the potential health effects of exposure

to chemicals) in order to effectively treat

these types of medical incidents and

prevent them from becoming worse.

CONCLUsION Department of labour inspectors may visit

your site at any time to verify compliance

with regard to this regulation. But

compliance could mean a lot more than

just keeping out of trouble … | SHEQ

occupational harm can

include near misses; minor

injuries; lost-time; disabling

injuries; or, sadly, fatalities.

ohst provides some useful information

on first-aid treatment that is usually

administered for minor injuries:

COMPLIANCE

according to the General safety

Regulations (GsR) 3 (4) of the

occupational health and safety (ohs)

act, 85 of 1993, employers must ensure

that competent first-aid people are

appointed to deal with minor injuries.

these people must be trained by

an institute that is approved by the

Department of labour and must have

a valid certificate or carry card. these

have a validity period of three years,

whereafter the first aider has to be

retrained.

employers also need to ensure that

their first-aid kits, with the necessary

contents, are strategically positioned

within the workplace. the contents of

the first-aid kit must meet the minimum

requirements as per the annexure in

the GsR.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION additional first-aid equipment, over and

above the minimum requirements, may

also be included – depending on the

nature of the incidents that are most

likely to occur in a certain work area.

for example, if there’s the possibility

of large lacerations or amputations in

a certain area – where blades or saws

are frequently used – then a blood-spill

all about aid for minor

INJURIEs

www.ohst.co.za

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one of the most memorable cinematic intros, ever, is probably that of the sound of music, where maria (a mischievous nun turned governess, played by Dame Julie andrews), sings her way through a picturesque meadow … But JaCo De KleRK discovers that the hills are alive with the sound of sheq – the transport hills that is

IT IsN’T THE sIzE THAT COUNTs, BUT

HOW YOU UsE IT

in october, urban transport became more

economical in the french city of Grenoble

– thanks to a partnership between the City

of Grenoble; Grenoble-alpes métropole

(an intercommunal structure of Grenoble

and some of its suburbs); the french

electricity company eDf and its affiliate

sodetrel; Cité lib (Grenoble’s car-sharing

service) and of course toyota.

Dubbed Cité lib by ha:mo (for harmonious

mobility), the innovative three-year trial

project is a new take on a car-sharing

scheme – using 70 evs from toyota (35

three-wheeled i-Road models and 35 four-

wheeled Coms electric vehicles).

the idea is to provide a link between

public transport and the “first or last

kilometre”, so that commuters won’t

feel that they need to take their cars,

which means less pollution and traffic

congestion. using an app, users can

reserve and pay for one of these evs

located at their usual stop.

once commuters reach their

destination, a flash of their smartphone

releases their ride from its charging

station and they’re off. there are around

30 of these stations around Grenoble,

with a total of 120 charging points for

the project and 41 for other plug-in

vehicles to be added.

“the main advantages for our users will

be the ability to pick up and drop off cars at

different locations, and the flexibility of a

very small vehicle for short trips,” explains

martin lesage, director of Cité lib.

sHEQ NOT ONLY FOR LANDLUBBERs

the sheq song isn’t limited to land-bound

folk, however. DCD marine Cape town is

also proving that safety and quality are a

core part of its business. DCD marine Cape

town is part of the DCD marine Cluster,

which provides ship repair solutions to the

marine, oil and gas sectors. it has shipyard

facilities in Walvis Bay, saldanha, ngqura,

east london and Durban.

the company complies with global

sheq regulations and standards and is

fully certified with, among others, the

lloyds international organisation for

standardisation (iso) 9001:2008 quality

management system.

as part of its sheq programme, the

company holds regular “safety days”

during which its project team members,

singing the

sHEQ sONG

the world has probably

changed more during the

past century than it did in

the previous millennium.

technological advancements have flung

humanity towards greater connectivity,

enhanced accessibility to information

and greater ease of movement.

you can talk to anyone, anywhere

in the world, in real time; see

how loved ones are doing across

various social media platforms;

access almost any information via

the World Wide Web; and travel to

virtually anywhere in the world within

hours …

individuals have also gained

more rights and protection

in workplaces. in addition, businesses,

civil society and governments

have realised the importance of

protecting the environment and our

planet.

a stellar example is toyota. the

company does its environmental part

with the development of hybrid and

electric vehicles (evs), but also conquers

metaphorical mountains through the

way it builds these eco-cruisers …

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as well as key sub-contractors and their

employees, take time out to focus on all

safety-related issues and processes.

DCD Cape town states that the

underlying purpose of these safety days

is to reinforce one of its stated company

values: “one team, one goal”. Gerry Klos,

general manager, explains: “When it comes

to providing a world-class turnkey project

management service to our clients, it is

critical that every member of the project

team is aligned. it is only then that we

can achieve our goal, which is an incident-

free, 100 percent on-time delivery on all

planned shipyard projects.”

abdullah elmie, health, safety and

environmental (hse) manager at DCD

marine Cape town, adds: “We have

organised safety days over the past few

years for major projects and they have

proved to be very effective. they provide

an invaluable opportunity for all parties

to discuss safe methods of implementing

mission-critical activities, prior to the

commencement of the project.”

the safety days feature various

activities, including risk assessment

exercises and presentations. these provide

an overview of the project with specific

reference to safety policies, procedures

and standards to be enforced throughout

its duration.

elmie continues: “the project team

leadership is empowered with the

knowledge of exactly how safety

will be managed during the project.

the challenge is to ensure that this

knowledge successfully filters down to

all levels of the team. this is particularly

important for people joining the team at

a later stage, which is why we have hse

induction sessions and ongoing safety

awareness training.”

Project observation systems

(called “start/stop”) and group hazard

identification and risk assessment (hiRa)

sessions also form a key part of safety

days, notes elmie.

“the aim is for each individual working

on the rig, whether he or she is a labourer

or a rig manager, to take ownership

and be proactive. By making use of the

systems we have in place, such as ‘start/

stop’, individual team members can work

together to ensure safe working practices

at all times.”

Klos emphasises: “for our clients,

safety and quality are critical factors in

determining our competency and capacity

to execute a project safely and on time.

our safety days serve to reinforce our

proven international hse track record,

strengthen our client relationships, and

ensure that we continue to provide a

world-class service as one team, with one

goal.”

MUsIC TO ONE’s EARs

it is clear that the entire transport

sector is singing the sheq song as it

is embracing the acronym to the fullest

extent – and is likely to do so well into

the future.

isn’t it just music to your ears … (Cue

picturesque meadow.) | SHEQ

singing the

sHEQ sONG

www.cargocarriers.co.za

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eleCtra

MINING

more than 850 exhibitors showed off their innovations, products, services and technologies, across 38 000 m² of exhibition space at the electra mining africa 2014 exhibition. it took place at the nasrec expo Centre, Johannesburg, from september 15 to 19. ClaiRe RenCKen reports

electra mining africa is driven

by a powerful motivator: to

be the ultimate marketplace

for all stakeholders involved

in the mining, construction, industrial,

machine tool and power-generation

industries. since its inception, more than

40 years ago, the show has grown so

dramatically that it has earned its place

as the second-largest mining show in the

world, and is recognised as a gateway

into africa for local and global investors.

this year, visitors again saw many

leading-edge south african companies in

the packed halls, marquees and outside

precincts. there were also various

high-profile international exhibitors.

according to Gary Corin, mD of specialised

exhibitions montgomery, organiser of the

biennial show: “the support received

from exhibitors and general business for

the 2014 show was outstanding.”

international protective clothing

manufacturer, Charnaud, used the

exhibition as a platform to launch a new

range of four-in-one personal protective

suits, which provide protection in severe

heat applications.

metal-safe personal protective

clothing (PPC) garments are made from

fabrics that ensure the user is sufficiently

protected against life-threatening hazards

such as fire, static, electric-arc flash and

What’s mine

Is MINE

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eleCtra

MINING

severe molten-red metal splash.

Charnaud founder and chairman,

andrew Charnaud, says that electra

mining was the ideal event for the new

product launch. “the african mining

sector’s top decision-makers form part of

the comprehensive guest list at electra

mining, which made it the ideal platform

to launch metal-safe.”

the metal-safe range is available in

one- and two-piece coverall options, and

can be washed in water at residential

or industrial laundries. Charnaud also

exhibited its existing range of tried-and-

tested protective garments.

Charnaud points out that the company

has been exhibiting at electra mining

since 2010. “We cater for a highly

specialised industry, and solve complex

clothing issues that save lives across the

mining, metal pouring, electric, cold, wet

and fire industries,” he adds.

the msa Group celebrated its

100th anniversary at the exhibition. in

recognition of this milestone, visitors to

the company’s stand got to take a trip

through time and see how far the msa

range of products has come during the

last century.

the theme of the 90 m² msa africa

stand was inspired by the layout of an

underground mineshaft. the products

were all depicted on a dedicated timeline

What’s mine

Is MINE

ABOVE: Charnaud launched its new metal-safe range at the show.BELOW: Renttech not only showcased its vast range of machinery and equipment, but also a full range of PPe.

»

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eleCtra

MINING

showcased its extensive range of

products and services at electra mining.

this year was no different. Charles Woods,

managing member of aCDC Green energy

solutions, comments: “electra mining is a

great platform to inject new innovations,

products and services directly into the

arterial line of the southern african

economy. We hit the ground running at

this year’s show, with an exciting line-up

of new products and services that were

extremely well received and generated

good interest.

“as all exhibitors know, at every show,

there are the ‘tyre kickers’, the ‘catalogue

collectors’ and the ‘peppermint pinchers’.

however, in amongst this motley crew,

there are the ‘real deals’. fortunately,

electra mining seems to attract more of

the latter than the former.”

the company’s extensive range

of smart meters, the integra motor

controllers, innovative solar solutions and

its engineered power factor correction

solutions wowed the crowds, according

to Woods.

the next electra mining africa

exhibition will be held at nasrec from

september 12 to 16, 2016. With over

40 000 visitors expected to attend the

show, many exhibitors have already

booked their stands. | SHEQ

running from 1914 to 2014. msa africa

managing director, Colin oliver, says

“electra mining is an ideal event at which

to celebrate this special anniversary.

it is the premier mining conference

in africa, with the most high-profile

decision makers all in attendance. it

enables us to highlight our vast range

of safety products and also to lay the

foundations for meaningful and long-

lasting relationships.”

During the exhibition, knowledgeable

and experienced msa africa product

managers hosted in-depth and

interactive presentations on various

recently launched, as well as tried-and-

trusted msa products. these included the

luminator cap lamp, the altair 4X mining

multigas detector, the v-Gard hardhats

and the advantage 400 half mask.

Renttech south africa also showcased

its rental and sales capabilities at electra

mining. the company rents and sells a

vast range of welding, power-generation,

lifting and rigging, as well as construction-

related equipment and solutions. it also

sells a full range of personal protective

equipment (PPe).

martiens opperman, operations

manager at Renttech south africa, says:

“to be a participant at this show gives

the company a significant advantage, as

customers can see and experience our

products and services.”

Renttech south africa made use of a

specially designed mobile unit to conduct

welding demonstrations at electra

mining. the company shared its stand

with principal partner lincoln electric, and

demonstrated a number of new products

that are available for existing and

upcoming projects throughout africa.

aCDC Green energy solutions (a

division of aCDC Dynamics) has previously

ABOVE LEFT AND RIGHT: the msa stand hosted in-depth and interactive presentations on various products.LEFT: aCDC Green energy solutions hit the ground running at this year’s show, with an exciting line-up of new products and services.

Saiosh – South Africa’s leading Professional Health and Safety BodyWith more than 3 000 members, Saiosh is South Africa’s leading professional health and safety body.

Saiosh makes use of a state-of-the-art online membership programme that offers its members great

benefits, including: easy online application, updating of member profiles, uploading of CPD points,

networking and communication. Saiosh is the appointed registration board for IOSH SA and registers

professional health and safety practitioners on four SAQA-registered designations: Associate Member

(AIOSHSA), Technical Member (TechIOSHSA), Graduate Member (GradIOSHSA) and Chartered Member

Saiosh is the registration board for the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health South Africa (IOSH SA), which is recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as a professional body to register Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) professionals in South Africa. Saiosh is the leading source for information and networking opportunities within the OHS profession with members from a wide range of industries from the

private and public sector. Our non-profit organisation represents individuals and organisations committed to the enhancement of the OHS discipline. Saiosh is the choice for OHS professionals and practitioners in southern Africa, dedicated to the advancement of the OHS profession, through research, promotion, education, upliftment, training, guidance and strong relationships with other OHS stakeholders.

Saiosh Head Office Tel: 010 001 7455 | Email: [email protected]

Saiosh – “Keeping You Informed”

Saiosh

OHS Conference 12-13 May 2015 alongside OSH EXPO Africa 2015For more information visit www.saiosh.co.za

www.saiosh.co.za

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nosCarAWARDs

mathura Brijlall, nPC’s

group safety health and

environment (she) manager,

sums up the company’s

take on occupational health and safety:

“the safety and well-being of workers

are fundamental values, which are deeply

rooted in our company’s culture. it is a norm

to always focus on the active prevention of

occupational risks, not to tolerate unsafe

actions and to ensure that healthy and

safe conditions are upheld, leading to the

well-being of staff at workplaces.”

he continues: “nPC recognises that

it uses significant amounts of natural

resources. these have an impact on

the ambient environment and must be

appropriately managed.” Brijlall adds that

the company focuses on meeting legal

requirements as well as on upholding best

practice.

nPC is definitely living up to these

claims as it has been announced the winner

of the nosa integrated five star system,

D4 sector industry category competition.

this sector focuses on the manufacture of

rubber and plastic products; non-metallic

mineral products; basic metals; fabricated

metal products; machinery and equipment;

electrical, optical and transport equipment;

manufacturing that’s not classified

elsewhere and recycling.

“the noscar awards are a reflection

of the Group’s exceptional leadership;

a well-enforced management system;

and the commitment of employees to

change behaviour, to observe rules and

regulations, to take responsibility for

their actions and, above all, to care about

others,” emphasises Brijlall.

“the company achieved a significant

milestone with the simuma operations

(in Port shepstone) achieving more than

3,5 million man-hours and, in Durban, one

million man-hours, without a disabling

injury,” he tells sheq manaGement.

“these safety performance outputs depict

that the nosa management systems are

working for the company,” he adds.

Brijlall continues: “the commitment

and dedication to safety, health and

environment is strong, and it is evident

from the number of awards that various

companies, Group-wide, have achieved

for outstanding performances.” he adds

that recognition of these achievements

has been a driving force on the ground,

as employees eagerly await the she

performance scores whenever nosa

performs external audits.

nPC has also identified the risks

associated with vehicles delivering

products via public roads. the company has,

therefore, implemented safety awareness

programmes that focus exclusively on

drivers,” says Brijlall

the external focus doesn’t end there,

however … “Without a shadow of doubt,

being part of the interCement Group has

extended the company’s participation in

social and environmental activities outside

of the company’s fences,” Brijlall points out.

“this affords employees and their family

members opportunities to partake in social

activities such as school refurbishments,

planting of vegetable gardens and working

with old age homes.”

he says that it is a privilege to be part

of an international group that focus on the

triple bottom line. | SHEQ

natal Portland Cement-Cimpor (nPC) has set its safety standards in cement. the company is a member of the interCement Group (present in nine countries with 39 plants), which is part of the Carmago Correa Group – Brazil’s second-largest engineering and construction company, specialising in hydro-electrical power plant construction

set safety sTONE

Giovanni lodetti, industrial director at nPC-Cimpor, receives his award from Justin hobday and Duncan Carlisle.

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nosCarAWARDs

occupational health and safety is often plagued by a culture of non-compliance; it is often only enforced when auditors are coming to town, or only the bare minimum is done in order to adhere to legislation … Wilec, a division of aCtom, is not such a company

Wilec – a manufacturer,

importer, stockist

and distributor of

input materials to the

electrical-motor and transformer repair

and manufacturing industries – serves

a diverse range of industries with

more than 6 000 products, which are

stocked in five major distribution centres

nationally …

it’s no wonder that the company uses

some hi-tech logistical it systems to

ensure that the right products get to

where they need to go.

logistics isn’t the only “discipline” that

Wilec values, however, as its operations

executive, howard eldridge, reveals:

What does occupational health and safety mean to Wilec? With the aid of the nosa CmB 253

occupational health and safety

management system, it gives us peace

of mind to know that we have a

systemised focus in our organisation

that drives the health, safety and well-

being of our people at all levels of our

structure.

What are your sentiments regarding the Noscar Awards? these awards recognise the contribution

of organisations, and their people, in

achieving a consistently high standard of

health and safety focus in the business.

Winning one of these awards speaks

to a team-wide achievement in an

organisation.

What value do these accolades add to the industry? these awards drive the systems already

in place to a new level, and underpin

the commitment and contribution of

organisations in ensuring a safe and

healthy work environment. i believe the

awards are achievable with dedicated

hard work. they are highly prized and

sought after.

How many Noscars did you win this year, and how many have you won, in total, thus far? We won one this year – our second in total.

Why, would you say, did you win these? Winning a noscar is a team

accomplishment; it speaks to the

achievements of our people. the team

identified this as a goal that we then set

out to reach. We are extremely proud of

what we have achieved.

What are your health and safety plans going forward? We plan to focus on improving our systems

from both an implementation (shop floor)

and development perspective. | SHEQ

Working the

systemsAFETY

louis Blom, sales and marketing executive (left), and howard eldridge, operations executive, show off Wilec’s slew of noscar and nosa grading awards.

sTONE

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WHERE THE RUBBER MEETs THE (sAFETY) ROAD

you don’t need to be an avid

motorsport supporter to realise that

the rubber industry has had to evolve

at the same pace as the vehicles it

serves … Karbochem, an international

producer of synthetic rubbers, is

doing just this – with some added

sheq flair.

Paul Pothas, Karbochem sheRq

general manager, explains that the

company produced its first synthetic

rubber in sasolburg half a century ago.

“in 1983 we commenced production

in newcastle.”

he adds: “Changes in the tyre

manufacturing industry impact the

synthetic rubber producers all the

time. the way in which we are able to

respond will determine our future.”

however, it’s not only about

going “green” … the company is also

unyielding when it comes to employee

health and safety. Karbochem’s

sasolburg site and Bruma offices

received their 30th noscar – dubbed

the oscars of health, safety and

environmental management – while

the newcastle site received its sixth

noscar at this year’s noshcon awards

banquet.

Pothas also received an accolade

for his efforts in respect to safety,

health and the environment.

he notes that the company

is proud of the accolades that it

receives, as they demonstrate how

serious it is about occupational health

and safety.

looking to the future, Pothas

states that the company has set

common group targets: “We are

pursuing these to ensure that ‘an

injury to one is an injury to all’

philosophy becomes common to all

sites and offices in the group. We

can then all celebrate together when

milestones are reached.

“expect us to be at the next

noscar awards for more!”

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.

Email Notifications Throughout SHEQsys, email notifications will be sent to relevant people when events take place.

Installation No installation on user’s computers is required as SHEQsys is a web-application, which can be hosted on our dedicated server.

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: [email protected]

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

Incident

Allows users to easily log Incidents of varying severity and level from Low Risk Potential Incidents and Near Misses to High Risk Incidents. Investigation is fully customisable and follows approval routes to ensure proper completion.

Audit

Conduct audits; inspections and surveys with customisable templates with percentage based scoring. Raise incidents or feedback directly from audit findings.

Feedback

All users can express constructive feedback whether negative or positive to keep open communication between different areas.

Trend Pareto Analysis

Generate Pareto analysis of production process defects or any quantifiable value. Allowing you to easily identify common problems and correct them.

Call Report

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.

Instrumentation

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

www.SHEQsys.com

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human perception is

fascinating: it’s easily

amendable and notoriously

difficult to change at the

same time … it’s no wonder that people

cringe or go “(environ)mental” when

confronted with some of the things that

happen in the chemical industry.

Companies such as senmin

international, with its main operations and

distribution centre based in sasolburg, are

demonstrating that this industry is serious

about occupational health, safety and the

environments they operate in … which isn’t

going unnoticed.

the company won its fifth noscar,

at this year’s noshcon awards banquet,

in recognition of its health, safety and

environmental management practices.

“these accolades enhance the image of

chemical companies to the public at large,”

says frans labuschagne, operations

director at senmin.

he adds that it is important to have

unbiased, third-party proof of your safety

standards. “you need to have a good safety

record to be acknowledged by nosa. an

award such as this demonstrates – to the

public and our clients – our high safety

standards and adds weight to our safety

claims.”

these include that the company is

able to safely handle, distribute and

prepare potentially dangerous and difficult

chemical reagents on site. “senmin strives

towards a safe work environment for all

employees, customers and the community

in which it operates,” says labuschagne.

senmin’s manufacturing plant also

boasts various international organisation

for standardisation (known as iso)

accreditations; namely iso 9001:2008

(certificates for quality management

systems), iso 14001 (accreditation

for environmental management) and

the international nsf certification for

Pam plants, which allows the products

to be used in drinking water and food

applications.

the company states that, in 2007,

the crucial need to improve the utilisation

of scarce resources, such as water and

energy, was amplified in the mining

industry. it responded to this by investing

in chemical technology, building its new

production facilities and expanding its

capacity in order to meet the growing

demands of mines throughout south and

southern africa, australasia and Chile.

senmin, along with its supply chain and

logistics service provider, Cargo Carriers,

and tanker manufacturer, GRW, is also

pioneering a safety feature in vehicles

used to deliver chemicals to the mines.

andre Jansen van vuuren, divisional

director for marketing at Cargo Carriers,

explains (as reported in a previous

edition): “it is standard procedure in the

industry for drivers to climb up onto

the top of the tanker, using a ladder,

and physically open the manhole, then

visually monitor the discharge from the

top – thereby ensuring that the tanker is

empty before departing.”

in order for the liquid to be discharged

from the bottom of the tanker, a manhole,

situated at the top of the tank, needs to

be opened. “opening the manhole allows

air inflow from the top – creating a suck

and flow type action – allowing product

to be discharged through the bottom of

the tank,” says Jansen van vuuren. “if

this doesn’t happen, the tank will cave

in and crumple like a Coke tin – there are

tremendous pressures and dangers.”

to address this, senmin, Cargo Carriers

and GRW developed a pneumatic valve

(to open the manhole from the bottom of

the tank) along with a Perspex “spyglass”

on the discharge pipe – ensuring that no

product remains inside the tanker.

it is clear that this chemical

manufacturer is serious about health,

safety and the environment. looking

towards the future, labuschagne is

unwavering: “the goal remains: zero

injuries and minimal impact on the

environment.”

see you at the next noscars

senmin. | SHEQ

a ChemiCal reaCtion to

sAFETY

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.

Email Notifications Throughout SHEQsys, email notifications will be sent to relevant people when events take place.

Installation No installation on user’s computers is required as SHEQsys is a web-application, which can be hosted on our dedicated server.

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: [email protected]

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

Incident

Allows users to easily log Incidents of varying severity and level from Low Risk Potential Incidents and Near Misses to High Risk Incidents. Investigation is fully customisable and follows approval routes to ensure proper completion.

Audit

Conduct audits; inspections and surveys with customisable templates with percentage based scoring. Raise incidents or feedback directly from audit findings.

Feedback

All users can express constructive feedback whether negative or positive to keep open communication between different areas.

Trend Pareto Analysis

Generate Pareto analysis of production process defects or any quantifiable value. Allowing you to easily identify common problems and correct them.

Call Report

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.

Instrumentation

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

operations director frans labuschagne (left) and Piet stewart, she manager, are full of smiles over their nosa accolade.

occupational health and safety is paramount in any industry … senmin, a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals to the mines, is showing that this industry is stepping up to the plate when it comes to health, safety and environmental sustainability

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Because every life has a purpose...

MSA’s Workman Tripod is easy to use. Built for durability and versitility a simple setup procedure makes the process quick and promotes correct use. Features that improve ease of use include: • Legsautomaticallylockintheopenpositionforaddedsafety.

• Amaximumheightindicatorprovidesquickandeasyidentificationofthemaximumlegextensionlength.

• Thereisnoneedforaseparatepulley/bracketassembly,whichmakeshoistattachmenteasierandfaster.

• Accessoriescanattachtoanylegforfastersetup.

• Aluminiumlegandheaddesignreducesweight,improvingportability.

• Telescopinglegsdonottanglewhentheunitiscollapsed,foreasiertransportationandstorage.

WorkmansTripodDurable, Vesatile

Phone:0861SAFETY(723389)+2711610-2600

www.MSAsafety.com

Try it before you buy it! Once you experience the MSA V-Gard Helmet, you’ll understand why it is the best-selling industrial hard hat available today. MSA’s sample program allows you to experience the MSA V-Gard Helmet before purchasing.And, with an array of options and features, you can customize the MSA V-Gard Helmetto fit your individualized needs.

To experience head protection beyond comparison, 'Try it before you buy it!' Contact MSA customer service at 1-800-MSA-2222 today.

Please visit our newly launched website:

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Because every life has a purpose...MSA North America • 1-800-MSA-2222 / ID 5666a

Head Protection Beyond Comparison

MSA’s Workman Tripod is easy to use. Built for durability and versatility a simple setup procedure makes the process quick and promotes correct use. Features that improve ease of use include:

• Legs automatically lock in the open position for added safety.• A maximum height indicator provides quick and easy identification

of the maximum leg extension length.• There is no need for a separate pulley/bracket assembly,

which makes hoist attachment easier and faster.• Accessories can attach to any leg for faster setup.• Aluminium leg and head design reduces weight,

improving portability.• Telescoping legs do not tangle when the unit is collapsed,

for easier transportation and storage.


Try it before you buy it! Once you experience the MSA V-Gard Helmet, you’ll understand why it is the best-selling industrial hard hat available today. MSA’s sample program allows you to experience the MSA V-Gard Helmet before purchasing.And, with an array of options and features, you can customize the MSA V-Gard Helmet

To experience head protection beyond comparison, 'Try it before you buy it!' Contact MSA customer service at 1-800-MSA-2222 today.

Please visit our newly launched website:

www.MSAsafety.com

Because every life has a purpose...MSA North America • 1-800-MSA-2222 / ID 5666a


Try it before you buy it! Once you experience the MSA V-Gard Helmet, you’ll understand why it is the best-selling industrial hard hat available today. MSA’s sample program allows you to try the MSA V-Gard Helmet before purchasing. And, with an array of options and features, you can customize the MSA V-Gard Helmet to fit your indivualized needs.

To experience head protection beyond comparison, Try it before you buy it!Contact MSA customer service at 0861 SAFETY (723389) today.

Phone: 0861 SAFETY | +27 11 610-2600 Because every life has a purpose...

Please visit our newly launched website:www.MSAsafety.com

Workman TripodDurable, Versatile

www.msasafety.com

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something for the

LADIEs

PP

E

often, women are less fortunate than men when it comes to finding personal protective equipment (PPe) that fits properly. ClaiRe RenCKen takes a look at how some suppliers are catering specifically for the fairer sex

pPe cannot protect a worker

from hazards if it does not fit

properly. a Canadian study

has proved that equipment

designed for men will not fit women

properly, due to differences in body

size, height and composition. Women

are not simply smaller versions of men –

their body configuration is different. so

employers need to keep women in mind

when purchasing PPe.

ill-fitting gloves and hardhats, for

example, can affect safety. if gloves

don’t fit correctly and are too big, a

worker will most likely be more clumsy.

if her hardhat falls off every time she

looks up, that’s not a good thing either

– she may need to use one hand to hold

it on.

sOME PPE TIPs FOR WOMEN:

Earplugs – Disposable, foam earplugs

are more likely to fit women, who

typically have smaller ear canals.

Hardhats – adding a chin strap can

help hardhats or caps fit better and not

fall off.

safety goggles – Beware of goggles

that state “one size fits all” – some

may be too large for a woman’s face

and could allow objects, fluids or other

hazardous material to enter through

gaps in the seals.

Protective clothing – taking a

man’s garment and modifying it to fit

a woman, such as rolling up sleeves or

pant legs, can be dangerous, because

the excess material can get caught in

machinery.

safety gloves – ensure all exposed

skin is covered. the gloves should allow

for a safe grip, so that tools will not

easily slip out of the hands. the finger

length, width and palm circumference

of the gloves must match those of the

hands.

she PPe is a company that has

recognised the need for women’s PPe.

its equipment is branded and designed

by a woman – the director of etekweni

safety, health and environmental

services – for women. it is a Proudly

south african brand and conforms

to south african national standards

(sans) requirements.

safety boots are, arguably, one

of the most difficult pieces of PPe

for female workers to find. a typical

woman’s foot is both shorter and

narrower than a typical man’s foot, so

a smaller boot may be the right length,

but not the right width. so, one can’t

merely assume that a woman can wear

a smaller version of a boot designed

with a man’s foot in mind.

Bagshaw footwear’s shu! safety

shoes for women offer both femininity

and functionality. shu! safety footwear

is designed specifically for women,

and caters for both the broader and

the narrower foot, without sacrificing

style. | SHEQ

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www.oshexpoafrica.com

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sAFE

TY

i was asked an interesting

question related to an incident

that highlighted the issue of

health and safety when changing

an employee’s job description.

a delivery vehicle had a driver and

an assistant. the assistant’s job was to

climb up onto a ten-metre-high hopper

to open the lid for product delivery.

the company decided to change the

operation to have a driver doing both job

functions going forward.

the driver was then found to be

employing and paying an assistant to

perform the elevated work task of

opening the hopper lid on his behalf,

as he was afraid of heights. in doing

so, he was breaking a company rule

by having a non-employee travelling

in (and climbing up onto the top of)

the vehicle, and was thereby giving

rise to vicarious liability risks for the

company.

this raises the issue of how often

employee job descriptions are changed

without any consideration for the

possible health and safety issues and

exposures the job change causes.

in most cases, job restructuring,

downsizing, and so on, result in

employees having an additional

workload thrust upon them, especially

with staff reductions occurring.

When i was in industry, we had a

near-miss situation where a recently

promoted employee was made a

machinery greaser. he was required to

enter into guarded areas to grease the

machinery. the company then discovered

that he was an epileptic. imagine the

ramifications of him having a seizure

within a guarded machinery area.

the situation now arises whereby

it is easy to blame and discipline the

employee when, effectively, the

company appears not to have done its

duty in terms of health and safety. if this

non-employee had fallen from a height

and died, the Department of labour

would ask questions and would require

written proof that the company had

complied with its duties in terms of

health and safety.

the following questions might be

put to the company that decided to

change the employment conditions of

the employee, who now has to work at

heights:

1. Was a risk assessment of the

anticipated changes to the employee’s

duties performed (occupational health

and safety (ohs) act section 8 (2c & d))?

2. Was the employee’s new job

description, involving the climbing

requirement, negotiated and signed off

between the parties (a labour Relations

act/human resources requirement)?

3. Did the company perform working

at height medical examinations on the

employee for the new climbing job

description?

4. Was any safe working practice

established and/or safety equipment

provided, and was the employee given

training in terms of hopper climbing

(ohs act section 8 (2e))?

5. Were the changes to the employee’s job

description (involving climbing) discussed

by the health and safety committee?

if so, what were the committee’s

recommendations in this regard?

should the company not have proof of

taking such health and safety issues

into consideration, and should such an

employee be disciplined or dismissed

for taking action to avoid his fear of

heights, he is likely to win the case

at the Commission for Conciliation,

mediation and arbitration (CCma), as

the company erred on its legal health

and safety duty.

What is your company doing about

the health and safety issues when job

changes are being made? | SHEQ

leighton Bennett – safety, health, environment and risk management consultant and committee member of the safety first association – discusses the health and safety issues of changing an employee’s job

making Change Work

sAFELY

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36

GUIDEbuyer’s

Train to be a safer business Completing a comprehensive St John First Aid course will give you and your employees the skills needed to create a safer and more productive working environment. St John is a Level 1 contributor to BEE. St John First Aid courses are accredited with the Dept. of Labour and the Health and Welfare SETA. Visit our website www.stjohn.org.za or contact:

St John - Bloemfontein (051) 444-6276 St John - Cape Town (021) 461-8420 St John - Durban (031) 305-6588 St John - East London (043) 722-9840 St John - Fish Hoek (021) 782-3306 St John - Grahamstown (046) 636-1650 St John - Helderberg (021) 851-7394 St John - Johannesburg (011) 403-4227 St John - Kimberley (053) 838-2519 St John - Port Elizabeth (041) 364-2701/2

Create a safer working environment

302 NOVALIS AD - 148x210_p.indd 1 2010/09/08 9:54 AM

SGB‐CapeaDivisionofWacoAfricaoffersCETA(Accredita;onNumber:4P4592)approvedAccessScaffoldingTrainingand

Cer;fica;onfortheListedLearningProgrammes:

•ScaffoldErectors(System,SelflockandAluminiumScaffold)

•ScaffoldingInspec;on

•ScaffoldUserTraining(Working@Heights)

•AdvancedScaffoldErec;on&Inspec;on

Contactthefollowingpeopleforassistance:

•ReinhardtCoetzee([email protected]) 0823006867

•MichaelvanJaarsveld([email protected]) 0823753208

•Jan‐PaulCoetzee([email protected]) 0824403597

South African women in industrial are unique in their body physique.

Our mothers, sisters & daughters have been historically disadvantaged. We need

to afford them the dignity and respect they deserve to be productive and safe in

the working environment. A Canadian study has shown that ill

fitting PPE for women is detrimental to their safety, health and wellbeing.

SHE PPE which is the right fit for women in the clothing line is most comfortable and safe according to the Director who

has been a uniform/PPE worker for 25yrs and as such knows what's best for her

and her fellow colleagues. No one knows better what is best for

women accept a women! Do you value your female employees?

We have a solution to your needs!

SHE PPE is branded and designed by the Director of Etekweni Safety, Health and

Environmental Services. The design articulates “what

women wants” in order to be comfortable and safe. SHE PPE

TM

Why SHE PPE ? • The design and cut is made to fit a

women’s body contours with darts & less elastic ribbing

• Padding on elbows and knees • Long sleeve can be folded and hooked • Boiler suits can be unzipped easily at the

rear for ablution use • Padding at crouch • Various women’s sizes ranging from 30-50 • Proudly South African • Conforms to SANS requirements

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: [email protected] 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!

Please add my name to the SHEQ MANAGEMENT mailing list: R410.00 for one year R790 .00 for two years R1 130.00 for three years Rates include VAT and postage (valid within RSA borders).

METHOD OF PAYMENT: Cheque enclosed (payable to Charmont Media Global cc) Direct deposit: Charmont Media Global cc Bank: First National Bank Hyde Park branch Branch code: 255805 Account no: 62059168825 Please use your company name or invoice number as a reference Cash

m e d i a g l o b a lC H A R M O N T

Mr / Mrs / Ms: Name: Surname: Job Title: Company: VAT No: Postal address: Postal Code: Nature of business: Number of employees: Tel No: Mobile No: Fax No: Email address: Signature:

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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

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


SHEQT Y

the planet’s sustainability star

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Best and brightest at OSH Expo 2014

Coming in to port on SHEQ issues

Bracing thebackbone of PPE

Classrooms:the source of quality

SOUTH AFRICA TOPS

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Power, out of thin air Fighting violence in the workplace

Eat responsibly, save the environment

Quality life meansquality business

IRCA Global:the future of training and technical assurance

SUBSCRIBE TO SHEQ MANAGEMENT

www.stjohn.org.za

www.sheppe.co.za

www.novalishouse.org

www.sgbcape.co.za

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www.bagshaw.co.za

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® and ™ are trademarks owned by Ansell Limited or one of its a liates. © 2014 Ansell Limited. All right reserved.

In addition to o cial guidance for work place risk assessment (OSHA, NIOSH, EN) Ansell always recommends a trial prior to validation of any kind of protective piece of equipment including gloves and sleeves; should any application profi le require “EN 374 cat. III” or the like certifi ed glove, Chemical resistant glove design should then become a fi rst choice.

Oil is everywhere. Apparently dry environments aren’t always dry. Long-term exposure to oil can have serious health risks and a� ect your productivity.

To address this, Ansell has developed a truly revolutionary range of oil-resistant HyFlex® gloves that don’t compromise on comfort and tactility.

To join our fi ght against oil across mechanical applications and fi nd out more about our new mechanical duty glove solutions, please send us an e-mail to [email protected] or:

Designed by Ansell to protect against oil

Featuring Ansell’s Innovative Technologies:

WWW.ANSELL.EU

scan to request product samples

14070144_SHEQ_MAGAZINE_Oil_is_Chemical_210x297.indd 1 29/09/14 09:27

www.ansell.eu

SHEQ November-December 2014

Documents

Transcript of SHEQ November-December 2014