safety
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environmental issues
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quality
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015 | R70.00
SHEQ m a n a g e m e n t sheqmanagement.com
IRCA Global’s train lane goes both ways
EXCLUSIVE! New series by international safety expert No pain and suffering compensation for road-accident victims? 250 000 t of e-waste illegally dumped in western Africa! Conversation: the lifeblood of leadership
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CONTENTS EDITOR Charleen Clarke Cell: 083 601 0568 email: charleen@charmont.co.za ASSISTANT EDITOR Jaco de Klerk Cell: 079 781 6479 email: jaco@charmont.co.za SUB-EDITOR Jeanette Lamont Cell: 083 447 3616 email: jeanette@charmont.co.za JOURNALIST Claire Rencken Cell: 082 559 8417 email: journalist2@charmont.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Albert Mushai email: albert.mushai@wits.ac.za Andrew Sharman email: info@rydermarshsharman.com PUBLISHER Tina Monteiro Cell: 082 568 3181 email: tina@charmont.co.za ADVERTISING SALES Barend van Wyk 082 885 9042 advertising@charmont.co.za Elsie van Wyk 072 827 2913 elsie@charmont.co.za CIRCULATION MANAGER Bev Rogers Cell: 078 230 5063 email: bev@charmont.co.za DESIGN AND LAYOUT Nelio da Silva email: nelio@charmont.co.za © Copyright. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without specific written permission from the editor. In the interests of preserving the environment, SHEQ MANAGEMENT is printed on environmentally friendly paper, using soya-based ink. www.sheqmanagement.com
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Features
KEEP ON TRAINING 20 IRCA Global has offices worldwide. Besides a diverse footprint, the company offers a wide range of systems, products and services for risk management in the safety, health, environmental and quality-driven industries. SHEQ MANAGEMENT sees what role education, training, research and development play within the company. 250 000 T OF E-WASTE PER ANNUM! WHERE MUST IT GO? 22 Technology has catapulted humanity’s development by enhancing our productivity and making life a whole lot easier … but it doesn’t come without its perils! Electronic waste is a lot more dangerous than one could ever imagine … QUALITY LEADERS BREED QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS 28 According to a paper compiled by Development Dimensions International, conversations are the lifeblood of leadership. When leaders are adept at conversations, they do much more than communicate effectively – they drive stronger business results. MORE THAN 7 500 INJURIES! WHAT IS TO BE DONE? 30 The construction industry is a massive cog in any country’s economy, but this high-risk sector doesn’t come without its costs in terms of injuries … SHEQ MANAGEMENT talks to those in the know to determine what can be done to reduce the risks. NO MORE CANARIES DOWN COAL MINES 38 Most of us know how gas detection works today – particularly in the mining industry, but do we understand how it has evolved over time? We investigate.
Regulars Editor’s letter SHEQ Sound Off Letters News Sharman on Safety Legally Speaking For Safety Sake Subscription Form
2 4 6 8 12 16 39 40
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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
1
ed’s letter
thought Food for
of ours. In fact, according to the Food and
cannot master the information and skills
Agriculture Organisation of the United
they are taught in school,” says Bloom.
Nations, 805 million people around the world go hungry.
Charleen Clarke
This month’s column concerns a subject that is extremely close to my heart: food!
S | SHEQ management
the reasons for this sorry situation.
Closer to home, this problem is
According to the Centre for Scientific
massive. According to Claire Bloom,
and Industrial Research (CSIR), 30
ex-United States (US) Navy officer, who is
to 50 percent of food produced on a
founder and executive director of End 68
global basis is wasted before it reaches
Hours of Hunger (a US-based non-profit
consumers. It is estimated that South
organisation that fights childhood hunger),
Africa generates over nine million tonnes
childhood hunger – or food insecurity – is
of food waste per year. “This also results
a national problem. “After a while, children
in environmental impacts throughout the
who receive insufficient food on a regular
supply chain, as well as the waste of
basis, or miss entire meals, experience
resources used in food production and
‘fear of hunger’, which affects their
distribution,” explains Bloom.
behaviour as much as physical hunger affects their bodies,” she says.
Meanwhile,
the
lackadaisical
approach to quality control on the
Bloom will visit South Africa later this
part of local food companies is a
ome people eat to live. Yours
year to present a workshop on ending
worry. This is not exclusively a South
truly, on the other hand, lives
childhood hunger at the SAPICS 2015
African problem: in the early 1990s,
to eat. I have an unhealthy
conference, taking place from May 31 to
US fast food chain, Jack in the Box,
obsession with food: I simply
June 2 at Sun City.
sold hamburgers contaminated with
adore the stuff.
2
Poor food distribution is one of
According to Bloom, 19 percent of
E. coli bacteria. Hundreds of people got
But I am in a privileged position. I am
South African children have no breakfast,
sick as a result and four children died.
seldom hungry. If I am, it’s because I am
and 51 percent have no lunch. “Some
It is estimated that the company lost
on deadline and I don’t have time to eat.
800 000 of these children are under the
US$ 160 million.
I have never starved because I cannot
age of five, and the malnutrition they
afford to buy food.
Closer
to
home,
some
other
experience has a profound impact on their
operational gaps have been made
Sadly, this situation doesn’t apply to
future. When children are hungry, they
evident in two recent cases. One saw
everyone on this overburdened planet
cannot learn, and, if they cannot learn, they
Tiger Brands having to recall around
EDITOR’S LETTER 17 000 of its Tastic Simply Delicious cooking sauces and rice products after tests found traces of potentially carcinogenic ingredients. Tiger Brands reported it had found traces of the colourants methyl yellow and Sudan 1 in some of the products made between June and July 2014 at a factory in India. While the full cost of the recall is unknown, the company’s share value took a slight knock at the time. The jury is still out on retailer Woolworths surrounding three recent food issues. First, a dead frog was found in a Woolworths lettuce pack; then a roach was found in a pack of its own-label noodles; and, later, a live frog was found in a pack of lettuce. Woolworths is claiming sabotage, but, as Amanda Rogaly, MD of FoodSure, says: “Whether it’s sabotage or a fault in the food processes used by the retailer, what we have here are operational gaps. While food retailers and manufacturers are doing all they can to comply with necessary food standards, they cannot always be aware of the weaknesses in their operational procedures.” FoodSure is a food label verification company, which provides independent checks and balances for retailers and manufacturers to reduce the risk associated with non-compliance. FoodSure is working with Ronel Arnold, a leading consultant in South Africa. “There are some food companies that are very serious about how they operate, although in South Africa we do tend to have a ‘wait and see’ attitude. We’re waiting to see are perhaps not taking enough preventative action now,” she tells SHEQ MANAGEMENT. This is scary stuff! It is clear that this country is facing major challenges on the food front … | SHEQ
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which company will be hit the hardest by a food scare and we
3
SHEQ SOUND OFF
Is increased greenhouse gas a dire situation? Well, not in Africa – 14 700 years ago!
Jaco de Klerk
New research has found that, thousands of years ago, an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations was a key factor in causing substantially more rainfall in two major African regions. It provides evidence that the current increase in GHG will also have an important impact on our continent’s future climate …
proves that, over the next two decades,
African Humid Period (AHP) as it saw
the world faces a substantially increased
desert areas turn into savannas.
risk of a major slowdown in the growth
The puzzling part was why these
of global crop yields as a result of climate
conditions were seen in two different
change.)
regions at the same time; one north of the
This is in the “short run”, however.
equator and one to the south. Previous
The new study: Coherent changes
studies had suggested that, in northern
of
and
Africa, the AHP was triggered by a
northern African rainfall during the last
20 000-year cyclic wobble in Earth’s orbit,
deglaciation, led by the United States-
which resulted in increased summertime
based National Centre for Atmospheric
heating north of the equator. (In contrast,
Research (NCAR), takes things to a
the northern hemisphere today is closest
whole new level …
to the Sun in winter rather than summer.)
south-eastern,
equatorial
To predict the future impact of GHG
It’s believed that the summertime heating
on rainfall in Africa, the research drew
would have warmed the land in such a
on advanced computer simulations and
way that it strengthened the monsoon
analyses of sediments of past climate.
winds from the ocean and enhanced
“The future impact of greenhouse gases
rainfall.
on rainfall in Africa is a critical socio-
Otto-Bliesner points out that the
economic issue,” says NCAR scientist
orbital pattern, alone, would not explain
Bette Otto-Bliesner, the lead author.
the simultaneous onset of the AHP in
“Africa’s climate seems destined to
south-eastern equatorial Africa, south
change, with far-reaching implications
of the equator, since the wobble in the
for water resources and agriculture.”
Earth’s orbit led to less summertime
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In the past, as the ice sheets that
4
heating there, rather than more.
covered large parts of North America
Instead, the study reveals the role of
and northern Europe started to melt
two other factors: a change in Atlantic
HG emissions have long
(around 21 000 years ago), Africa’s
Ocean circulation, which rapidly boosted
been branded a destroyer
climate responded in an interesting
rainfall in the region, and a rise in GHG
of the environment. Many
way … Following a long dry spell, during
concentrations that helped enhance
research papers have proved
the peak of the last glacial period, the
rainfall across a wide strip of Africa.
that they could, and probably would, end
amount of rainfall in Africa suddenly
This came about as planet Earth
life as we know it …
increased – starting around 14 700 years
emerged from the last Ice Age. GHGs,
(In SHEQ MANAGEMENT’s July/August
ago and continuing until approximately
especially carbon dioxide and methane,
2014 edition we featured a piece, which
5 000 years ago. This is known as the
increased significantly (almost reaching
G
SHEQ SOUND OFF northern, equatorial and eastern Africa.
they simulated past climate with the
When the ice sheets stopped melting,
NCAR-based Community Climate System
the circulation became stronger again,
Model, a powerful global climate model
The authors note that this was the
bringing rainfall back into south-eastern,
developed by a broad community of
most recent time during which natural
equatorial and northern parts of Africa.
researchers, which uses supercomputers
global warming was associated with an
This change, coupled with the orbital
at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
increase in GHG concentrations. (Because
shift and the warming caused by the
By comparing the proxy records with
of feedbacks between the two, GHG
increasing GHGs, is what triggered the
the computer simulations, the study
concentrations and global temperature
AHP.
demonstrates that the climate model
ago – for reasons that are not yet fully understood.
To piece this puzzle together, the
got the AHP right. This helps to validate
researchers drew on fossil pollen,
its role in predicting how rising GHG
The end of the last Ice Age also
evidence of former lake levels and other
concentrations might change rainfall
triggered an influx of fresh water into the
proxy records indicating past moisture
patterns in a highly populated and
ocean, from melting ice sheets in North
conditions. They focused their work on
vulnerable part of the world.
America and Scandinavia, about 17 000
northern Africa (the present day Sahel
“Normally, climate simulations cover
years ago. The fresh water interfered
region encompassing Niger, Chad, and
perhaps a century or take a snapshot of
with a critical circulation pattern, in
also northern Nigeria) and south-eastern
past conditions,” Otto-Bliesner points
which heat and salt were transported
equatorial Africa (the largely forested
out. “A study like this one, which disects
northward through the Atlantic Ocean.
area of today’s eastern Democratic
why the climate evolved as it did over
This weakened circulation led to Africa’s
Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and
this intriguing 10 000-year period, is
rainfall shifting toward its southernmost
much of Tanzania and Kenya).
more than I thought I would ever see in
often rise and fall together across climate history.)
point, with it being suppressed in
In addition to the proxy records,
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Keep track of and maintain instrumentation calibration via a schedule with full calibration history.
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pre-industrial levels) 11 000 years
5
SHEQ
MAIL Sustainability translates into good bottom-line economic sense
Addressing South Africa’s energy crisis
No longer simply the buzzword it once was, the concept of sustainability is now being enthusiastically embraced by forward-thinking companies. As part of their strategic trajectories, companies have realised they are going to have to do more – especially if they want their people and profits to stick around for the long haul. In particular, sustainability has been integrated into business strategy and operational practices. Diagnosis is one thing; providing workable solutions another. More often than not, solutions demand input and insight from a specialist, who boasts a wealth of experience in this highly specialised field and is able to assess the current status of an organisation’s sustainability, and, consequently, develop a bespoke plan. My own approach would involve what is termed the “six capitals” model. It looks at the following aspects of a company: • financial capital (profit/loss); • manufactured capital (e.g. buildings and equipment); • human capital (employees);
South Africa remains locked into an energy crisis. There is not enough power to run the country and there are delays in building new power stations. This is going to impact business and manufacturing, and is likely to lead to investment losses. Businesses response – investing in generators – is short-sighted however; implementing a building management system (BMS) is a better long-term solution, especially as the benefits of Big Data and smart grids start to emerge. With every piece of equipment within an organisation (in addition to a multitude of devices and sensors, injecting status reports and event-driven data streams into the cloud), there is an incredible opportunity to harness data to operate smarter, thereby optimising processes and facility systems according to key performance data and need. Indeed, some BMS providers with global reach are creating platforms where clients can compare their facility’s performance to that of peers and industry benchmarks and also receive automated alerts when performance flags. In terms of smart-grid benefits, many facilities, especially in the manufacturing sector, will become producerconsumers of energy, contributing to and drawing energy from a grid that is very different from the one we know today. A BMS will help organisations keep track of usage and contributions, as energy consumption becomes an increasingly strategic component of profitability. Like any long-term strategy, implementing a BMS and fully leveraging its functionality takes vision. While bottomline wins may motivate implementation of a BMS, energy conservation and smart management of scarce resources will also benefit the environment, driving benefits in terms of business sustainability.
• social capital (societal interaction); • natural capital (resources and environmental impacts); and • intellectual capital (e.g. intellectual property, processes and systems). The end result is a complete overview covering all the factors that an organisation requires to do business. The human factor is often the elephant in the room. When it comes to certain aspects of sustainability – typically those linked to climate change – one tends to come across the educated, the ignorant or uneducated, and those who are contrary just for the hell of it. The uneducated or contrary will argue that sustainability is for the “greenies”; that it’s a craze centred on conspiracy and hype. What they fail to appreciate, is that sustainability has broad long-term applications that generate benefits for a wide spectrum of society. In short, implementation is often a journey of convincing. Tjaart Coetzee Associate director at MAC Consulting
| SHEQ management
Neil Cameron General manager of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency
6
SHEQ MAIL
Nanotech sterilisation – clean on a molecular level I would like to introduce a new development in the field of nanotechnology, called MonoFoil. It was developed to sterilise surfaces in surgical wards and intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals. The product is not a chemical, but an antimicrobial solution. The active ingredients are contained in an aqueous solution. To understand the structure and operation of the product, visualise a string of molecules in the shape of a sword. The short “handle-end” attaches itself to any surface; for example, wood, metals, plastics or fabrics. The solution will adhere to the surface as a transparent and durable, antimicrobial film that will not transfer on contact with other surfaces.
The “long end” of the sword contains a molecule that has a positive electrical charge, which draws all negatively charged bacteria, viruses, algae and fungi from the air. As it has a sharp point, this end will penetrate the outer membrane of the organism, pulling it down on itself, thereby disintegrating the organism. (The MonoFoil does this by discharging its electrical load when the organism reaches the positively charged molecule.) This process is then repeated over and over again, creating a barrier against the transfer of illness-provoking organisms for more than a month. We always find it difficult to comprehend the possibilities contained in products operating on this incredibly small scale. The organisms that I’ve mentioned are so small that they are
invisible when using a typical school microscope, let alone the product itself; of which you would need 500 000 to equal the diameter of a human hair! The product has unlimited applications. It is suited to all industries and places that have a high concentration of people – aeroplane cabins, trains, buses, shopping complexes, restaurant kitchens, schools, factories, hostels, mortuaries, hospitals and clinics, vegetable and flower cultivation tunnels, abattoirs and butcheries – to name just a few. The integrity of the product has been tested and it has been certified by various international health authorities (even Boeing approved it). John Howell CEO: ResCov
The Occupational Health and Safety Act states that employers must provide a working environment that doesn’t present risk to the health of employees … But it is virtually impossible to protect your workforce from all elements of the outside world. Protect your family
Millions of harmful bacteria and odours spread on the surfaces we touch during the course of everyday-life. Feel better at work
MonoFoil provides a shield of protection. Our technology is designed to physically inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria and fungi (mould and mildew), which cause staining and discolouration between cleanings on treated surfaces. We have developed
By applying MonoFoil to surfaces in your kitchen, bathrooms and throughout the workplace you provide a long-lasting barrier of protection. Feel better away from home John: 083 700 8931 | Email: john@rescov.co.za Charlotte: 081 705 9742 | Email: cem.ozonenet@gmail.com Andre: 061 418 1009
Office: 079 616 0463 Fax: 012 997 0276 Website: www.ozonenet.co.za
| SHEQ management
antimicrobial products to fit your unique office protection needs.
7
SHEQ
NEWS An expo by any other name … “It’s been gratifying to see IFSEC
well-known Securex brand for this
South Africa and OSH Expo Africa
year’s show.
build reputations as world-class
The
Occupational
Safety
and
events that cater specifically to
Health (OSH) Expo will be rebranded
the South African and sub-Saharan
as African Occupational Safety and
African markets,” says Damion Angus,
Health (A-OSH) Expo, and will run
managing director of Montgomery.
concurrently with Securex.
“We are encouraged by the
“It was an opportunity to reposition
success to date of both shows, and
OSH Expo Africa under a new name
offers professionals and business
we believe that, under their new
to include a growing focus on
operators, from across a broad range
brand names, they will remain
environmental issues affecting safety
of industries, the opportunity to source
the most important expos in their
and health professionals, and to grow
new products, hear keynote seminars
respective sectors in the African
the brand in Africa,” explains Gary
and take part in exclusive networking
market going forward.”
Corin, managing director of Specialised
events tailored for the African market.
The security, safety, fire and
Exhibitions Montgomery.
protection exhibition – IFSEC South
This popular expo is aimed at the
Africa – is set to re-launch under the
African occupational health, safety
and
environmental
markets
and
Securex and A-OSH Expo will run from May 12 to 14, at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
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8
I Compliance
Contact us to find out more
LexisNexis Compliance Building No 9, Harrowdene Office Park, 124 Western Service Road, Woodmead
+27 (0) 11 245 6500
www.lncompliance.co.za
compliance@lexisnexis.co.za CT019/14
NEWS
Free Ebola app International SOS has released
SOS’s educational material, which
a new mobile app designed to
has been translated into 21 local
help share its medical and travel
languages.
information on Ebola. The free
broadcasts are available and the
app is now available on iOS and
app includes access to the video:
Android devices. It provides online,
Ebola – What business travellers need
instant access to key sections from
to know.
International SOS’s dedicated Ebola
The
website.
website
Public
awareness
International dedicated
to
SOS Ebola
Doug Quarry, medical director
(www.internationalsos.com/ebola)
for information and analysis
has been made freely available to all,
at International SOS, says: “The
removing the normal requirement
ongoing
has
for membership access. This site
become a global health emergency,
currently has around 10 000 visitors
where
a day.
Ebola rapid
outbreak
communication
of advice and information is absolutely
critical.
We
Quarry says: “Every day, we
know
continue to get new calls from our
people want up-to-date, accurate
members who have questions on
information as quickly as possible.
Ebola. These might be calls from
They want it from a trusted source,
organisations with operations in
and they want it wherever they
western Africa, or from employees
are. We designed this app to help
sitting at their desks in Europe.
meet that demand.”
These members can get the
The app is part of a wider
latest, updated information from
International SOS communication
us, alongside easy access to the
initiative aimed at supporting
key facts. With our freely available
the global fight against Ebola.
website and the new Ebola app, the
Organisations in western Africa
wider public can now also access
and beyond are using International
this expertise.”
New technology for waste tyres The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa), has started to roll out the use of balers at two of its 23 operational depots – the first time that balers are being used for waste tyre management in Africa. Stacking and transporting waste tyres is particularly difficult, due to their size and weight. Balers are assisting this process by ensuring that the tyres can be easily loaded, transported and stored. This is achieved by compressing the waste tyres into blocks, which are easily loaded with a forklift, and stacked on transporter trucks. The increased space means that a truck can take 34 t of baled tyres, as opposed to 15 to 18 t of unprocessed tyres. Viability of the depots rests on the ability to function as effectively as possible. Depots with balers have the benefit of including more waste tyres in a single load – ultimately reducing carbon emissions, as fewer loads are required. The depots’ capacity to take on additional tyres is also increased and significantly less storage space required, resulting in smaller, more easily managed and more central premises. Currently, balers are running at the Vissershoek and Pretoria East depots. Four more balers were brought into the country at the end of September for use in Durban, Ladysmith, Pretoria and Bloemfontein, and plans are in place to roll out more around the country at a later stage.
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| SHEQ management
EVAC+CHAIR® is the only SIMPLE, SAFE AND EFFECTIVE stairway emergency descent for the disabled, injured and mobility impaired.
9
NEWS
Fire protection; again, and again, and again … Personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount when working in high-risk environments. It can prevent debilitating accidents or even death. You might not be as thoroughly covered as you thought, however … “Some flame resistant (FR) fabrics run the risk of losing their flame resistance after washing, and are subject to excessive shrinking, colour fading, premature wear and ultraviolet degradation,” explains Dries Coetzer, sales and marketing director of Charnaud – an international protective clothing manufacturer. “It is critically important that the clothing remains flame resistant for the life of the garment.” He points out that Charnaud’s electric arc flash garments are arc rated and are
guaranteed to remain flame and arc resistant for the life of the garment, which means that these qualities cannot be washed out of the fabric. An arc flash hazard analysis, where the potential incident heat energy – expressed as units of energy per square centimetre of surface (cal/cm2) – is determined, revealed something very interesting … “A test was carried out on a piece of the Charnaud FR fabric, which had an arc rating of 12,4 cal/cm2 as a new garment,” notes Coetzer. “It was re-tested after being used actively for four years, and having had about 200 washes. The results revealed a 30 percent increase in the arc rating. This proves that the safety of Charnaud’s garments actually increases over time.”
| SHEQ management
When the lights need to stay off
10
The Lockout/Tagout procedure, which involves the isolation and inoperability of the energy supply of industrial machinery during maintenance, is gradually becoming standard equipment in many European, Middle Eastern and African production sites. It is easy to understand why … The procedure protects workers from the risks posed by live machinery, driven by various energy sources. It includes the use of lockout devices, personal padlocks and keys – depending on an industry’s specific needs. Based on requests from Sweden’s automotive industry, Brady is now offering a line extension of its Lockout/Tagout Twist and Secure Push Button and Emergency Stop Safety Covers. Just like the original red covers, the transparent Twist and Secure is a convenient lockout tool, which has the extra advantage of providing an obvious visual indication of the ON/OFF status of control buttons. Both the steel industry in Poland and the mining industry in South Africa also requested a next generation Lockout/Tagout keybox. Brady answered this request by providing the new Safety Redbox Group Lockout Box, which can be placed (or mounted), in various contexts, while its quickrelease mechanism offers great flexibility and portability. At the same time, the new lockbox can be locked in place, preventing any possibility of retrieving a key, outside the lockout procedure, by purposely shaking the box.
Local is lekker A new R300-million, 23 000 m2 manufacturing facility, regardless of what it will produce, is definitely something to get excited about … but DCD Wind Towers offers an even greater reason to smile! It marks a new era for South Africa’s renewable power-generation capabilities, while contributing to the long-term stability of national electricity supply. Located at the Coega Industrial Development Zone (IDZ), in the Eastern Cape, the manufacturing facility of DCD Wind Towers is a joint initiative between the DCD Group, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Coega Development Corporation (CDC). Ayanda Vilakazi, head of marketing and communications at CDC, says: “We want to attract investors to the Coega IDZ who are able to add value to the supply chain and align with national
government’s drive for localisation of manufacturing, especially in the renewable sector where there are many gaps for high-tech innovation and manufacture. A prime example of the success of this approach is DCD Wind Towers.” IDC senior account manager for the metal, transport and machinery products unit, Joseph Sithole, believes that the manufacturing sector is of tremendous importance to South Africa’s long-term economic prospects. He suggests that the establishment of the DCD Wind Towers manufacturing facility is the first step in boosting investor confidence within the renewable sector. “Facilities such as this create direct jobs, while sustaining a large number of jobs in raw material supply and service sectors,” he states.
11
| SHEQ management
NEWS
Sharman on Safety
Turn upAnthe bass! exploration into
corporate safety culture In this inaugural piece (from a series of extracts that will run throughout 2015) ANDREW SHARMAN explores corporate safety culture and provides an arsenal to build a solid, sustainable culture of safety
| SHEQ management
W 12
hat is culture and
created, yet more than six decades later,
culture as: “The way we do things around
why does it matter to
opinions are still divided on what the term
here.” Although this idea is simple to
safety professionals?
means.
understand, it feels rather vague …
The answer to why
Ultimately, in a workplace setting,
Perhaps a more meaningful definition
it matters is simple; culture heavily
“culture” concerns the collective grouping
of culture is: “The system of information
influences an individual’s behaviour by
of the organisation in a particular way
that codes the manner in which the
setting group norms. Answering the first
of thinking and acting, in order to meet
people, in an organised group, interact
question is a little more difficult. In 1952,
its prescribed objectives. This sense of
with their social and physical environment,
a list of 164 definitions of “culture” was
strategic programming often simplifies
where the frame of reference is the set of
Sharman on Safety
follow, and the material objects they create.” So, culture is the way we do things; guided by the values that we hold dear and regulated by the methods and practices accepted in the workplace. Definitions of safety culture are myriad. There may even be as many, if not more than those on the “culture” list. Most contemporary definitions appear to be based on the one generated by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations following the Chernobyl disaster, so this is a good place to begin: “The safety culture of an organisation is the product of individual and group values,
attitudes,
competencies
and
patterns of behaviour that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organisation’s health and safety programmes.” While safety culture is acknowledged as an important concept, its content and consequence have enjoyed little consensus of opinion over the last few decades, and an absence of models that
specify
relationships
between
culture, safety management and safety performance persist. Dialogue around safety culture has emerged as a popular theme in contemporary scholarship, usually as an answer to accident causation, and as the silver bullet for performance improvement. In modern times, the term is typically connected
with
the
prevention
of
accidents, and it enjoys centre stage as an approach to driving sustained performance
improvement.
Safety
culture as a concept is not without conflict, however. Despite its popularity and many attempts at its definition, the term remains an abstract concept. of external adaptation and internal
more frequently – by both researchers and
interaction within the group.”
integration, that has worked well enough
practitioners – than others. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Edgar Schein, former professor at the
to be considered valid and, therefore, to
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
be taught to new members as the correct
“The set of assumptions and associated
has spent his career studying culture in
way to perceive, think and feel in relation to
practices, which permit beliefs about
the workplace. Accordingly, his definition
those problems.”
danger and safety to be constructed”;
may bring value to our discussion: “Culture
From a psycho-social perspective,
“The embodiment of a set of principles,
is a pattern of shared tacit assumptions
culture is defined as the: “… values that
which loosely define what an organisation
learned by a group as it solved its problems,
group members share, the norms they
is like in terms of health and safety”; and
»
| SHEQ management
Fortunately some definitions are used rules, regulations, mores and methods of
13
Sharman on Safety
“The attitudes, beliefs and perceptions shared by natural groups as defining norms and values that determine how they act and react in relation to risks and risk control systems.” Although the term safety culture is now widely used and defined, it holds a
• Psychological (individual and group attitudes, perceptions and values);
reference to it) and you can see that we’re
• Behavioural (safety-related actions and behaviours); and • S ituational
talking about the same thing with which we began this article.
(policies,
organisational
safety. Remove the word safety (and any
procedures,
structures
and
management systems).
relatively young pedigree. Following the
It might just be worth a quick diversion to briefly touch on an aspect we have come to refer to as “climate”. Organisational climate, especially related to workplace
Chernobyl nuclear power plant explosion
Looking from this perspective, we can
safety, has been the subject of much
on April 26, 1986, the International Atomic
see that safety culture is the effect of
study over the last three decades. Several writers have proposed its use as a robust leading indicator for workplace safety. Interestingly, the term safety climate appears to be used as a synonym for safety culture, despite some argument that they are completely separate entities. Often, the desired state of corporate culture (whether related to safety, or more generically) is presented in a series of vision, mission, policy and value statements; however, these statements and the actual practice may not match. Why? Well, because in simple terms, we don’t create a culture in an organisation; it is already there. We can develop that culture, refine it, enhance it, or even attempt to change it, but we don’t create a completely new one. Blindly overlaying aspiration across your existing culture is like laying a carpet over a wooden floor. The wood still exists: the boards still squeak as you walk over them and the woodworms and mites are still
Energy Agency identified that the “poor
how the formal and informal aspects
safety culture” at the plant was the primary
of an organisation’s daily life influences
Really understanding your corporate
cause of the accident.
safety in either a positive or negative
culture and its nuances is vital. Purchasing
way.
an off-the-shelf audit, management
Subsequently, many other major accident investigations, including those
system or behavioural safety programme
looking at the Piper Alpha oil platform,
This influence is generated on two levels by:
just won’t cut it. Yet some organisations
the Kings Cross train station, the National
• Setting the values and norms as well as
continue to gleefully forge ahead on this
Aeronautics and Space Administration
the underlying beliefs and convictions,
route; essentially inflicting a programme or
(NASA) Challenger space shuttle and
through which workers deal with, or
system upon themselves that just doesn’t
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, have
disregard, risks; and
fit congruently with “the way they do
pinpointed safety culture as a key
• Influencing the conventions for safe
contributory factor. It may be that the
or unsafe behaviour, interaction and
concept of safety culture has evolved as a
communication.
| SHEQ management
direct response to such events.
14
busy deep within the grain.
things”. Most of the main theoretical models of safety culture appear to have been adapted and enlarged from Edgar Schein’s
But, hang on, instead of tying ourselves
Safety culture is not only similar to
model, which advocates that there are
in knots trying to define the term here,
organisational culture, but, indeed, an
three components that make up and
why not choose a preferred definition and
inextricable part of it; actively influencing
influence culture:
move forward. I see safety culture as a
attitudes, beliefs and behaviours of
Organisational Artefacts: These are
product of three interrelated aspects:
individuals with regard to workplace
readily observable in the workplace and can
Sharman on Safety include a particularly prevalent architectural
Shared Basic Assumptions: These are
• Safety systems and procedures;
or furniture style; dress code; artwork;
the source of the organisational values
• Work pressures and scheduling;
symbols or graphics; communication
and artefacts and form the essence of
• Employee training and competence;
styles and media; rituals, ceremonies or
culture. They are the deeply embedded,
• Genuine and consistent management
established events. Typically, artefacts
taken-for-granted behaviours, which are
can be recognised by people, internal and
typically carried out unconsciously. These
• Clear communication;
external to the culture or organisation.
assumptions are so well engrained in
• Employee engagement and involvement;
While tangible and easy to spot, the
the organisational dynamic that they are
• Responsibility; and
meaning of organisational artefacts is
difficult to identify and observe – even
• Regulatory compliance.
harder to decipher or interpret.
from within the corporation.
“Many major accident investigations have pinpointed safety culture as a key contributory factor.”
of safety;
So now we know that we need to consider the artefacts, values and assumptions of our organisation and that there are ten key factors for us to work on if we are to build a solid, sustainable culture of safety, but how should we move
forward? You could start by considering the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities
Espoused Values: These are not
Now you may be starting to wonder
and Threats (otherwise known as a SWOT
necessarily directly observable, but can
how you can influence the culture in your
analysis) for action against those ten
be distilled from watching how people
organisation, positively, towards safety.
factors listed above. Then, narrow your
behave.
are
In order to build a framework to do this,
focus to the key areas that will really make
essentially how the workers, at all levels,
I’ve studied the literature for you with
a difference, and you have a framework
choose to represent the organisation, both
the aim of identifying the main factors
for action.
to themselves and to others. They may lie
that influence an organisation’s safety
Next, turn down the volume on the
within the organisation’s stated beliefs,
culture. While there appears to be no
aspects of the old culture that you wish to
principles and mindsets or be expressed in
overall agreement on the most important
change and turn up the bass on the new.
official philosophies, public statements or
elements, common themes and patterns
Take every opportunity to reinforce the
rules. They may also form part of a vision
do exist in the research.
new assumptions, values and artefacts.
The
espoused
values
of the future, of what individuals or the
Be an apostle. Recruit disciples. Keep
organisation hope to become; for example,
Here are the top ten:
your foot on the gas – remember the
the popular maxims of “safety first” and
• Management commitment;
journey from accidents to zero never
“zero accidents”.
• Risk perception and management;
ends. | SHEQ
Sharman on Safety is a series of extracts that we’re running this year, from Andrew Sharman’s new book: From Accidents to Zero: a practical guide to improving your workplace safety culture. Sharman is an international member of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (SAIOSH) and the chief executive of RyderMarshSharman — consultants on leadership and cultural excellence to a wide range of blue-chip corporates and non-government organisations globally. More at www.rydermarshsharman.com. SHEQ MANAGEMENT readers can get 20 percent off Sharman’s book at: www.fromaccidentstozero.com using the code SHEQSA.
From Accidents to Zero Thought-provoking and insightful. From Accidents to Zero progressively pushed me to see new connections, and new ways to address organisations’ safety culture and risk management challenges. Mieke Jacobs, Global Practice Leader – Employee Safety, DuPont
This A to Z of safety represents an eminently practical knowledge toolbox, one filled with tools which will add value to the CEO and the front line Safety Practitioner in equal measures. Relevant, accessible and applicable, this is safety distilled and a ‘must-read’. Steven Brown, Brewery Manager, Heineken Read more at www.fromaccidentstozero.com
| SHEQ management
A practical guide to improving your workplace safety culture
15
legally speaking
Failure of state social security – what are the
implications? At the end of 2014, it was reported that one of the main state social security entities, the Road Accident Fund (RAF), may in future not pay compensation, for damages such as pain and suffering, to victims of road accidents. This change is contained in the legislation the RAF seeks to place before Parliament
| SHEQ management
T
16
he proposed change has
First, the RAF performs the vital
been necessitated by the
function of compensating victims of
Fund’s desire to cut costs
road accidents, or third parties, injured
Second, the RAF also acts as an insurer
shall become liable to compensate road accident victims.
and improve its financial
or killed, due to negligence or some
for persons whose negligence or wrongful
soundness. This is part of a process dating
other wrongful act on the part of drivers,
acts may result in the Fund being liable
back to 2007/8 when the RAF started
owners of motor vehicles, or their
for a claim.
implementing reforms to curb various
employees. The negligence, or wrongful
As a general rule, a road accident victim,
items of compensation it pays to victims of
act, must occur in connection with the
whose claim meets the requirements of
road accidents.
driving of a motor vehicle on South
the Road Accidents Fund Act of 1996, is
African roads.
prohibited from suing the negligent driver,
The RAF is a statutory body owned by government and is funded through a
Legislation, in the form of the Road
vehicle owner or employee of the owner.
levy on fuel purchased at the pumps by
Accidents Fund Act of 1996, specifies
The victim must instead claim from the
motorists. Its purpose is twofold.
the circumstances under which the RAF
Fund.
legally speaking has been insolvent for the past 30 years. Previous attempts to cut costs and return
words, there were few restrictions on the
the institution to financial viability have
amount one could claim, as long as the
been unsuccessful, and it remains to
amount was proved and justified to the
be seen whether the results of current
satisfaction of the parties or the court.
proposals will be any different.
Over the years, a number of restrictions
Interestingly, the main causes of
to amounts payable have been introduced
the Fund’s skyrocketing costs are well
in an attempt to cut costs and improve
known. For example, it is an open secret
the solvency of the Fund. For instance,
that legal fees are perhaps the single
claims for loss of income were limited to
largest cost item in the entire structure
R160 000 per annum in 2008.
of RAF claims, but little appears to have
While the primary objectives of the RAF are noble, the institution has fallen
been done over the years to address this problem.
victim to serious agency issues, which
However, a more relevant question for
have culminated in escalating costs over
purposes of this discussion is: What are
the years. As a consequence, the Fund
the implications for employers when a
»
“While the primary objectives of the RAF are noble, the institution has fallen victim to serious agency issues, which have culminated in escalating costs over the years.”
| SHEQ management
In the past, the RAF paid claims in terms of common law rules. In other
17
legally speaking
state institution, meant to perform a vital
against the driver and his employer if, for
suffering, from the employer in terms of
role like the RAF, fails?
some reason, the RAF is unable to pay a
Section 35 (1) of the Compensation for
particular claim.
Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act
It must be noted that a sizeable number of vehicles on public roads are owned by
Given the cuts seen in recent years
employers and, at any given time, these
to amounts victims can claim from the
Another option would be to transfer
vehicles are driven by employees of the
Fund, it is important to determine how
the claims, excluded by the RAF in its
owners in the course of employment.
no. 130 of 1993.
these savings will be used. Take the
cost-cutting drive, to drivers and owners,
At common law, if such a vehicle is
current proposals by the Fund, to stop
whose negligence or wrongful acts result
negligently driven and causes injury to
paying damages for pain and suffering,
in injury to third parties. Thus, in terms
a third party, the third party has a claim
as an example. The question is: If victims
of the current proposals, if Parliament
against the employer of the driver under
of serious road accidents are no longer
resolves that the RAF should not pay
the doctrine of vicarious liability.
allowed to claim these damages from the
damages for pain and suffering anymore,
Fund, then who will be responsible for
then victims should instead be allowed to
their payment?
sue the driver, owner, or employee of the
However, due to the existence of the RAF, this common law position has over the years generally been inapplicable,
One can foresee two possible solutions
because, once a claim meets the
to this question. One option would be to take
requirements of Section 17 of the RAF
the route used in workmen’s compensation
Option one appears a less likely
Act, the driver, and by implication his
and ban such claims altogether. In terms of
proposition. This is because people put
employer, cannot be sued as Section 21
South African workmen’s compensation
vehicles on public roads for a variety
of the Act prohibits such actions.
legislation, an employee injured in the
of reasons, including for the purpose of
It is, however, conceivable that
course of employment cannot claim
business and pleasure. If all vehicles plying
a common law claim could be brought
common law damages, including pain and
our roads were serving the same purpose
owner (and by implication his employer) for those damages.
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legally speaking – being used for business and, therefore,
The persistent restriction of claims, for
employers were, to a very large extent,
helping in wealth creation for the country,
which the RAF accepts liability, represents
insulated from vicarious liability claims
for example – then option one would have
a failure on the part of this vital institution.
associated with negligent driving of
some merit.
It is unbelievable that the RAF has been
motor vehicles by their employees. This
insolvent for such a long time without a
is because, as long as the accident fell
solution being found.
within the scope of the RAF Act, the driver
The reality is, however, that not all vehicles are on the road for business purposes. Some are on the road for social
In addition, when state entities
and other reasons, which have nothing to
designed to provide a critical, social and
do with business. As a result, when drivers
economic service, such as compensating
At the time, cover provided by the RAF
of vehicles negligently injure or kill third
victims of road accidents, respond to their
was wide, since victims were compensated
parties, against a background of increasing
failure by limiting the scope of protection
according to common law principles.
failure by state entities, like the RAF, to
they are supposed to provide, under the
Today this is no longer the case. The RAF
meet their obligations, we should expect to
banner of cutting costs, invariably the
cover continues to shrink with the net
see more responsibility for the cost of these
very same costs that are cut (if at all)
result that liability for damages, for which
accidents being shifted to private individuals
are transferred to the people who are
the RAF is absolving itself from paying,
and employers (in the case of accidents
supposed to be protected.
will ultimately be borne by employers and
caused in the course of employment).
When the RAF was established,
(employee) could not be sued and nor could the employer.
private individuals. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
Legally Speaking is a regular column by Albert Mushai from the school of Economics and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. Mushai holds a master’s degree from the City University, London, and was the head of the insurance department at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe before joining the University of the Witwatersrand as a lecturer in insurance.
19
COVER STORY
I
RCA Global, which began its local
What role do training, education, research
management, incident analysis, legal liability
operations in 1993, went from
and development play within IRCA
and skills programmes. We also offer risk
humble
Global? And how important are these to
assessments and auditor programmes.
beginnings
(starting
in a small flat in Hillbrow) to an
the company and your clients? Misrole: They play a key role within the
certificate courses, diplomas and a Bachelor
in Africa, the Middle East, China and
organisation. Our research enables us to stay
of Commerce degree, which are customised
Australia).
abreast with the latest trends, both locally
for operational risk management. We
It has expanded its risk management
and abroad. It also helps us to keep tabs
provide these together with the Da Vinci
solutions to cover several areas in the
on any new developments, and the way in
Institute for Technology Management (a
SHEQ-driven industries. These include
which the SHEQ industry is progressing …
registered higher education and training
assessing, advising and assisting various
institution).
organisations to reduce operational risk
What training and development courses
exposure.
do you offer?
How have the training and education,
This is all made possible by the
Venter: We provide a vast range of health
and the research and development
company’s research, development, training
and safety courses including short courses.
departments developed as the company
and education divisions …
The course categories include: SHEQ
has grown?
Keep on
training
| SHEQ management
IRCA Global, as the name suggests, has offices worldwide – but it has more than a diverse footprint … It offers a wide range of systems, products and services for risk management in the areas of safety, health, the environment and quality (SHEQ). JACO DE KLERK speaks to Wensley Misrole, executive of research and development, and Lynne Venter, executive: training and education
20
On the education side, we’ve got
international contender (with offices
COVER STORY Misrole: Since we started, we’ve grown the
the industry. We have found that many
Often the shortcomings are in the area
list of courses that we offer to the public
supervisors do not have all the tools and
of middle management, resulting in
exponentially. We currently have over 100
knowledge to do what is expected of
organisations not being as successful as
courses and we’re constantly innovating
them.
they could be.
requests. We’ve learned a lot from the field exposure we have had over the years, and we have ploughed back the knowledge we have gained into the training courses. What trends are you most excited about? Misrole: There are quite a few, but the one that stands out the most is the safety leadership programme for supervisors. We’ve identified problems in this area in
We are, therefore, offering courses in
On the formal education side – which
safety leadership for supervisors, because
includes certificates, diplomas and degrees
they play a key role in any organisation.
– there are a lot of industry practitioners,
“With our current initiatives, we believe the future for IRCA is quite bright.”
with years of experience. This is difficult to convert into a full qualification. We’ve expanded our partnership with the Da Vinci Institute to offer formal qualifications that enable people with extensive experience to receive recognition of prior learning. Candidates can, therefore, be given credit for skills, knowledge and experience gained through working and learning – enabling them to continue to work towards formal qualifications. What challenges does IRCA face and how is the company overcoming these? Misrole: On the formal education side one of the challenges is the cost. This prevents many people from actually pursuing a formal education. How is this being dealt with? Misrole: In some cases companies are paying for their employees. In other cases, employees are paying for themselves by taking loans. They see education as an investment in their future. There are no bursaries at the moment, but it is something that we are looking into and working towards. Venter: From Da Vinci’s side, it assists by offering students a monthly payment option – so it isn’t necessary for them to pay all their fees up front. What does the future hold for IRCA Global? Misrole: With our current initiatives, and our ongoing research and development, we believe the future for IRCA is quite bright. We are broadening our scope of services that we can offer to clients, and, through that, we’ll keep the company sustainable into the future. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
and adding new ones to satisfy our clients’
21
POLLUTION
e-waste per annum! 250 000 t of
Where must it go?
Technology has catapulted humanity’s development by enhancing our productivity and making life a whole lot easier … but it doesn’t come without its perils! Electronic waste (e-waste) is a lot more dangerous than one could ever imagine …
| SHEQ management
U
22
nited States-based Cen Cal Ewaste, a company that offers free recycling solutions to help both businesses and residents to properly recycle electronic equipment, shines some light on the matter: “When you look at a computer or cellphone, it doesn’t appear to be dangerous. Typically, only the outer casing is visible, but it’s what’s inside that poses a threat to the environment, people and animals.” It adds that electronic products are
jam-packed with heavy- and semi-metals, including various chemical compounds that can leak into soil – becoming hazardous along the way. “Lead, mercury, copper, barium, nickel and even arsenic are all present within a variety of electronic products,” states Cen Cal. “When they’re thrown away or placed in landfills, these products often break apart, which can expose the inner workings and those dangerous chemicals and metals.” According to Cen Cal, 80 percent of the electronics that are bought and used
every day aren’t recycled properly! Closer to home things look even more bleak. Explains Christopher Olver, former contributing editor to Journalist’s Resource (named one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association): “Information communication technology (ICT) products, such as computers and cellphones, have proliferated throughout the world, and many developing nations are consuming them at an increasing rate.” This is only half of the story. “As these
»
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23
POLLUTION
goods become technologically outdated in wealthier nations, they are often shipped to developing countries for refurbishment, recycling or disposal,” writes Olver. “However, such countries are sometimes ill-equipped to deal with the parts found in many products in an ecologically sound manner.” To determine the effects of e-waste, the United Nations (UN) examined the ecological and economic impact of electrical and electronics equipment (EEE)
of these items make their way to the western part of Africa,” Olver points out. “Close to half of the items are repaired, while the rest are recycled or discarded.” Nigeria reportedly leads the region in e-waste volume, generating approximately 1,1 million tonnes annually. As for the exporting countries, the report states that the United Kingdom (UK) leads the pack, followed (with large gaps in between) by France and Germany … “In the case of television receivers
E-waste is filled with various chemicals and heavy metals that pose a threat to the environment and people. recycling, and disposal practices, in five countries in western Africa. The report, entitled: Where are WEee in Africa?, looked at Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. Olver quotes from the report: “Seventy percent of all imports, to the five countries, are used EEE, with 30 percent of this being non-functioning EEE.” He says that computers imported from Western countries account for between ten and 70 percent of all ICT in these nations. “Despite strict regulations governing the trade of damaged ICT, 30 to 50 percent
and monitors, it is apparent that German exports are rising sharply, while UK exports are declining,” relates Where are WEee in Africa? “Both countries provide nearly 100 percent of the television and monitor exports to western Africa.” Nearly all of the region’s e-waste ends up being processed by a largely unregulated, informal recycling industry. “Recycling activities often take place on unfortified ground where harmful substances released during dismantling are discharged directly into the soil,” states the UN.
“Burning copper cables and wires, as well as monitor and TV casings, creates an accumulation of ash and partially burned materials at the burning sites,” the international organisation points out. “Insulating foam from dismantled refrigerators (primarily polyurethane containing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)), or old car tyres are often used as the main fuels for the fires … contributing to acute chemical hazards and longterm contamination at the burning sites, as well as emitting ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.” Olver adds that workers in the western African scrap metal and recycling industry have to contend with health risks ranging from cuts to spinal injuries and respiratory illnesses – all for a daily wage below the international poverty line … (around R10 a day). The report’s authors conclude: “Altogether it is roughly estimated that during the past few years, at least 250 000 t of e-waste per annum ‘illegally’ entered the ports of the five selected western African countries … This is comparable to the total amount of e-waste generated in small European countries such as Belgium or The Netherlands, and equates to approximately five percent of all e-waste generated in the European Union.” Africa is certainly climbing the technological ladder. Over the last decade, the penetration rate of personal computers in western African countries has increased tenfold, and the number of mobile phone subscribers has increased one hundredfold … E-waste definitely needs to be addressed while it is still a “small” problem, as development without sustainability isn’t much development at all! | SHEQ
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25
SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE
breath Take a deep
| SHEQ management
Various respiratory protective products are available on the market. Precision Safety Appliances (PSA) shares some insights about respirators and how to choose the right one for the job
26
Types of respirators
SCBAs provide a readily available supply
put on and the worker evacuates the plant.
Air-purifying respirators: These are used
of independent air; however, they are
They are not suitable for oxygen-deficient
in environments where sufficient oxygen
restrictive in that they will only provide
atmospheres.
is present and the specific gas hazard has
working time relative to the pressure
“Stored pressure” escape devices have
been identified and quantified. Portable
available in the cylinder (typically about 30
compact air cylinders containing sufficient
or fixed instruments are able to provide
to 40 minutes).
air for escape purposes and provide an
continuous oxygen readings, and are also
Airline respirators: Using a suitable
independent supply of air, thus making them
available with toxic sensors to detect and
compressor as the source of air provides the
suitable for oxygen-deficient atmospheres.
quantify specific toxic hazards.
benefit of continuous availability of air, while
While they are more cumbersome than air
Independent air supply: Self-contained
the compressor is running. The connection
purifying devices, they provide a suitable
breathing apparatus or airline respirators
points are, however, generally fixed around
backup should the airline supply line be
are suitable for environments where the
the factory and may not always be situated
interrupted.
oxygen content is low, or the toxic gas
close enough to where the compressor is
is beyond the protection ability of air
required. Portable compressors providing
Why do you need both gas detection
purifying respirators, since they provide
“breathing quality air” are very useful, but
and respiratory protection?
an independent source of safe air. Despite
costly, and thus often considered more
Respiratory protection does not provide
the independent air source, there is still the
suitable as a rental option.
the user with a means to detect the
possibility of a flammable atmosphere that
Escape respiratory protective devices:
presence of flammable vapours, toxic
needs to be considered, which is why the
These are available in either “air-purifying”
gases, volatile organic compounds or
environment should still be tested.
or “stored pressure” format. The former
an oxygen-deficient or oxygen-enriched
is often worn by personnel in factories
atmosphere.
What equipment limitations need
as personal protective equipment where
be considered, even while donning the
Gas
detectors
should
to be considered when selecting
the general possibility of a specific gas
respiratory protection, since the results
respiratory protection?
hazard, or potential leak, is present. In
provide an indication of the concentrations
Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA):
such instances, the respirator is quickly
in the atmosphere. | SHEQ
HINTS QUALITY AND TIPS
Preparing your business for an
emergency Action Training Academy (ATA) director, Alastair Farish, points out that the solution to managing medical emergencies, unexpected fires or building evacuations is a structured health and safety (H&S) approach Step one: Training
we find that, in haste to complete training
The size of the premises, type
Companies are required to ensure that their
requirements, organisations often train one
of production being undertaken and
workforces are trained in the disciplines
person in first aid, firefighting as well as
occupancy classification all form part of
of firefighting, first aid and evacuation
evacuation planning – only to find that
the assessment. Technicians then supply,
planning.
during a real emergency or evacuation drill,
install and maintain the firefighting, first aid,
they can fulfil only one role.
evacuation and H&S equipment.
It is important to ensure that the trained H&S team is evenly spread
Have three people trained in separate
out across the organisation’s building
disciplines, instead of one person in all three
Step three: Management
structure. Take, for example, a large
disciplines. It is important to spread these
The success of creating a healthy, safe
organisation that has ten buildings. If
lifesaving skills across the workforce.
and prepared environment depends largely on senior management/executive buy-in,
there is a heart attack in building number eight, then it is of utmost importance
Step two: Equipment
as well as the establishment of an H&S
that there is a person trained in first aid
With a trained health and safety team,
committee – which is responsible for driving
within that building.
the organisation needs to ensure that
the success of the H&S strategy.
It is best practice to have a first aider
appropriate equipment is procured and
The committee is made up of health
located within four to six minutes of any
installed in the correct locations across the
and safety supervisors and representatives,
location within the organisation. If someone
company’s premises.
who are required by law to meet at least every three months.
suffers cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary
It is often difficult for organisations
resuscitation (CPR) must be administered
to determine what they actually need to
ATA’s aim is to assist organisations
within four to six minutes – if this doesn’t
comply with the regulatory requirements,
to prepare themselves for unplanned
happen, irreversible tissue damage to the
as these are quite complex and there
emergency crises. Our philosophy is to
brain can occur.
is definite science behind it. ATA’s H&S
create awareness and preparedness, and, in
In addition, it is important to carefully
practitioners often assist organisations
so doing, minimise risk and loss of life. H&S
select staff for each role and to ensure
with an “H&S Equipment Assessment”
is not an option, it is an obligation, and we
that each H&S team member is trained
which determines what equipment is
need to create a healthy, safe and prepared
in only one of the disciplines. Very often
necessary.
environment for everyone! | SHEQ
ACTION TRAINING ACADEMY – Your preferred national Health & Safety training provider, also specialising in H&S equipment supply and implementing effective H&S management services and solutions.
WE OFFER: FIRST AID NATIONWIDE BRANCHES: // FOURWAYS tel: (+27 11) 704 6597
EVACUATION PLANNING
FIRE FIGHTING // DURBAN tel: (+27 31) 571 6700
www.actiontraining.co.za // PORT ELIZABETH tel: (+27 41) 374 1336
// CAPE TOWN tel: (+27 21) 486 1000
// VANDERBIJLPARK tel: (+27 16) 931 2050
»
| SHEQ management
“Creating a healthy, safe & prepared working environment for all”
27
QUALITY
Quality leaders breed quality relationships
According to a paper compiled by Development Dimensions International (DDI), conversations are the lifeblood of leadership. When leaders are adept at conversations, they do much more than communicate effectively – they drive stronger business results
| SHEQ management
O
28
ver the last 30 to 40 years,
that there is a core set of skills everyone
Clarify: There are two types of information
perhaps the most significant
needs to master in order to effectively
to collect in this step: facts and figures,
change in the corporate
build relationships and get work done.
as well as issues and concerns. Both are
landscape has been the
A wide range of interactions define
transition from an economic society
a leadership role, including: conducting
the situation.
based on physical and tangible assets, to
team
coaching,
Develop: When developing ideas, it is
one based on intangible assets, such as:
seeking input from stakeholders on key
important to ask questions and include
customer relationships, ideas, innovation
decisions, listening to customers, leading
others in the process. Most leaders will
and brand.
meetings,
providing
essential to building a complete picture of
major changes, influencing the direction
have ideas about what to do, and they
Human beings are social creatures.
of a new structure, delegating tasks and
should share them. However, they should
In our daily lives and at work, we are
assignments, and conducting performance
also put equal emphasis on seeking ideas
constantly
discussions.
of others.
interacting
with
others.
Whether these interactions happen face-
Leaders can meet practical needs
Agree: Leaders and the people involved in
to-face, over the phone, or through e-mail
and structure discussions by using five
the conversation should agree on a plan for
or text, the way we treat others, and how
interaction guidelines. These form a five-
following through on the ideas that were
we communicate with them, makes an
step process and provide a direct route for
developed, and for supporting those who
impact – for better or worse. So, what
the discussion – which will take leaders to
will take action.
are the skills required to conduct effective
clear and agreed-upon outcomes.
Close: The final chance to check that
interactions?
Open: Ensures that discussions have
everyone is clear on the agreements and
a clear purpose and that everyone
the next steps, and are committed to
talent, conducting research and creating
understands
following through.
development programmes, DDI has found
accomplishing it.
During its 40-plus years of assessing
the
importance
of
DDI also identified seven “interaction
QUALITY sins”, which capture some of the common
not be deployed in another.
others to develop ideas; they oversimplify
missteps that befall leaders – at all levels
For instance, the highest levels of
the issues surrounding change; and they
– when it comes to conducting effective
empathy and diplomacy are often saved
show little appreciation for the impact of
conversations:
for situations where people are trying to
a change, assuming others will simply get
influence peers. In these situations, they
on board.
Straight to fixing the problem
are more likely to demonstrate diplomacy
Leaders, who have often been rewarded
and tact, and will more effectively clarify a
for getting things done and fixing problems,
situation in order to calibrate each party’s
jump too quickly to presenting the solution.
understanding of the issue at stake.
They fail to understand the context of a situation and miss opportunities to involve
Influencing through the facts
other parties.
only Leaders need to spend much more time
One size fits all
understanding the perspectives of others
Over time, leaders develop a preferred
before presenting and positioning ideas.
style and/or approach to meetings and
Too often they rely on logic and rationale to
interactions. They can be oblivious to the
position an argument or point of view.
impact that this approach has on certain
They need to embrace more subtle
situations or individuals. They may also
means that proactively build stakeholder
struggle
networks and appeal to the unique
to
accommodate
different
perspectives.
“Leaders need to spend much more time understanding the perspectives of others before presenting and positioning ideas.“
needs and circumstances of particular
Neglecting to coach in the moment
stakeholders.
When asked to coach direct reports, leaders
Avoiding the tough issues
are generally effective at clarifying what Spotting opportunities for change
performance is required, having an open
tough issues, particularly those relating
but forgetting to engage others
dialogue, and offering support for future
to performance. They lack the skills and
Leaders often recognise the need for
challenges. However, they often neglect
insight to diffuse situations and/or tackle
change. They identify opportunities for
to provide guidance “in the moment of
areas that are perceived to be more
improvement in areas such as products
need”. Furthermore, their assessment of
sensitive. As a result, the issues can be left
and processes. However, they struggle to
development needs can be superficial;
unresolved; leading to increased tension
engage others in the change process.
missing opportunities to investigate
Many leaders struggle to address the
and consequences.
They don’t proactively encourage
underlying performance gaps. | SHEQ
Inconsistent application across different contexts Leaders often adopt a different approach to different situations and contexts. Skills
| SHEQ management
that they readily apply in one situation may
29
CONSTRUCTION
More than
7 500 injuries! What is to be done?
The construction industry is a massive cog in any country’s economy, but this high-risk sector doesn’t come without its costs in term of injuries … JACO DE KLERK talks to Herman Enoch, inland regional manager for the Federated Employers’ Mutual Assurance Company (FEM), and Alco-Safe’s MD, Rhys Evans about reducing the risks
Z
ero harm. Something all high-
of tougher legislation and a change of
worse. We don’t actually know how bad
risk industries aspire to, but, if
attitudes towards health and safety among
the problem is with drugs. There are no
you look at the injury figures for
construction companies.”
statistics available, but, going on what you
a large portion of South Africa’s
It appears that the construction
see in the papers and a lot of the tests
construction industry between 2004 and
industry is moving in the right direction.
that we see, there is also a big drug abuse
2014, it would seem that they are building
“Health and safety should, however,
problem in the construction industry.”
castles in the sky rather than implementing
begin at project conceptualisation and
Evans adds that it is, thus, extremely
sound safety practices …
planning stage and not be implemented
important to test.
| SHEQ management
Statistics
30
has
only in later stages,” Enoch emphasises.
“We did a study with a company, based
been licensed to transact workmen’s
from
FEM,
which
“Adequate funds and resources should
in KwaZulu-Natal, and found that, after
compensation insurance claims for the
be allocated to any project, irrespective
about nine months of introducing alcohol
building and construction industry since
of size.”
testing – just alcohol testing – accidents
1936, shows that injuries within South
It would be wise for a part of these
Africa’s construction industry rose from
funds to be used for drug and alcohol
and disability claims went down by about
8 144 in 2004 to 10 391 in 2009. This
testing devices … Evans emphasises the
Testing equipment also provides much
number did, however, come down to 7 584
importance of drug and alcohol testing
faster, more accurate and reliable results
in 2014. *
55 percent.”
within the construction industry: “A study
than in the past. “In the old days, equipment
The numbers are, at least, declining.
showed that, in the construction industry,
could do one or two tests a minute – now it
Enoch adds: “The construction undertaken
approximately one in five people arrive at
can do close to 18 tests in the same time,”
in the lead up to the World Cup in 2010
work under the influence of alcohol.”
Evans points out.
was a major contributor to the increase
He continues: “Construction is a high-
“The speed of instruments has increased
I can only surmise that the
risk environment, and to add alcohol into
dramatically, which makes them a lot more
recent decline in accidents is as a result
the mix as well just makes the situation
popular,” he adds. “Companies find that
in 2009.
»
31
| SHEQ management
????????????????
CONSTRUCTION
they no longer have to wait half an hour to
“It also has to state that the company
The procedure in question is another
test their people, as they can do the same
will be undertaking random and compulsory
test. “If an employee tests positive the
number of tests in five minutes.”
testing; when and why that testing will
first time, the operator has to wait for 15
isn’t
be done, and what actions will be taken
minutes before testing the person again,”
without its challenges, however … “The
against people who are found under the
Evans points out. This time period allows
biggest challenge relates to the use of
influence,” Evans points out. “This is very
alcohol in the mouth to evaporate.
the equipment,” Evans points out. “The
important, as workers might want to
equipment is so good now that people
challenge the legality of a test.”
Drug
and
alcohol
testing
“So, if an employee tests positive the first time, he or she will be taken aside
don’t really challenge its accuracy. What
On this subject, he adds that there
for 15 minutes. They will not be allowed
they would challenge, however, are the
are rumours that substances containing
to eat, drink or smoke, to ensure that
structures and the policies around it.”
alcohol, such as mouthwash and cough
there isn’t anything that could cause a false positive,” Evans explains. “The result of the second test will tell us whether the alcohol was only in their mouth or in their blood,” he points out. “If it is still positive, it is definitely blood-related alcohol, as it takes one’s liver about one hour to remove just one drink from the blood, but alcohol in the mouth normally evaporates within five to six minutes.” Testing equipment can, thus, help to keep intoxicated worker from entering a site – which is an absolute necessity when working in the construction industry’s high-risk environment … This industry still has a way to go
| SHEQ management
before the injuries are reduced to a totally
32
He adds that companies, therefore,
syrup, can influence the test equipment –
acceptable level (namely zero), but keeping
have to have good substance abuse
ending in a false accusation. “If you don’t
intoxicated employees at bay will be a
policies in place. These have to state that
follow proper procedure, this is possible,”
massive step in the right direction. | SHEQ
the company is aware of the alcohol abuse
says Evans. “A breathalyser is designed to
problem in South Africa as well as the
test for alcohol, but the correct procedures
represents around 70 percent of the building
Occupational Health and Safety Act, which
will help to differentiate whether the
and construction industry. The balance would
specifies a zero-tolerance approach to
alcohol is only in someone’s mouth or if it
have to be obtained from the Department of
intoxication in the workplace.
is in their blood.”
Labour …
*
These are only FEM stats and
FIRST AID
First aid at work
As an employer, you are responsible for making sure that your employees receive immediate attention if they take ill, or are injured at work. First aid can save lives and prevent minor injuries from becoming major ones ... Education and Training Authority (SETA)
the illness or injury, and in some cases
as a small office should have
institute with further accreditations with
might involve completing a treatment,
a first-aid kit and a person
the Department of Labour. Gary Singh,
for instance applying a plaster to a small
appointed to take charge
business manager at OHST, says: “We
wound.
of first-aid arrangements, such as calling
offer expertly delivered first-aid courses
the emergency services, if necessary, and
on levels one, two and three.” Singh
The first aider is also likely to be trained in
stocking the first-aid kit. In this instance,
shares the following useful information
dealing with injuries such as cuts, grazes
the appointed person does not need
regarding first-aid training:
or bone fractures. He or she may be able
specific first-aid training.
to deal with the situation in its entirety (a
Workplaces where there are more
The key aims of first aid (also known as the
small adhesive bandage on a paper cut, for
significant health and safety risks are more
“three Ps”):
instance), or may be required to maintain
likely to need a trained first aider. A first-
• Preserve life: the main aim of all medical
the condition of something like a broken
aid needs assessment will help employers
care, including first aid, is to save lives and
bone, until the next stage of definitive care
decide what first-aid arrangements are
minimise the threat of death.
(usually an ambulance) arrives.
appropriate for their workplace. Such an
• Prevent further harm: this covers both
assessment should include consideration
external factors, such as moving a
Skills – It is all about the ABCs
of the workplace, the workforce and the
patient away from any cause of harm,
Certain skills are considered essential to
hazards and risks that are present.
as well as applying first-aid techniques
the provision of first aid and are taught
The findings should indicate the level of
to prevent the condition from worsening;
ubiquitously. ABC stands for Airway,
first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel
for example, applying pressure to
Breathing, and Circulation. The ABCs, which
required.
stop bleeding.
focus on critical life-saving intervention,
Occupational
Health
and
Safety
• Promote recovery: first aid also involves
Training (OHST) is a fully accredited Sector
trying to start the recovery process after
must be rendered before treatment of less serious injuries.
»
| SHEQ management
E
ven a low-risk workplace such
33
FIRST AID
The same system is used by all emergency health professionals.
Evacuation chairs for stairway evacuation
Attention must first be brought to the airway to ensure it is clear and open. Obstruction (choking) is a life-threatening emergency. Following evaluation of the airway, a first aider would determine adequacy of breathing and provide rescue breathing if necessary.
“In case of emergency, do not use the lifts, use the stairs!”
Assessment of circulation is done to determine if artificial circulation
This a familiar sign next to all lifts, but few stop to think
(chest compressions) is required.
of the implications for those people who cannot use the
Training is generally provided by attending a course, typically
stairs, due to injuries or other mobility impairments. These
leading to certification. Due to regular changes in procedures and
people’s lives would indeed be in danger if an emergency
protocols, based on updated clinical knowledge, and to maintain
evacuation from the upper levels had to take place and
skills, attendance at regular refresher courses or re-certification is
there were no adequate plans to ensure their safety.
often necessary.
Employers are required to maintain proper evacuation
In South Africa, the legislation is promulgated by the Occupational
plans and equipment, train staff accordingly and to
Health and Safety Act no. 85 of 1993. Specifically, the General Safety
practise the procedures during regular fire drills.
Regulation – GSR 3(4) provides for the requirement on compliance.
First aiders are trained and equipped to provide “basic life support and emergency first aid” to people with
Know your duties as an employer
injuries, but may not be adequately equipped to provide
The training institute must be SETA-accredited. It should also have
for safe evacuation down the stairs. It is always a slow
further accreditation with the Department of Labour and be issued with
and difficult process to carry a stretcher down stairs and
a certification number, which must be displayed on all certificates.
would require at least four able-bodied people.
• The validity of these certificates must be three years.
Specialised equipment, such as stairway evacuation chairs, are available and should be considered as one
• First aiders must be trained and appointed, as per GSR3(4). • First-aid kits must be made available by the employer, as per GSR3(a).
of the essential tools necessary to protect valued staff, customers and other visitors to the upstairs levels of
First-aid kits
buildings.
At least one first-aid kit should be provided for each workplace,
Roger Buckley, managing director of Edwards &
although more than one might be required on larger sites. Kits should
Buckley Systems, which manufactures the Evac Chair
be made easily accessible. The contents should be checked frequently
in South Africa, stresses the importance of having a
and restocked after any use.The kit should provide basic equipment for
comprehensive emergency evacuation plan, which
administering first aid for injuries including:
includes safe evacuation for people with injuries or
• c uts, scratches, punctures, grazes and splinters;
physical disabilities. “Having the right equipment in place,
• m uscular sprains and strains;
as well as ensuring correct usage through proper training
• m inor burns;
and practise, are the keys to providing a truly safe
• a mputations and/or major bleeding wounds;
environment for all building occupants. Evac Chairs are
• b roken bones;
not just for people with disabilities. Anybody could be
• e ye injuries; and
injured or collapse, for example due to smoke inhalation,
• s hock.
and would then also need the correct equipment to be available.”
Quick access to the kit is vital. First-aid kits should be kept in a
| SHEQ management
prominent, accessible location where they can be retrieved promptly.
34
FIRST AID Access should also be ensured in security-controlled workplaces. In addition, kits should be located close to areas where there is a higher risk of injury or illness. For example, a school with a science laboratory or carpentry workshop should have first-aid kits located in these areas. If the workplace occupies several floors in a multi-storey building, at least one kit should be located on every second floor. Emergency floor plans displayed in the workplace should include the location of first-aid kits. A portable first-aid kit should be provided in the vehicles of mobile workers if that is their workplace (for example, couriers, taxi drivers, sales representatives, bus drivers and inspectors). These kits should be safely stored so as not to become a projectile in the event of an
First aid should also be used to help with the recovery process after an illness or injury – for instance, giving an employee a pain pill for a sprained neck.
accident. | SHEQ
Workplace accidents happen – First Aid will make the difference Workplace accidents will happen. When your employees complete a comprehensive St John First Aid course they will be able to:
s recognise when first aid is needed s provide first aid at an emergency scene s know when more qualified emergency medical assistance is necessary
We know the importance of having proper, professional skills in an emergency and that’s why at St John we continually revise our courses to ensure they are:
s LEANER CENTRED s SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYEES WITH LIMITED READING AND WRITING SKILLS s SUPPORTED BY ON SCREEN PRESENTATIONS AND LOTS OF HANDS ON PRACTICE s ACCREDITED WITH THE $EPARTMENT OF ,ABOUR s ACCREDITED WITH THE (EALTH AND 7ELFARE 3%4!
Our range of First Aid training courses include:
www.stjohn.org.za
s &IRST !ID ,EVEL n %MERGENCY ,EVEL s &IRST !ID ,EVEL n 3TANDARD ,EVEL s #02 !%$ #OURSES s "ASIC ,IFE 3UPPORT ",3 Accredited with the Resuscitation Council of SA s &IRE 3AFETY s (EALTH 3AFETY IN THE 7ORKPLACE
"LOEMFONTEIN #APE 4OWN $URBAN %AST ,ONDON &ISH (OEK
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| SHEQ management
Contact us to book your first aid training course today:
35
WORKING AT HEIGHTS
Keeping you on
cloud nine
It’s said that falls from heights are one of the leading causes of workplace injuries and account for 50 percent of all fatal accidents. It is, thus, very important to know what to look for when choosing fall arrest equipment …
W | SHEQ management
are safe and efficient,” says Joshua Low,
solution to fall arrest issues that will
place across multiple
African Occupational Safety and Health
provide user comfort, maximised personal
scenarios
(A-OSH) event director at show organiser
safety and optimised productivity. Fall
Specialised Exibitions Montgomery.
protection equipment should be mobile,
where
safety plays a major
role. Since these environments are diverse
“Our exhibitors will be on hand at the
lightweight, portable and modular in
and multi-disciplined, they require a full
A-OSH Expo to guide utility and municipal
order to adapt to different applications.”
range of fall protection solutions to meet
risk managers on the most appropriate
It is very important to know what to
the needs of a variety of workplaces.
equipment to use in each specific
look for. A full-body harness is designed
Pole climbing workers, for example,
application,” he points out. A-OSH Expo
with straps that fasten around the body
may be required to climb light and
is the re-launched brand of OSH Africa
in order to distribute the fall arrest forces
electrical poles made out of both
– and will continue to feature a number
over the upper thighs, pelvis, chest and
wood and steel. In addition, finding a
of seminars and conferences on current
shoulders. Protection should be provided
comfortable position to stand or rest
health, safety and well-being issues in the
to reduce the impact on the internal
is often difficult – particularly when
area of fall arrest. (You can read all about
organs, as well as major muscle and bone
weather conditions are not ideal.
the rebranding process on page 8.)
groups around the pelvis.
“However,
36
orking at height takes
effectively
ascending
“Maintenance and general contractors
When selecting a full-body harness,
and descending poles, using proper
also find themselves working in a variety
users are advised to consider the back
techniques and safety equipment, can
of environments, and face different
D-ring/web loop, with dorsal web loops
ensure that the handling, transportation,
challenges on a daily basis,” adds Low.
being preferred; the webbing, which
installation, and removal of utility poles
“This is why it is critical to find a flexible
must be durable and UV protected;
WORKING AT HEIGHTS the adjusting points (for good fit and
The design of anchorage connectors
comfort); leg straps; and whether it has
depends on whether they will be
Solutions
Another such company is HSE
pelvic support (for additional support).
(exclusive
partners
of
connected to steel, wood or concrete
Honeywell Safety products), which has
They should also check whether it
and whether they are fixed or mobile.
a comprehensive range of fall arrest
has labels detailing date of manufacture,
Snap hooks and carabiners should be
equipment, under the Miller brand,
inspection details and user instructions;
self-locking to eliminate the danger of
including: full-body harnesses, ascenders
double box stitching, which provides
rollout (accidental disengagement of a
and descenders, confined space and
maximum
durability;
connector). They should be simple to
retrieval equipment, permanent fall
padding, with cushioning to provide
operate and capable of withstanding a
protection
extra comfort; breathable lining; impact
22 kN load.
anchorage systems, connecting devices
strength
and
indicators (if available); a quick-connect buckle; and a seat sling.
systems
and
lifelines,
reputable
(such as lanyards and self-retracting
supplier should always be used for all
lifelines), rope grabs as well as rescue and evacuation equipment.
A-OSH
adds
that
a
Shock-absorbing lanyards should
fall arrest equipment. For example,
have rugged and durable webbing and a
Heightsafety Gear specialises in the
The Work at Height Theatre at A-OSH
vinyl covered cable, which provides extra
design, development, manufacturing,
– which will be held at the Gallagher
durability. They should be the right length
assembly and distribution of a full
Convention Centre, in Midrand, from
– long enough to be user friendly, but
range of fall arrest, rope access and
May 12 to 14 – will focus on issues
short enough to minimise fall distance.
rope rescue equipment and systems
surrounding those people who work at
They should have an auto-locking
for working at height. Products include:
height as part of their job function.
connector/hook (for added safety) and a
harnesses, lanyards, slings, connectors,
“Advice on relevant fall arrest safety
shock absorber, which limits the force on
helmets, descenders, ascenders, pulleys,
equipment and safe working practices
the worker to below eight kilonewtons
retractable life lines, ropes, bags,
is central to the success of the seminar
(kN), with up to 1,8 m free fall.
accessories and ready-to-use systems.
programme.” | SHEQ
Working at Heights
NOSA is an accredited height safety training provider through Services SETA
0861 11 NOSA (6672)
| SHEQ management
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37
PPE
No more canaries down
coal mines
Most of us know how gas detection works today – particularly in the mining industry, but do we understand how it has evolved over time? CLAIRE RENCKEN investigates
T
o understand just how far
blanket. Sometimes he would hit a huge
was lowering down to the bottom line
we’ve come in gas detection,
pocket of methane, which would ignite the
and starting to go out, he knew he was
we need to know its history.
entire area around him.
in an oxygen-deficient environment.
When gas detection was first
The next method of detection was
If miners noticed the flame rising to
needed, the light bulb hadn’t yet been
to take a canary into the mine. Canaries
the top line, they knew the atmosphere
invented. With the beginning of the
were used because they have an
was either beginning to have methane
Industrial Revolution, fuel became very
extremely loud chirp. Additionally, the
current or they were in an oxygen-enriched
important.
canary bears the closest resemblance
environment. However, the flame light
to the part of our nervous system that
still posed a threat to miners. If it was
controls breathing.
accidentally dropped, and the glass broke
Coal had to be mined from the ground, which required extensive manual labour. Methane is especially dangerous, because
A miner would carry the bird in its
it cannot be seen. It has no smell and
cage into the mine. It was said that when
appears naturally from the ground. When
a canary was about to die, it would start
The first gas monitor was a device
miners began to realise how dangerous
to shake the cage. Then the miners knew
with a valve that analytically showed
methane was, they began exploring ways
to exit the mine. If the canary wasn’t
how much methane was present in the
to detect it.
making any noise, they knew to make
atmosphere. The methane was detected
an even more urgent exit, as the canary
through a sensor called the catalytic
had died!
diffusion sensor.
The first method involved using humans – back then the feeling was that
| SHEQ management
atmosphere if methane was present.
it was better to lose one man than to lose
Later, a flame light was used. The
Today, gas detectors have batteries,
an entire group of workers. The miner
flame was encapsulated in a flame-
which enable the instrument to run for
wore a wet blanket over his shoulders
arrestor shell so that it could not ignite
long periods of time without having to
and head, and carried a long wick with its
the outside atmosphere. On the outside
be turned off. Also, modern-day monitors
end lit on fire.
of the flame light was a glass piece that
not only measure oxygen and methane,
had three incisions running horizontally
but can measure several different gases
along the glass.
simultaneously.
He entered the mine and began to
38
while the flame was lit, it could ignite the
move the flame of the wick along the walls of the mine. When he hit a small pocket of
The miner always started the flame
Thankfully, we’ve come a long way
methane gas, it would ignite, but the miner
in the middle line, while in a fresh air
since unsuspecting birds were taken down
remained fairly safe under the dampened
environment. If he noticed that the flame
mines. | SHEQ
safety
generator risks After Eskom blackouts,
As soon as the lights go out, the generator is started – but what are the hazards? Leighton Bennett, vice chairman of the Safety First Association, shines some light on the matter
The risks:
be exceeded, it could blow the generator’s
properly isolated with a turnover switch,
Generators do not have earth leakage
electronics. It is, thus, important to
between the generator and the building
protection like those installed on the
calculate your maximum demand. Add up
system, the generator will be destroyed
electrical distribution panels/boards in
the wattages marked on all the electrical
when the normal power supply returns.
buildings. Earth leakage protection can be
appliances and fixtures that would require
If an isolation switch is not used, one
added, however, by using an earth leakage
generator power. Your generator will need
can use specific, separate, permanent
device, depending on where the generator
to have output wattage that is greater than
extension leads fitted from the generator
power supply is connected to the electrical
your total demand wattage.
location to emergency power plug points
Use the formula “Watts = Amps x Volts”
in the desired locations in the building or
Earth leakage protection is strongly
to calculate the required capacity or size of
house. When the generator is running,
advised as generator electricity is unlikely
the generator you would need to acquire as
you just have to unplug the item from the
to trip should one get an electric shock
your emergency power source.
normal plug and connect it to the generator
… This shock risk is also increased if the
Obviously, you would not be able to use
generator is not earthed by not being
high power demand items like geysers,
plug point and reverse the process when
connected to an earth spike driven into
stoves, ovens and appliances like kettles
Some generators are being plugged
the ground.
or irons, which require significant watts
into the house/office wall plug using an
the normal power supply returns.
For safety reasons, have an earth
to operate. Fridges, freezers, security and
extension lead fitted with a double male
leakage protection device fitted into an
gate access systems, computers, the TV
electrical plug, however … This is hazardous
extension box, which is made for your
and some light lamps, with energy-saving
as the plug pins could be live if the extension
generator, and connect all extension
globes, can all be run off a medium-sized
is plugged into a running generator. Such a
leads from this earth leakage box, and not
generator, however.
practice is illegal in terms of the electrical
directly from the generator. This box will
wiring codes and will be considered gross
trip the electricity if there is any electrical
Putting it all together – correctly
shock or short to an earth.
To connect your generator to your existing electrical board, a proper turnover isolation
negligence should a fatality occur. The lights might be out, but the danger is still there …
Make the right choice
switch must be fitted, by a competent
It is essential that all electrical plug
Every generator has a maximum output
electrical person, to safely separate
points and electrical appliances, such as
capacity. If it is plugged into a house
between the two power supply systems.
stoves and irons, are treated as being “ON”
system where the power demand could
If the building power supply is not
to avoid injury. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
distribution board.
39
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Me rcede the planet’s susta s-Benz: inability star All the news from
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