safety
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | R66.00
SHEQ m a n a g e m e n t sheqmanagement.com
Blue is the new green at
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Substance abuse still drugging SA’s workplaces Noshcon 2014 – a feast of colour
Addressing the health risk of healthcare waste Training and development is YOUR responsibility
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CONTENTS
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EDITOR Charleen Clarke Cell: 083 601 0568 email: charleen@charmont.co.za ASSISTANT EDITOR Gavin Myers Cell: 072 877 1605 email: gavin@charmont.co.za SUB-EDITOR Jeanette Lamont Cell: 083 447 3616 email: jeanette@charmont.co.za JOURNALISTS Jaco de Klerk Cell: 079 781 6479 email: journalist3@charmont.co.za Claire Rencken Cell: 082 559 8417 email: journalist2@charmont.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Albert Mushai email: albert.mushai@wits.ac.za Jannie Koegelenberg email: janniekoegelenberg96@gmail.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 CIRCULATION MANAGER Bev Rogers Cell: 078 230 5063 email: bev@charmont.co.za 100 95 75
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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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CHARMONT m e d i a
g l o b a l
Features
ACCOLADES ALL-ROUND Volkswagen Group South Africa has won the SJM Flex Environmental Award for the third year in a row … but this isn’t all. The company is attaining accolades for other aspects of the acronym as well. BURN BABY, BURN! In some circumstances healthcare waste is incinerated. This practice can result in dioxins, furans and other toxic air pollutants being produced as emissions. We investigate.
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WHEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE Alcohol and drug abuse is widely acknowledged as one of the most prevalent and serious issues facing the South African workplace; it’s a problem that needs to be met head-on, at all levels of an organisation. PUTTING THE COLOUR IN SHEQ Year after year Noshcon delivers the goods – and the 2014 event was no exception. SHEQ MANAGEMENT enjoyed the mix of information and entertainment.
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Proactively addressing skills shortages Skills shortages are plaguing various South African industries, yet unemployment numbers remain sky-high! We discover how training can be the “one stone” that tackles these “two birds”.
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CERTIFIED TO PREVENT PAINFUL ENCOUNTERS 36 Have you ever thought about what happens before you strap on your live-saving gear? SHEQ Management takes a look at the origins of personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the manufacturing and testing processes behind some of today’s equipment.
Regulars Editor’s letter SHEQ Sound Off Letters News Legally Speaking Raising the Bar Brainwave Subscription Form
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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
EDITOR’S LETTER
Meeting
Manuel!
Charleen Clarke
I have terrific news for fans of Fawlty Towers! Manuel is alive and well … and working in the Mercedes-Benz Vito plant in Spain!
| SHEQ management
O 2
thinking: why am I waxing lyrical about
customers all over the world. The Vitoria
“my” Manuel in SHEQ MANAGEMENT? Well,
plant is the second-largest Daimler van
because Manuel from Mercedes-Benz is
production plant in the world.
one of the most passionate fans of quality
Manuel the Merc man works there as a
that I have ever encountered. He loves
manager, and he was tasked with taking a
it almost as much as Manuel the waiter
group of journalists (including yours truly)
loved his hamster (which was actually a
around the final assembly section of the
rat).
factory. The tour (which, truth be told, I
I met Manuel the Merc man in the city
was dreading) was a revelation – because
of Vitoria, which is where the Mercedes-
of Manuel’s huge enthusiasm. In between
Benz Vito is assembled – and it was a truly
apologies for not speaking superb English
wonderful experience. I travelled to the
(he spoke just like Manuel the waiter; I
region to drive the marvellous new Vito
loved it), our tour guide eagerly showed us
(which comes to South Africa next year)
around each nook and cranny of the plant.
and also to visit the plant, which is located
Unlike the “I know nothing” waiter,
in the heart of the Basque region in north-
our guide was extremely well informed
western Spain.
about the intricacies of the facility. He
While it certainly doesn’t show its age,
shared lots of facts and figures with
the factory is quite old; it’s celebrating
us – such as the news that Mercedes-
its 60th anniversary as an automotive
Benz
kay I am taking a bit of
production location this year. The first
€190 million (roughly R2,7 billion) in
Vans
had
recently
invested
journalistic licence here. The
vehicle rolled off the assembly line there
the plant. The money was mainly spent
chap at the Vito plant is
in 1954, when the plant still belonged to
on the modernisation and reorganisation
not actually my most loved
the Auto Union company.
of the plant’s body shop, paint shop and assembly area.
waiter in the entire world. He’s not chaotic
The former Daimler-Benz AG acquired
and probably doesn’t hail from Barcelona.
the plant in 1981. Today the plant site
Examples of these investments in
His name isn’t even Manuel (although, for
covers a total area of 600 000 m². It
production include: a new coordinate
the purposes of this article, I’m using this
has a production space of around
measuring machine, which measures
pseudonym).
370 000 m² and manufactures about
bodies-in-white
80 000 vans annually for export to
to within one millimetre; a new optical
By now, I know exactly what you’re
extremely
precisely
EDITOR’S LETTER The Mercedes-Benz Vitoria plant is Daimler’s second largest van plant. After the body is coated with paint, employees in the paint shop inspect the quality. though. It take place right here; on the line.
SHEQ MANAGEMENT.
Then action can be fast. This is a good idea,
I have no doubt that the vehicle will
sí (yes)?” Manuel the Merc man noted with
be a success – because of that quality.
a huge grin. We all agreed immediately. It
One of the greatest factors contributing
really does make sense – the managers
to that success, however, won’t be the
stand around a meeting table each day,
investment in fancy equipment or even
and discuss various quality issues. Then, if
the millions spent on training. Personally, I
something needs to be addressed, they go
think the sense of pride – as epitomised by
straight to the line and deal with the issue
our guide – probably has an even greater
immediately.
impact on quality.
measuring device for checking body
I witnessed one of these meetings
During our tour, we encountered a
components; a new waxing facility;
and, in some respects, it’s as daft as
special display of the new Vito, and I swear
adapted
numerous
your average scene from Fawlty Towers
I saw tears in Manuel’s eyes (and, for a
automation processes and more efficient
– everyone has to stand (which isn’t
change, they didn’t come from being hit
laser systems.
wonderfully comfortable) and it’s also
over the head with a frying pan). “Look!”
An army of new robots was also
really noisy, but, according to Manuel, these
he urged. “This (is) our new baby! She
acquired and they’re utterly fascinating
meetings work wonders when it comes to
beautiful! Sí?”
to
maintaining and improving quality.
assembly
watch.
In
lines;
addition,
more
than
Oh, yes she is! But so, too, is the
€8 million (about R116 million) was
Emilio Titos, head of the Vitoria
company’s passion for quality … I would
invested in Vitoria to provide the
assembly plant, concurs. “Our team does
love to bottle that passion and dish it out
employees with around 300 000 hours
top-notch work, and we are very proud
liberally. It would end many companies’
of training, to prepare them for the new
that we build the new Vito in Vitoria in
quality woes. | SHEQ
model series. Naturally, these investments
top quality. As a result, Vitoria continues
were made in order to bolster quality.
to be the competence centre for mid-
Do you believe that your
There are numerous other moves afoot
size vans within our global production
employees are passionate about
to ensure good quality too. Just one is a
network. Together with all of the other
quality? I would love to hear from
daily meeting of the most senior managers.
participants, we are now looking forward
you. Email charleen@charmont.co.za
“It no take place in fancy meeting room
to the new Vito’s success story,” he told
3
SHEQ SOUND OFF
plight of the
broken link Jaco de Klerk
The internet is an endlessly rich world of sites, pages and posts – until it all ends with a click and a “404 not found” error message … This phenomenon, usually caused by “link rot”, is far more than just an occasional annoyance to individual users
| SHEQ management
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’m a proud geek and simply have to draw attention to the plight of the broken link; as highlighted in the article: The growing problem of Internet “link rot” and best practices for media and online publishers, written by Leighton Walter – research editor at the Journalist’s Resource *. He explains that, while it was conceived in the 1960s, the hyperlink came into its own with Hypertext Markup Language
(HTML) protocol – a standardised system for tagging text files to achieve font, colour, graphic and hyperlink effects on the World Wide Web (www) – in 1991. There’s no doubt that the first broken link soon followed … On the surface, the problem is simple: A once-working Universal Resource Locator (URL) – a webpage’s address – is now a goner. The root cause can be any number of things: content could have been renamed, moved or deleted, or an entire site could have evaporated. In its own way, the web is a very literalminded creature and all it takes is a singlecharacter change in a URL to break a link. A 2014 Harvard Law School study looks at the legal implications of internet link decay and finds reasons for alarm. The authors, Jonathan Zittrain, Kendra Albert and Lawrence Lessig, determined that approximately 50 percent of the URLs in US Supreme Court’s opinions no longer link to the original information. They also found that, in a selection of legal journals published between 1999 and 2011, more than 70 percent of the links no longer functioned as intended. The scholars write: “As websites evolve, not all third parties will have a sufficient interest in preserving the links that provide backwards compatibility to those who relied upon those links. The author of the cited source may decide the argument in the source was mistaken and take it down. “The website owner may decide to abandon one mode of organising material
for another, or the organisation providing the source material may change its views and ‘update’ the original source to reflect its evolving views. “In each case, the citing paper is vulnerable to footnotes that no longer support its claims. This vulnerability threatens the integrity of the resulting scholarship.” To address some of these issues, academic journals are adopting use of digital object identifiers (DOIs), which provide both persistence and traceability, but, as Zittrain, Albert and Lessig point out, many people who produce content for the web are likely to be “indifferent to the problems of posterity”. The scholars’ solution, supported by a broad coalition of university libraries, is perma.cc – a service that takes a snapshot of a URL’s content and returns a permanent link (known as a permalink) that users employ rather than the original link. This subject still has a lot more to offer, however, as companies and individuals do have various other options to eliminate the weak link that is “link rot”, and can maximise their site’s long-term utility to users … More on those in future Sound Offs. * Based at Harvard’s Shorenstein Centre on Media, Politics and Public Policy – in the United States – the Journalist’s Resource project examines news topics through a research lens. Last year, the American Library Association named it one of the best free reference websites. | SHEQ
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5
SHEQ
MAIL Interesting news for coffee lovers I’d love to share some fun facts that
findings were published in the Journal of
association between coffee drinking
were highlighted in e-Care, a newsletter
Caffeine Research and The New England
and the risk of dying. “Freedman noted
provided by Consolidated – an authorised
Journal of Medicine. According to the
that the association between coffee and
financial planning business.
study’s author, Neil Freedman, from the
longevity was similar for men and women
National Cancer Institute, the participants
and tended to get stronger as they drank
were between the ages of 50 and 71.
more coffee.”
In its piece: Drink some coffee, the company relates the most wonderful news … it turns out that a “cup of Joe” might just
“The participants were asked about
“Drink some more coffee”, states
hold the key to a long life. After following
their coffee consumption as well as their
another study, published in Mayo Clinic
half a million people, a study found that
lifestyle behaviours; such as whether
Proceedings, which found, however, that
those who drank more coffee
they smoked, whether they exercised,
both men and women, under the age of
seemed less likely to die
their diet, and even their educational
55, who drank more than four cups of
status,” notes e-Care – adding that they
coffee a day, may be at greater risk of an
The newsletter feature
were then followed over the course of
early death.
states that the
12 years. “At the end of the study in
The e-Care piece, however, says it best:
2008, the researchers noted whether the
“The association with coffee and early
participants were still alive or not,
death is only that – an association, not a
prematurely.
and, if not, the cause of death.”
cause.”
The author points out that, contrary to what you would
Johan van Niekerk
think, there is an opposite
Cape Town
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SHEQ
NEWS the numerical horror Strikes … so abundant in South Africa that they even have their own season, but what is the real cost of industrial action? Jan du Toit, senior consultant at the South African Labour Guide, paints the numerical picture
Cleaner coal for the Cape
in his piece: Strikes in numbers – which
It is estimated that South Africa produces an average of 224 million tonnes of
cites The Annual Industrial Action Report for
marketable coal per year, with nearly three quarters of that being consumed
2013, released by the Department of Labour
domestically. According to the Department of Energy, around 77 percent of our
(DoL), as its source.
country’s energy needs are directly derived from this fuel ... like it or not, this energy
“In 2012, the monetary impact of strikes reported to the DoL amounted to trillion
compared
to
Pollution from this commodity doesn’t only come from burning it, but also from
‘only’
transporting it. Every time coal is shipped to a new location, coal dust pollution comes
R1,07 trillion in 2011. The recently released
into play, not to mention the CO2 emitted during its shipment around the country
statistics for 2013 do not look much better in any way,” Du Toit points out.
(most coal is mined in Mpumalanga). However, all is not lost ... An innovative partnership between Wescoal Trading and Logistics Intelligence
According to data collected and analysed in 2013 by the DoL, there was a rise in the
(LQ) has seen the completion of an environmentally friendly product storage and distribution centre in Bellville, Cape Town.
number of strike incidents, but a drop in
André Bojé, CEO of Wescoal, says he is immensely proud of being part of such an
working days lost, in 2013 when compared
innovative solution to the coal supply chain process. “Wescoal and Wescoal Trading
to 2012. “About 114 strike cases were
are very proud to be involved in this environmentally friendly distribution centre. It
identified and recorded by the department,”
reduces our carbon footprint in the overall coal supply process, as the coal barely
says Du Toit. “The number of strikes recorded
touches the ground once extracted from the coal mines in Mpumalanga.”
is greater than strikes recorded in the last
The transport of the commodity has also been moved from road to rail. The 12 m
five years. It represents an increase of
containers are railed from the Pretcon container terminals in Pretoria, and delivered
15,1 percent from 2012 to 2013.
to the site on trailers.
“Work
days
lost
decreased
by
The first stage is to decant the 12 m container by tipping the contents into a
44,2 percent from 3,3 million in 2012 to
large hopper that can accommodate 30 t. This is then fed by conveyor and loaded
1,85 million in 2013,” notes Du Toit.
into back-door, shipper-owned containers, for delivery or storage.
The industrial action in the mining, manufacturing and transport industries have
This new transshipment centre, the first of its kind in Africa, results in 10 000 t of coal (or 350 vehicles) being taken off the road and transported by train per month.
all had a bad impact on the economy of the
Dirch Olsen from LQ says that the company is thrilled to be part of this process
country. Experts suggest that 2014 will be
and looks forward to further developments in this regard. “A similar facility is already
no different. “These strikes will continue
being planned for Port Elizabeth. This process is very clean and enables a seamless
to hurt the South African economy and its
intermodal solution without adding costs to the supply chain. It fits in perfectly with
investment appeal,” adds Du Doit.
what drives the LQ team – the concept of ‘smart moves’.”
| SHEQ management
R6,67
source will be around for some time.
7
NEWS
Age in numbers The world is ageing fast. According to
HelpAge International states that the
the Global AgeWatch Index, developed by
Index represents 90 percent of people
non-governmental organisation HelpAge
over the age of 60 across the world.
but has the second-highest ranking in the region. According to HelpAge International,
International, there will be more people
Globally, Norway tops the Index this
there are currently 868 million people
over the age of 60 than children under 10
year, closely followed by Sweden. The top
over the age of 60 – nearly 12 percent
by 2030 …
ten regions are in Western Europe, North
of the global population. By 2050, this
The organisation believes data is
America, Australasia and Japan. The worst
number is predicted to rise 2,02 billion – or
needed to spur informed debate on ageing.
place for an older person is Afghanistan.
21 percent.
The 2014 edition of the Global AgeWatch
Ranked only just above it are Mozambique,
Index, ranks 96 countries according to
West Bank and Gaza, then Malawi.
the social and economic well-being of the elderly, measuring four key areas: income
Closer
to
home,
South
Save the date!
Africa
ranks low on the Index at 80 overall,
security, health, personal capability and an OSH Expo Africa, the continent’s
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Because every life has a purpose...
NEWS
Shrouded in smoke A new study, led by the United States-based National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), estimates that more than 40 percent of the world’s garbage is disposed of through unregulated burning – which emits gases and particles that can substantially affect human health and climate change. “Air pollution across much of the globe is significantly underestimated, because no one is tracking open-fire burning of trash,” says NCAR scientist Christine Wiedinmyer, lead author of the new study. Wiedinmyer and her co-authors estimate that 1,1 billion tonnes, or 41 percent, of the total waste generated globally each year is disposed of through unregulated burning. The countries producing the most total waste, according to the study, are China, the United States, India, Japan, Brazil, and Germany. Those with the greatest emissions from trash burning are China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan and Turkey. It states that as much as 29 percent of human-related global emissions of small particulates (less than 2,5 microns in diameter) come from the fires, as well as ten percent of mercury and 40 percent of a group of gases known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These pollutants have been linked to such significant health impacts as decreased lung function, neurological disorders, cancer and heart attacks. “This study was a first step to assess the magnitude of this issue,” says Wiedinmyer. “The next step is to look at what happens when these pollutants are emitted into the atmosphere – where are they being transported to and which populations are being most affected.”
Freedom won: an EV is released back into the wild There were heavy hearts, and some tears, when Team-Freedom Won (a proudly South African electric vehicle – EV – conversion company) released Freedom3 back into the wild on August 21. “She’s now on route back to her home in Chobe, Botswana,” says Lizette Kriel, strategy and brand manager, as well as a co-owner and the fairer half of the Freedom Won team (the other being a visionary engineer, Antony English). The team will see her again this October – strutting her electric stuff – when they spend some time at the Chobe Game Lodge, in Botswana’s Chobe National Park, when commissioning Freedom4 – Chobe’s first electric “skimmer” river boat … Freedom3, a special electric Land Rover created by Freedom Won, is a Defender 130 pickup with crew cab. It was originally fitted with a 2,5-litre, Td5 diesel engine and a five-speed manual gearbox. Freedeom3 has been transformed almost beyond recognition under the bonnet, but the exterior remains unaltered and distinctly Land Rover. The magic lies in the 80 kW permanent magnet motor that is coupled directly to the original transfer case, which delivers 600 Nm at low speeds – thus effectively eliminating the need for a gearbox. “We have retained the high/low and diff-lock functions in the transfer case, so it is still a very rugged off-roader …” Kriel explains. “It is capable of creeping along sandy rutted tracks and climbing rocky ascents, then setting out on the open road at speeds up to 120 km/h.“ A typical range on sand tracks is estimated at 120 km. “On the open road she will manage 150 km if driven carefully,” Kriel points out. “An average charge will be two to three hours, or six hours if the cells have been fully depleted.”
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Legricon offers a wide range of consulting, auditing and training services to assist organisations in achieving and maintaining legal compliance, with specific focus on occupational safety, health and environmental (SHE) management. Legal compliance is necessitated by legal risks associated with non-compliance, as well as by formalised management system frameworks and guidelines such as the King II Code on Corporate Governance, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18000.
9
Legally speaking
For law or
money
| SHEQ management
Albert Mushai, with a contribution by Professor Robert W Vivian, looks at an interesting battle between economists and lawyers in the management of the Asbestos Relief Trust
10
health
When the Principals complain, after
would delay the restructuring and, in
witnessing the opulent lifestyle of the
2003, Gencor decided to avoid litigation
Africa has been limited,
Agents; who are driving multi-million
and to settle the matter out of court.
essentially
the
rand cars, flying first class around the
Eventually, trusts were established for
Compensation for Occupational Injuries
world, spending hundreds of millions on
the benefit of the victims of asbestosis.
and Diseases Act (COID) prevents
their private houses, with armed guards
One of these trusts is the Asbestos
employees from suing their employers.
pushing the people out of the way – and
Relief Trust.
The Constitutional Court decision of
so on, they are told the wealth will trickle
Thembekile Mankayi versus Anglogold
down; yet it never does.
because
2011, however, uncovered a previously unknown gap in the legislation.
The 2013 Annual Report of the trust reveals an interesting development taking
And so, the Agents do very well at
place. The purpose of the trust is for
the expense of the Principals. In 1776,
the benefit of those who suffered from
Closely allied to the issue of litigation
Adam Smith pointed out that the division
asbestosis (the Principals). Potential
is a problem arising from economic
of labour was the most efficient way
beneficiaries needed to contact the trust
theory,
The trustees had no option but to reject these claims; by doing so they were protecting the real victims of asbestosis.
called
the
Principal-Agent
problem. Economically speaking, it can be argued that it is the most pervasive and intractable economic problem in the world. It has many manifestations and many labels, but, for the purpose of this article, Principal-Agent will do. Further, the Principal-Agent problem, as
recognised
today,
bears
little
for an economy to function. Today the
and apply for compensation. The trustees
resemblance to the way it was originally
division of labour is widespread. There
(the Agents) would then ensure that, if
formulated.
are Agents everywhere. With the division
they met the requirements, they would be
of labour, however, comes an unintended
compensated from the funds held in trust.
The Principal-Agent problem arises where the Agent purports to act for, and
consequence;
in the interests of, the Principal, but, in
problem.
the
Principal-Agent
The trust could expect to receive many applications, all of which would have to
reality, the Agent acts contrary to his
Not much thought has been devoted to
be considered. This indeed happened. As
mandate; often acting for himself, for
the Principal-Agent problem in litigation,
of the April 28, 2013, 14 500 enquires
his own benefit and usually against the
but the very limited occupational-health
had been received. During the litigation,
interests and benefit of the Principal.
litigation in South Africa seems to
the lawyers claimed to be acting for
As indicated, the problem is pervasive.
demonstrate the Principal-Agent problem
7 500 registered claimants against Cape
It exists in every field of economic
may well be alive and well within litigation
plc and, of course, once Gencor became
activity; it’s sometimes called a conflict
framework.
party to the litigation, additional litigants
of interest. At other times it can be
In 1997, complex asbestosis litigation
called regulatory capture, a moral hazard,
was launched in England against Cape
The problem is that once the trust was
adverse selection – and so on. The Agent
plc, claiming on behalf of South African
established, many who did not qualify
will always claim to be acting in the
victims of asbestos. As the litigation
also approached the trust for money.
interests of the Principal, but the facts
progressed, it became clear that Cape plc
These included some of the original
will reveal a different picture.
was in a precarious financial position. This
7 500 plus, who joined the register of
Lawyers also recognise a Principal-
could be added.
was reflected by its share price, which,
litigants, although they did not qualify for
more
in Oct 2001, had plummeted to £0.11
compensation.
conservative. They believe the Agent will
per share. It became clear that, even if
Of course these applicants had to be
act in terms of the mandate. Lawyers are
the case was won, Cape plc probably
turned away. The trustees (Agents) had
more trusting than economists and they
would not be able to pay as it would
no option but to reject these claims, since
have a much narrower concept of the
possibly follow other former asbestos
they did not fall within the parameters
Principal-Agent relationship.
manufacturers into insolvency.
specified in the trust deed. By doing
Agent
Take
relationship,
a
simple
but
are
example:
In
Legally speaking
and
safety litigation in South
a
Almost seamlessly, the litigation then
so, the agents would be protecting the
democracy, the people (Principals) elect
switched to an action in South Africa,
interests of the real victims of asbestosis,
representatives (Agents). The people
against the South African company
the Principals, as expected by the
believe their representatives will act in
Gencor. At the time, Gencor was in the
lawyers.
their interests. However, once elected,
process of restructuring to form what
Thus, it seemed as though the
their Agents quickly use the system for
would become BHP Billiton. What could
economists would be wrong. Agents
their own benefit.
possibly be long drawn-out litigation
do indeed act in the interests of the
»
| SHEQ management
O
ccupational
11
Legally speaking
Principals. In this case, the trustees were
did not meet the criteria, as an ex gratia
doing what is legally required of them. In
payment.
Master of the High Court. Once again it was indicated that the
the Principal-Agent framework, they were
The payment was supported by the
trustees should pay over funds to people,
acting in terms of their mandate. The
office of the premier of Northern Cape.
who did not qualify in terms of the trust
Principal-Agent problem in economics,
And so the Principal-Agent problem of
deed. Without prior notice, the Chief
however, warns that Agents will not keep
economics appears. In this case, the
Master then advised that he was going
within their mandate and that funds will
trustees continued to refuse to make
to unilaterally appoint two additional
be used for purposes outside of the terms
the payments. On the face of it, it looked
trustees. Their appointments were not
of the mandate.
as though the economic Principal-Agent
made at the request of the trustees
problem would not arise, and the lawyers
(Agents) or the beneficiaries (Principals),
would be correct.
or in consultation with them. On the
It was not long after the formation of the trust, that people, who had put their names down as claimants, started
In terms of legislation (the Trust
to demand money – even although they
Property Control Act), trusts fall under
August 5, 2013, the Master appointed
were not victims of asbestosis. Trustees
the control of the Master of the High
It now remains to be seen whether
(Agents) continued to refuse to make any
Court. In October 2012, the trustees were
the trust will start distributing funds that
payments to these claimants.
the two additional trustees.
summoned to the office of the Master
are not authorised by the trust deed.
During May 2012, the trustees were
of the North Gauteng High Court, in
The economic Principal-Agent theory
requested to meet with the deputy
Pretoria, for a meeting. Representatives
indicates that this may well happen.
minister of mineral resources in Pretoria.
of the deputy minister and office of
Lawyers will say it cannot happen. It will
At the meeting, it was suggested that the
the premier were in attendance. The
be interesting to see who is correct; the
trust pay R30 million to individuals, who
meeting was presided over by the Chief
lawyers or economists! | SHEQ
Legally Speaking is a regular column by Albert Mushai from the school of Economics and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. Mushai holds a master’s degree from the City University, London, and was the head of the insurance department at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe before joining Wits University as a lecturer in insurance.
What is SHEQsys? SHEQsys is an online web-application, which allows users and managers to log, investigate, report and determine trends of Safety, Health, Environment and Quality related activities. It does this through the use of smaller modules which all work individually, or together, in an easy to navigate web interface with in-built wizards to assist users in operating the system.
Modules SHEQsys is the framework, the modules are the tools you plug into it. This basically means that SHEQsys can be scaled to meet your needs, now or later.
Reports Extensive reporting capabilities are included, across all modules of SHEQsys, from basic listings, to full graphical analysis. Custom filters can be applied and the results are often colour-coded for easy identification.
Email Notifications Throughout SHEQsys, email notifications will be sent to relevant people when events take place.
Installation | SHEQ management
No installation on user’s computers is required as SHEQsys is a web-application, which can be hosted on our dedicated server.
Contact
Please contact us if you would like to know more, or if you would like to request a demonstration, or evaluation system. Telephone: +27-011-8497053, +27-082-4432281 Website: www.SHEQsys.com Email: info@SHEQsys.com
12
Innovation
Users can log; investigate and implement innovations and ideas which save time; money or improve SHEQ.
Incident
Allows users to easily log Incidents of varying severity and level from Low Risk Potential Incidents and Near Misses to High Risk Incidents. Investigation is fully customisable and follows approval routes to ensure proper completion.
Audit
Conduct audits; inspections and surveys with customisable templates with percentage based scoring. Raise incidents or feedback directly from audit findings.
Feedback
All users can express constructive feedback whether negative or positive to keep open communication between different areas.
Trend Pareto Analysis
Generate Pareto analysis of production process defects or any quantifiable value. Allowing you to easily identify common problems and correct them.
Call Report
Look after your customer/supplier relations by documenting meetings and assigning individuals to follow up outstanding requests.
Risk Assessment
Record process or system risks and provide proposed suggestions for improvement and reduced risk.
Document Control
Manage controlled company documents and ensure you always have the latest revision as well as access to historical revisions.
Instrumentation
Keep track of and maintain instrumentation calibration via a schedule with full calibration history.
13
| SHEQ management
????????????????
Raising the bar
Coach, mentor,
communicate Having looked at leadership over the past few months, we now need to focus on coaching and mentoring. The first important skill to consider is communication
W
hat
difference
Mentorship can be time bound within
is the sender. This person begins the
between a coach and a
is
the
a formal process, which can continue
communication by taking an idea or
mentor?
informally after the agreed period, and by
subject and relating it to the receiver. The
agreement between both parties.
message is then coded in order for the
A coaching relationship
is initiated as a result of the manager
In a nutshell, a mentor provides advice
receiver to understand what is needed.
or supervisor’s job description, which
on career, development opportunities and
This coding can take various forms such as
translates to a formal and hierarchical
what it would take to become a leader.
written or spoken language, or non-verbal
relationship. There is always a specific
The coach, on the other hand, is more
communication. The sender will decide on
objective to be achieved, which is often
of a tutor; observing the employee’s work
the best form of communication to use for
task orientated. It is driven and initiated
and actions and providing comments on the
the subject at hand.
by the coach.
execution and skills which may be lacking. Having focused on communication with
needs to decode and interpret the
employee is based on the task being
customers in the last series of articles, it is
message and understand it fully. If this
taught. When this has been mastered, the
important to state that good communication
does not take place, communication would
relationship is over until the next task.
is also central to being a great coach and
have been lost.
A mentoring relationship is based on the holistic development of an employee
| SHEQ management
mentor. It is most important to develop superb communication skills.
A
very
important
aspect
of
communication is that the receiver
during his or her career, and not solely in a
The distinct attributes that make up any
responds in some way, thus initiating a
single area of operation. A mentor does not
messages being communicated are words,
two-way conversation, assuring the sender
offer only work-related advice and support,
measured at seven percent of the total;
that the message has been understood as
but also supports and advises on personal
tone, at 38 percent; and body language, at
it was intended. This response can, once
matters.
55 percent.
again, take various forms; for example,
This area of communication is generally
It is, therefore, imperative to project a
initiated by the business, or by encouraging
positive image when communicating. Note
employees to seek a mentor from an
how a motivational speaker carries him or
approved panel, or to choose someone
herself when addressing an audience …
they are comfortable with.
14
The person receiving the message
The relationship between coach and
The first key element of communication
verbal or written communication, or a nod of the head. Going forward, we will focus on developing coaching and mentoring skills of the highest order. | SHEQ
Jannie Koegelenberg is passionate about promoting positive customer experiences. He runs the EDGE Training Consultancy, a leading provider of world class training and development programmes that meaningfully change and impact on people’s lives. He has a 38-year track record in the motor industry, having worked at Mercedes-Benz distributor United Cars and Diesel Distributors, Ford Motor Company SA and Toyota SA Marketing.
Quality
It’s an ideal time to get
certified A survey by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) shows how management systems help tackle global challenges. Ian Osmond, business development manager at Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA), explains total of 1 541 983 certificates had been
of the major ISO standards
issued worldwide by December 2013,
of the Independent International
currently under revision,
representing a four percent increase
Organisation for Certification (IIOC),
the latest ISO Survey of
year-on-year. This annual survey, now
the organisation participates in all
Certifications indicates that achieving
entering its third decade, continues
of the major committees helping
certification
management
to provide a pragmatic picture of
to shape the future of the world’s
system standards is still very much a
certifications to ISO’s management
leading ISO standards – including
priority.
system standards across the globe.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001
to
ISO
With both ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) at Draft International Standard (DIS) stage, providers of consultancy, assessment, certification and training services are gearing up for potentially the single largest increase in activity in the history of the management systems industry. Interested
including
LRQA’s
membership
ISO’s survey shows that a grand total of 1 541 983 certificates had been issued worldwide by December 2013. On trend from previous years,
parties,
Through
the
latest
edition
demonstrates
(the new ISO standard for occupational health and safety, set to replace
organisations, quality/environmental/
reliable performance for all seven ISO
OHSAS
health and safety managers and
management system standards covered
LRQA to design its services to make
consultants, as well as certification
in the survey, including: quality/
the transition to the new standards
bodies, are all trying to interpret the
automotive quality, environmental,
as seamless as possible for the
changes as they happen.
energy, information security, food and
many thousands of clients served
medical devices.
worldwide. | SHEQ
ISO’s survey shows that a grand
18001).
This
allows
the
| SHEQ management
A
gainst the backdrop of all
15
risk management
As a relatively new discipline, risk management continues to be a constantly researched subject matter – with many experts doing their best to reflect on its effectiveness and predict its future, especially during this era of economic turmoil. One such attempt has been by Steve Culp, senior managing director of Accenture Finance & Risk Services
B
ased in London, Culp has
The challenge is ensuring consistency
levels of investment and focus on risk
more than 20 years of global
around the risk process and entrenching
management puts more pressure on risk
experience, working with
risk buy-in in areas that are different in
officers to demonstrate the benefits of
clients to define strategy
terms of doing business, have different
the process, by linking the outcomes
and execute change programmes across
market
have
from risk management processes more
a broad spectrum of risk management
different maturity levels, when it comes
directly to business outcomes and
and finance disciplines. He outlines eight
to risk management.
tangible cost reductions.
business and technology trends that
conditions
and
that
Technology: There is a need to
internally
organisations are more actively seeking
culture: A number of organisations are
business
outputs
collaboration with the risk function
beginning to provide internal training
and insights required to outpace the
and distinct measurements of the risk
for staff on risk management, and
competition. This is not only true
roles in new projects and day-to-day
discussions are aimed at ensuring that
for the risk management aspect of
business. Through a sometimes “forced”
all employees understand their role in
an organisation, but every aspect of
collaboration, companies attempt to
managing risk within the organisation.
business, from product development to
ensure a clear and measureable risk
customer services.
process in which everyone is involved.
Risk processes that expect more complexities in the marketplace: Companies
need
risk
management
capabilities to support scenario planning
and
deliver
the
Better alignment between the
A
and
partnerships
in a way that will better serve the
Entrenchment of a good risk
externally:
risk-orientated
for
environment: Across the globe, there
increasing
changing
strategy
financial
officer: The
the
Many
roles of chief risk officer and chief
regulatory
and risk mitigation, and they need
has been a change in “regulatory
information based on more than just a
waves” as a result of the recent tough
finance or process perspective. They
economic conditions. The new trend
need to be able to look at different
is to implement an integrated risk
markets, customers and product lines in
management framework more suited
a more sophisticated manner.
to meeting strategic business needs,
A more global shift (non areaspecific processes): Risk management
| SHEQ management
better
integrate, align and harness technologies
shape risk management:
16
Fostering
while taking into account an everchanging regulatory environment.
best practice is no longer concentrated
Harmonisation and linking of
in the usual regional centres. With moves
operational processes to the bigger
into new and unchartered territories, the
role of risk: Process issues (that usually
risk discipline has to deal with factors
have a small degree of risk) have clear
around new cultures in the new markets
risk assessment criteria to ensure that,
and a workforce that is linked only
ultimately, they do not snowball and
through technology.
create risks at a later stage. | SHEQ
The changing face of
risk management
????????????????
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| SHEQ management
scan to request product samples
17
COVER STORY
I
t’s said that no good deed goes
the carbon footprint of its factory and
“There are two different application
unnoticed, and the Exporters Club
products and also introduced a unique
processes – one for uni-base colours (for
is proving this point. The club’s top
spraying system in its paint shop, which
example red, white and black) and a second
annual
has significantly reduced hazardous waste
for metallic colours (for example silver or
in the production process.”
shadow blue),” explains Nico Serfontein,
environmental
accolade,
which recognises companies for their efforts in implementing environmentally
head of the paint shop at VW’s Uitenhage
responsible manufacturing practices, has
The environmental magic behind
been presented to Volkswagen Group
the new painting process
South Africa (VWSA).
The new painting technique, called
in Base Coat Station 1, is used for all colours;
manufacturing plant. “The first application process, employed
The company received this prize, along
the Bell Bell process, is 100-percent
uni-base and metallic and is referred to as
with the Original Equipment Manufacturer
electrostatic. VW’s manufacturing plant,
an Esta or Bell application.”
(OEM) of the Year award, at the annual
in Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape, is
He continues: “The second, more
banquet of the Exporters Club of South
the first paint shop in the VW Group
conventional application process is used
Africa: Eastern Cape – held at the Port
to introduce a water-borne derivative
in Base Coat Station 2, where only metallic
Elizabeth Boardwalk Convention Centre.
of this painting process (before this it
cars are painted with a second coat. This
According to the judges, VWSA is a
had been used only with solvent-borne
system works on the same principles as
worthy winner: “It continued to reduce
paint). The spraying system reduces
a manual spray gun, except that a double
hazardous waste, while improving the
gun configuration is mounted at the end of
painting efficiency levels.
a robot arm. It is referred to as a Spraymate System.”
Accolades
| SHEQ management
all round
18
Vehicle manufacturers the world over are embracing SHEQ standards to the full – and it isn’t going unnoticed. Volkswagen Group South Africa has won the SJM Flex Environmental Award for the third year in a row … but this isn’t all. The company is also attaining accolades for other aspects of the acronym
Reclaim and Sappi. The funds generated
presented this accolade to VWSA for the
from recycling are used to pay for the
2013 export volume of its Polo model
transfer efficiency of atomised paint. In
labour and equipment used in the yard.
(to over 30 different countries) and its
VWSA is also ensuring that everyone
the car and the rest is disposed of as
is kept in the environmentally friendly
waste.
loop with an internal “Think Blue. Factory”
parts and accessories turnover volume (the highest in VWSA’s history). The judges point out that VWSA has
this
achieved first place in the passenger car
has a transfer efficiency of only 35 percent,
the company aims to communicate the
market for the fifth year in a row, was
with around 65 percent of the atomised
goals and key messages regarding the
awarded gold status for Audi and VW on
paint going to waste, but the Spraymate
“Think Blue. Factory” strategy to all VW
the IPSOS customer satisfaction index and
System improves the colour’s appearance
employees.
was placed first and second in the dealer
Base Coat Station 2, on the other hand,
on a painted surface.
awareness
campaign.
Through
As part of the awareness campaign, the
satisfaction index.
With the Esta system, however, the
“Think Blue. Pavilion” – specially designed
The company’s customer interaction
application is a lot softer – which means less
as an information point for the strategy –
centre was also voted the number one
over spraying and fewer chemicals in the
has been erected at the Uitenhage plant.
call centre in South Africa, at the Contact
washout area. This, in turn, has lowered the
Itself an environmental ambassador, the
Centre Management Group’s (CCMG’s)
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
pavilion is built out of new and recycled
annual Contact Centre Awards, held
The Bell Bell painting process also uses
material (sourced from the waste yard) and
in Johannesburg. (CCMG is the official
less compressed air, resulting in increased
eco-friendly, water-based products have
professional
energy efficiency.
been used to paint the walls and varnish
for the development of businesses and
the floors.
individuals in the South African contact
David Powels, managing director at
association
responsible
centre industry.)
VWSA, says that the new painting system
The structure is divided into four
is in line with the VW Group’s “Think Blue.
quadrants; each dedicated to the “Think
VWSA scooped up two gold awards; one
Factory” strategy, which aims to reduce the
Blue.” focus areas of waste, water,
for Best Supervisor and another for Best
environmental impact of each car produced
energy as well as CO2 and volatile organic
by 25 percent.
compound (VOC) emissions. Surrounding the pavilion is a “Think Blue. Garden”
Think Blue. Factory – not just
that houses water-wise plants.
a strategy, but part of the
This area will remain a green space,
company’s culture
for VW employees to enjoy, once
This global, wide-ranging umbrella brand
the awareness campaign has been
defines the Group’s ambitious strategy of
completed and the pavilion removed.
transforming its vehicles, manufacturing
The SJM Flex Environmental
processes and business operations to
Award’s judges add that, over
environmentally conscious elements that
the last three years, through the
would make the hardiest of hippies proud.
environmental “Think Blue. Factory”
MD of VWSA, David Powels, with the company’s thrid consecutive SJM Flex Environmental Award.
It aims to reduce the environmental
strategy, the company has reduced
impact of all existing factories and new VW
its electricity usage by 20 percent,
locations by 25 percent by 2018. And the
waste disposal by 26 percent, water
Uitenhage plant is definitely making blue
usage by 40 percent, CO2 emissions
the new green …
by 14 percent and VOC emissions by 18
Workforce Planner. The centre also won
percent.
silver for Best Contact Centre Manager and
It recycles over 23 000 t of waste a year.
a bronze award for Best Contact Centre
Some of it does get disposed of normally,
“VWSA is a clear leader in the area of
but this 2 900 t pales in comparison to the
environmental awareness,” says Quintin
amount being recycled.
Levey, Exporters Club chairman and one
Sir John Vanbrugh, an English architect
The company has also been salvaging
of the judges. “It has dedicated a large
and dramatist who lived in the early
steel for more than 50 years – with paper,
amount of time and a large sum of money
18th century, said it best: “Virtue is its
cardboard and plastic recycling inaugurated
to assessing and monitoring the reduction
own reward. There’s a pleasure in doing
13 years ago.
of its carbon footprint.”
good which sufficiently pays itself.”
Service Professional.
However, there’s nothing wrong with due
All the paper, ink cartridges, cardboard and scrap steel that the plant generates is
Environmentally conscious and a
acknowledgement every now and then
sent to its self-sufficient waste yard where
“quality” ambassador
… especially if what you’re doing keeps
it is bailed and compacted. From here, the
As for the OEM of the Year award, the
customers happy and is better for the
waste bails are sent to companies such as
Eastern Cape branch of the Exporters Club
environment. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
short, 70 percent of the paint goes onto
COVER STORY
The Esta system’s main advantage is that it uses electrostatics to improve the
19
SHEQ IN HEALTHCARE
Burn baby,
burn! Healthcare waste is often incinerated and dioxins, furans and other toxic air pollutants may be produced as emissions. CLAIRE RENCKEN investigates
O
ver the last few years,
result in skin lesions and altered liver
there has been growing
function. Exposure of animals to dioxins
segregation,
controversy
has resulted in several types of cancer.
appropriate wastes are incinerated;
over
the
| SHEQ management
ensuring
that
only
incineration of healthcare
The International Agency for Research
• Situating incinerators away from areas
waste. In some instances – including
on Cancer (IARC) classifies dioxins as a
that are populated, or where food is
when wastes are incinerated at low
“known human carcinogen”. However,
temperatures, or when plastics that
most of the evidence documenting the
contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are
toxicity of dioxins and furans is based
that
incinerated – dioxins, furans and co-planar
on studies of populations that have
appropriate, for example, sufficient
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may
been exposed to high concentrations of
residence time and temperatures
be produced as emissions and/or in
dioxins, either occupationally or through
to minimise products of incomplete
ash. Exposure to these substances
industrial accidents. There is currently
can sometimes lead to adverse health
insufficient evidence to prove that
• Construction of disposal units that
effects.
chronic, low-level exposures to dioxins
follow detailed dimensional plans,
and furans cause cancer in humans.
thus avoiding flaws that can lead
Among the different dioxins and
20
• Effective waste reduction and waste
grown, thus minimising exposure; • A properly engineered design, ensuring combustion
conditions
are
combustion;
furans, not all have the same toxicity;
The safe disposal of healthcare
to incomplete destruction of waste,
some are even harmless. Dioxins, furans
waste generated at smaller rural clinics,
higher emissions and premature failure
and co-planar PCBs are persistent
or larger facilities where adequate,
substances that do not readily break
well-operated
exists,
• Proper operation of incinerators, which
down in the environment and that bio-
is feasible. However, the volume of
is critical to achieving the desired
accumulate in the food chain.
waste generated within large facilities
combustion conditions and reducing
infrastructure
Long-term, low-level exposure of
where resources are limited, or during
humans to dioxins and furans may lead
immunisation campaigns, may be difficult
to impairment of the immune system, as
to dispose of safely.
well as impairment of the development
To reduce exposure to toxic pollutants
of the nervous system, the endocrine
associated with the combustion process,
system and the reproductive functions.
best practices for incineration must be
Short-term, high-level exposure may
promoted and should include:
of the incinerator;
emissions; • Periodic maintenance to replace or repair defective components, including inspection, spare parts inventory and record keeping; • Enhanced training and management – possibly promoted by certification
SHEQ IN HEALTHCARE
Gloves in a bottle Working in an environment where you are constantly coming into contact with moisture-depleting irritants can result in dry, cracked, red, itchy or flaky skin. Gloves in a bottle (GIAB) Shielding Lotion from Medloyd Healthcare, has been scientifically tested to be more effective than conventional moisturisers, most of which do not penetrate beneath the second major layer of skin. GIAB does not wash off through conventional washing. A single application provides deep rooted skincare that lasts between four and 12 hours. GIAB works by locking in the natural and inspection programmes for operators; and
sound management policies for healthcare waste;
• the availability of an operating
• Support global efforts to reduce
and maintenance manual and
the amount of noxious emissions
maintenance programmes.
released into the atmosphere,
The World Health Organisation (WHO) aims to promote effective non-burn technologies for the final disposal of medical wastes, to avoid both the disease burden from unsafe
to reduce disease and defer the onset of global climate change; • S upport
the
Stockholm
Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs);
healthcare waste management, and
• Support the Basel Convention
the potential risks from dioxins,
(1989) on hazardous wastes and
furans and co-planar PCBs. The WHO has committed to: • P revent
the
moisture and oils of the skin.
other wastes; • Reduce the exposure to toxic
health
risks
pollutants associated with the
associated with exposure to
combustion
healthcare
waste
for
process
through
both
the promotion of appropriate
health workers and the public,
practices for high temperature
by promoting environmentally
incineration. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
Sanitech offers fully compliant sanitation and hygiene solutions to protect the environment, your staff and clients.
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substance abuse
When under the
influence A problem that needs to be met head-on at all levels of an organisation, alcohol and drug abuse is widely acknowledged as one of the most prevalent and serious issues facing the South African workplace …
W
orse still, the prevalence
Michael Crossland, substance abuse
of drug abuse is on the
product manager at Precision Safety
increase, as availability
Appliances (PSA), says that, for a company,
If an employee is suspected of
of
many
of
these
the implications of substance abuse in the
being under the influence of alcohol or
workplace are far-reaching. Intoxicated
drugs, testing is the obvious next step.
decrease. Ironically though, drug testing
employees may cause an injury, while on
However, says Evans, to ensure that
in the workplace has traditionally not
duty, that can affect a company’s insurance
testing does not become a legal issue,
been as widely implemented as testing
rating. They may damage property, sleep
a multi-faceted approach is required;
for alcohol.
on the job, neglect their duties (resulting
including having relevant substance
in loss of productivity), steal, become
abuse policies in place, employee
violent, cost the company time and money
education and drug testing.
Evans,
director
of
ALCO-Safe,
as
improvements in available technologies
| SHEQ management
dishevelled appearance,” he advises.
substances increases and their prices
This needn’t be the case, says Rhys
22
no apparent reason; and an unusually
and bring its name into disrepute.
“The OHS Act: General Safety Regulation
have made drug testing easier and
“An employer must be on the lookout
2A states that every employer has a duty
more affordable than ever. In addition,
for: unruly, aggressive or despondent
to stop persons from entering, or remaining
implementing drug testing alongside alcohol
behaviour;
in
at, work if they appear to be under the
testing is essential for compliance to the
absenteeism and deterioration in health;
influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs,”
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act.
a definite decrease in productivity for
he notes.
a
marked
increase
testing has gained popularity because it is
as an admission of guilt.”
less intrusive, but it can be expensive.
be followed when doing testing, outlined
Crossland notes that testing must be
Kits are also available that enable the
as a step-by-step process. Operators
done fairly, without discrimination and
testing of substances, such as powders
of drug testing equipment need not be
within the prescribed law. Each company
or tablets, for the presence of drugs.
medical professionals, but they do need
may adopt its own procedure, but the
Organisations need to consider both the
to undergo competency training, which
following steps are in line with best
nature of the testing and the cost involved,
should also be included in the formulation
practice:
as well as the specific circumstances of the
of policies.
• The frequency of tests can be either
business and industry.
“Once these policies have been put into place, the appropriate drug testing
random or full testing of all employees (this is recommended);
When confirming the presence of intoxicating substances, the company’s
equipment can be integrated into the
• A passive/screening test should be
policy must advise on what action to
organisation,” he adds, noting that it is
conducted on each employee entering
take. “Each company may grade certain
also advisable to involve any appropriate
the work premises.
offences differently, especially when they
unions in the formulation of drug testing
• If a positive result is found, then a
are involved in safety-sensitive working
policies, to ensure that there are no
confirmation test should be conducted.
misunderstandings and no misinformation
• All equipment used must be of a
“Some may deem it a level one offence
professional grade and calibrated on a
(a written warning), others a level three
regular basis to ensure accuracy.
(instant dismissal). This is also dependent
at a later stage. Crossland adds that the substance abuse policy must be communicated to
substance abuse
to be tested by the employee will be seen
environments,” says Crossland.
on whether the company has an employee
all employees. “If the company has a
When selecting equipment, says Evans,
assistance programme in place, whereby
substance abuse policy in place and the
there are numerous options available.
employees with alcohol or substance
employees have been informed of this, and
Testing for drugs normally involves a saliva
dependencies will be given proper care and
have most likely signed a code of conduct
or urine sample. Urine testing is a cost-
counselling in order to help them with their
agreement upon employment, any refusal
effective option and highly portable. Saliva
addiction.” | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
“Substance abuse policies need to include full details of the procedures to
23
noshcon
REVIEW
Putting the colour
in SHEQ
Year after year Noshcon delivers the goods – and the 2014 event was no exception. SHEQ MANAGEMENT enjoyed the mix of information and entertainment
T
here are probably few other
final evening’s gala dinner and awards
people who can pull a crowd,
ceremony.
make people stand up, dance
The presentation of Nosa’s Noscar
Nosa business continues to grow in
and sing, and leave each one
awards to it clients, which have truly
South Africa and abroad. Our operations
feeling deeply South African, as can
lived the company’s values in their day-
in China have grown significantly and,
Johnny Clegg. This much was true on
to-day SHEQ-related activities, is always
to service our growing European client
the opening night of Noshcon 2014 –
a highlight of Noshcon. This was the first
base, we’ve recently opened an office
held at Champagne Sports Resort, from
year that the Noscar and international
in Belguim.”
September 9 to 12.
awards were integrated into one, and
Carlisle was also proud of the company’s
over 500 delegates and guests were in
recent investments into new products and
attendance.
markets; including the announcement
As the band began playing the first chords of each song, more and more delegates left whatever course of their
“Noshcon is a fantastic opportunity for
of a significant investment in the field
meal they were eating and began to smile,
Noscar winners to get the recognition they
of contractor management and supplier
dance, sing and cheer. It was a perfectly
deserve. Health and safety departments
vetting, along with the launch of Samtrac
apt way to kick-off the Nosa’s 53rd Annual
have to juggle a very limited budget to
E-learning for the mining and security
Occupational Risk Management Conference
ensure everyone goes home in the
sectors.
and Exhibition, themed “colour”.
evenings. The awards are a small gesture
“We have also recently established an
of appreciation to those who get it right,”
innovation hub, which is responsible for
says Nosa CEO Duncan Carlisle.
tracking global trends in occupational risk
The evening functions ensured the colourful and up-beat nature of Noshcon was continued, with local band Georgetown
Carlisle was keen to point out that
management to ensure we offer our clients
the
Noscar companies represent only eight
solutions in line with global best practice,”
second evening’s cocktail function. The
percent of all companies on the Nosa
he adds.
Barnyard’s energetic “Time Warp” routine
system. A full list of this year’s winners
kept delegates on their feet during the
is on page 27.
| SHEQ management
entertaining
24
In his address, Carlisle gave a rundown of the company’s current standing. “The
delegates
during
By offering delegates a platform to discuss pertinent topics, the Noshcon
noshcon
REVIEW
integrated
all
next month with a feature
aspects of the SHEQ industry.
on
A mix of local and international
management,
speakers kept delegates both
the conference by Jonathan
entertained
Leeming, CEO at VenomWorks.
and
informed;
venomous
animal presented
risk at
beginning with the dynamic
From creatures with sharp
opening address by global risk
teeth and venomous defences
consultant Andrew Sharman,
(yes, some of them were
who used his love of swimming
actually part of the exhibition);
with sharks (complete with a
dancing the night away and
recent bite on the bum!) to
days filled with information
talk about turning personal fear
and discussion; to Nosa and the
into a positive force.
Noshcon delegates showing
In all, 26 individual sessions
their true colours by raising
were on offer – including the
over R30 000 for the Bongani
thought-provoking
interactive
Masuku family trust (one of
debate, and the entertaining
Johnny Clegg’s band members
industrial theatre by Losika
tragically
Change, entitled Health, Safety
months ago – the trust ensures
and Silliness.
that the education and medical
murdered
a
few
You can look forward to
needs of his four children are
reading about some of these
met), Noshcon 2014 certainly
in future editions of SHEQ
was one of the most colourful
MANAGEMENT,
yet. | SHEQ
beginning
How we got there Hyundai Automotive South Africa was kind enough to give SHEQ MANAGEMENT the use of a new ix35 sports utility vehicle (SUV) for our trip to Champagne Sports Resort. Upgraded earlier this year, the ix35 (we drove the middleof-the-range Executive model) presents an ideal mix of safety and economy for a trip to a SHEQ event such as Noshcon 2014. The R359 900 ix35 Executive instils a sense of safety, beginning with its stiffer and lighter body shell made from ultra-high tensile strength steel. It also features a full suite of standard safety features; including six airbags, ABS anti-lock braking, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Electronic Stability Program, Vehicle Stability Management, Active Yaw Control, Downhill Brake Control and Hill-start Assist Control. The upgraded styling of the ix35 also incorporates daytime running lights to improve the vehicle’s visibility to other motorists. With this ingrained focus on safety, we were able to enjoy the ix35’s comfortable, near-silent drive. The vehicle’s new 2,0-litre engine is also exceptionally kind to the environment, emitting a mere 207 g/km of CO2 while consuming just 8,5 litres of fuel per 100 km (incidentally, a figure we bettered during our time with the vehicle). It’s little wonder that Hyundai is currently the fourthlargest vehicle manufacturer in the world, and has been the world’s fastest-growing car brand since 2011 – a scenario born out of the company’s serious focus on quality.
| SHEQ management
programme
25
noshcon
AWARDS
Enhancing Business through SHEQ management solutions
| SHEQ management
NOSA is a leading global supplier of occupational risk management services and solutions. We enhance our clients’ business performance while simultaneously creating a safe environment for the employed workforce. Innovative solutions since 1951
26
0861 11 NOSA (6672) www.nosa.co.za
noshcon
AWARDS
Noscar winners OTB Construction (Pty) Ltd Sasol Secunda Prommac (Pty) Ltd SGB-Cape Richards Bay Minerals, a division of Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd Wilec, a division of Actom (Pty) Ltd Olifantsfontein Ertan Hydroelectric Power Plant of Yalong River Hydropower Development Company, Ltd. Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Gourikwa Power Station Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Portfolio Ankerlig Power Station Illovo Sugar (South Africa) Ltd Syrup Plant Jones & Wagener (Pty) Ltd Proconics (Pty) Ltd Secunda SGB-Cape FT Wax Expansion Project, a division of Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd Timber Logistics Services Amalgamated Beverage Industries, a division of The South African Breweries Limited, Kwazulu-Natal Supply Chain Idwala Witpoort Ottosdal Illovo Sugar South Africa Limited Beaumont Farm Reid & Mitchell, a division of Actom (Pty) Ltd SGB-Cape Matla Power Station, a division of Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd Shajiao c Power Station of Guangdong Yudean Group Co., LTD The South African Breweries Limited Chamdor Brewery Afrisam SA (Pty) Ltd Swaziland Air Product South Africa (Pty) Ltd Impala Platinum Springs B&W Instrumentation & Electrical Limited Alberton CLP India (Pvt) Ltd Paguthan Combined Cycle Power Plant Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Port Rex Power Station Jet Demolition (Pty) Ltd LH Marthinusen Denver, a division of Actom (Pty) Ltd Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd t/a Bokomo Foods Weetbix Senmin International Sasolburg SGB-Cape Kendal Logistics, a division of Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd Tongaat Hulett Sugar Voermol Feeds Transnet Port Terminals Car Terminal, Port Elizabeth Foster Wheeler Head Office Midrand SA (Pty) Ltd Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Gariep Power Station FPT Group (Pty) Ltd Port Elizabeth Terminal Karbochem (Pty) Ltd Newcastle SGB-Cape Richards Bay, a division of Waco Africa (Pty) Ltd African Amines (Pty) Ltd Newcastle Eskom Holdings Limited Kendal Power Station Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Acacia Power Station Air Products South Africa (Pty) Ltd Head Office Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Vanderkloof Power Station Idwala Sales and Distribution Manganese Metal Company (Pty) Ltd Quality Products (Pty) Ltd Transnet Port Terminals Car Terminal, East London Tronox Namakwa Sands Masonite (Africa) Limited Forestry Division Auma Springs (Pty) Ltd South Africa IPSCO (Pty) Ltd Eskom Holdings Limited Duvha Power Station The South African Breweries Limited Polokwane Breweries The South African Breweries Limited Prospecton Breweries
Noscar number 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Company awarded The South African Breweries Limited Ibhayi Breweries Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Drakensberg Power Station Eskom Peaking Operating Unit Palmiet Pump StorageScheme The South African Breweries Limited Alrode Brewery The South African Breweries Limited Cyril Ramaphosa World of Learning Eskom Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Nuclear Division Transnet Rail Engineering Wagon Maintenance Vandyksdrif Karbochem (Pty) Ltd Sasolburg Afrisam SA (Pty) Ltd Roodepoort
Noscar number 12 14 14 15 15 16 17 30 32
2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4
CATEGORY A (CMB 150N) A (CMB 253) A (CMB 283) B (CMB 150N) B (CMB253) C1 (CMB 150N) C1 (CMB 253) C3 (CMB 150N) C3 (CMB 253)
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 10 11 11 12 12 12
D1 (CMB 253) D2 (CMB 150N) D2 (CMB 253) D3 (CMB 253) D4 (CMB 150 N) D4 (CMB 253) D5 (CMB 253) D6 (CMB 253) E (CMB 150 N) E (CMB 253) F (CMB 150 N) F (CMB 253) I (CMB 150 N) I (CMB 253) I (CMB 255) H (CMB 253) J (CMB 150 N) J (CMB 253) Top Commercial Top Manufacturing Top Mining
SIC WINNERs FTH Trust/Ntaba Forestry/Khuthele Forestry A C Higgs Timber Harvesting CC Tongaat HuletT Zimbabwe Mwenezana Estate BT Communication Secunda & Sasolburg Sasolburg Scrap Metal (PTY) Ltd Vanderbijlpark Thaba Chueu Mining (PTY) Ltd Delams Paladin (Africa) Limited Kayelekera Mine Electro Hydro World CC Sinosteel Zimasco Mutorashanga Amalgamated Beverage Industries The Soft Drink Division of South African Breweries Limited Midrand Dynamic Fibre Products (PTY) Ltd t/a Dynamic Fibre Moulding Masonite (Africa) Limited - Estcourt Mill Afrisam SA (PTY) Ltd - Brakpan Seal Tight (PTY) Ltd Vereeniging NPC Cimpor (RF) (PTY) Ltd - Simuma Port Shepstone Illovo Sugar (South Africa) Limited Eston Sugar Mill KK Animal Nutrition (PTY) Ltd Eskom Holdings Limited Majuba Power Station Air Products South Africa (PTY) Ltd Pinetown Raysonics (PTY) Ltd Secunda SGB-Cape - A Division of Waco Africa (PTY) Ltd Durban S.T.O.N.E.S Plant Hire CC Barloworld Logistics (PTY) Ltd Germiston Transnet Freight Rail Terminal Vaalcon Containers & Automotive Vereeniging Leopard Creek Share Block Ltd Bidfreight Port Operations (PTY) Ltd Durban Stevedores South African Container Stevedores Durban, a division of Bidfreight Port Operations Jet Demolition (PTY) Ltd The South African Breweries Limited Chamdor Brewery Idwala Witpoort Ottosdal
| SHEQ management
Company awarded
27
Saiosh at NOSHCON 2014
Saiosh – South Africa’s leading Professional Health and Safety Body More than 350 delegates visited the Saiosh exhibition stand during NOSHCON 2014 and took part in Saiosh’s unique “Wear a Hard Hat and Win an LED TV” competition. Delegates also took the opportunity to find out more about the SAQA Professional OHS Registration and the Professional OHS Designations offered by Saiosh. Members of Saiosh visited the stand to check their membership status and were shown how to update their profiles and upload continuing professional development (CPD) points. Saiosh is the registration board for the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health South Africa (IOSH SA), which is recognised by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as a professional body to register Occupational Health and Safety Professionals in South Africa. Saiosh is the leading source for information and networking opportunities within the Occupational Health and Safety profession with members from a wide range of industries from the private and
public sector. Our non-profit organisation represents individuals and organisations committed to the enhancement of the Occupational Health and Safety discipline. Saiosh is the choice for OHS professionals and practitioners in Southern Africa, dedicated to the advancement of the OHS profession, through research, promotion, education, upliftment, training, guidance and strong relationships with other OHS stakeholders.
www.saiosh.co.za
Saiosh Head Office Tel: 010 001 7455 | Email: info@saiosh.co.za
Saiosh – “Keeping You Informed”
noshcon
PROFILES
Expanding St John South Africa St John South Africa is evolving – and it’s going to take local communities to new heights as it does so. Noshcon 2014 provided the ideal platform for the non-profit organisation to benchmark its new direction
“Y
ou can’t just equip people with skills in the event that something goes wrong,” says Craig
Hartley, director of St John in Cape Town, “You must equip them with knowledge and skills to prevent those accidents from what the organisation is aiming to achieve
and accredited through the Health and
at home as well as in the workplace. For
with its forthcoming programmes, currently
Welfare Seta during October. “Across the
this reason we have adopted the slogan
in the pilot stage.
country we are, however, still known for
“Saving lives at work, home and play”. If we
“Because we’re a non-profit organisation,
first aid training at NQF level 1 and 2 and
can all think safety, we will have brilliant,
training in first aid and community health is
we are known for first aid training in terms
proactive communities and workplaces. We
our core business to generate an income to
of the Department of Labour Document C
also want to push for safety to be taught in
subsidise our community efforts,” Hartley
Level 1, 2 and 3.
schools,” Hartley adds.
explains. The Cape Town office is currently
“As a medium-term goal we are also
This year being the organisation’s
in partnership with the Department of
considering expanding into occupational
fourth appearance at Noshcon, Hartley
Health to provide home-based care to
health and safety (OHS) for companies and
was interested to see the response to
marginalised communities. The aim of this
communities, as companies are situated in
St John’s new direction. “We wanted to
programme is to empower communities
geographic communities. We hope to launch
use the conference to promote future
to take charge of their own health. “In
by the end of 2015,” Hartley says, adding
expansion and find out who is interested
line with the government’s initiative to
that the organisation is now accredited
in community involvement. Looking at the
bring healthcare closer to the communities,
with the American Heart Association and
volume we saw, this year has been very
our programme assists this vision of the
the Resuscitation Council of Southern
positive; the delegates were excited to see
Department of Health. Healthcare should
Africa for presenting the Basic Life Support
our expansion.
not just be curative, but it should be ‘hazard
for Healthcare Providers and Heart Saver
“You can’t just develop products.
identification and risk assessment (HIRA)
First Aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Development has to be undertaken in
orientated’ and preventative as well.
(CPR) and automated external defibrillator
line with what customers need. St John
Communities should be empowered to do
(AED).
has to diversify and utilise what we
HIRA in all their activities. This brings the cost of healthcare down.”
Regarding the community healthcare
can get in industry and work it into the
programme, Hartley describes it as a “hand-
community. What differentiates us from
Working in the west coast communities
in-glove” situation. “Those households are
other first aid training providers is that
Malmsbury and Vredenburg and the
part of workplaces – we want to engage
we have to balance our income with our
metropolitan areas of Nyanga, Langa,
companies to let them know what we’re
expenses. It is therefore important that
Dunoon, Kensington, Woodstock and Cape
doing, find out how it would help them
our arm that ploughs back our income
Town (among others), a new qualification
and marry the two. It’s a matter of making
(into communities), and the arm that
in community health work, at NQF level 2, is
safety a day-to-day practice,” he enthuses.
contributes to business are balanced like
currently being piloted and will be verified
“We want to train people to think safety
of
a scale,” he concludes. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
happening and mitigate the impact.” This is
29
noshcon
PROFILES
Specialised PPE to the fore Noshcon 2014 allowed Afrox the
At the launch, Afrox also showed
opportunity to emphasise its welding
off its new range of leather, general
and cutting applications, including gas
handling, welding and synthetic gloves.
equipment, as well as its new range
“There has been a positive response
of personal protective equipment
with some interest in our new range
(PPE). On show was gas equipment
of gloves,” Pretorius reports.
such as flash-back arrestors, torches,
Being big on safety, health,
“We want our customers to
SABS-approved gas hoses and PPE for
environment and quality (SHEQ) policy,
remember that, while quality comes at
welding – such as the company’s new
Afrox also wanted to support Noshcon
a price, it is a price they must be willing
auto-darkening helmet.
by promoting safe behaviour; such as
to pay. The longevity of the Afrox PPE
product
using the correct safety procedures.
is superior compared to other cheaper
manager for safety equipment and
The company also does a lot of gas-
imitations that won’t last as long or
welding accessories at Afrox South
installation safety audits on customer
offer the same level of protection,” he
Africa, is exceptionally excited
sites, recommending safe practices
advises.
about the company’s PPE. “In order
and products they can use. “The
In support of this, the company
to support our gas equipment we’re
networking aspect is important; we
backs up its products with a return
now
Ferdie
selling
Pretorius,
equipment
want to share information, pick up
policy in the event of factory faults.
and PPE. This is important to our
safety
ideas and take the lead in the safety
“We like to offer our customers the
customer base.”
environment sector.
best solutions,” smiles Pretorius.
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| SHEQ management
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30
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noshcon
PROFILES
Scaffolding to greater heights
Part of the Waco Group, SGB-Cape has become one of the most occupational health and safety-focused suppliers of access scaffolding in the country – the proof is in its Noscar track record insulation and sheet metal to four major
Noshcon 2014 can only be
power stations, petrochemical plants and
described as sensational. The
other clients. It also has a division that
company’s eye-catching, very
specialises in corrosion protection.
orange stand won the Best Stand award,
“The Waco Group is one of the most
and then there was the slew of Noscar
diversified groups within construction
awards …
services. SGB-Cape is the largest by
SGB-Cape Richards Bay received its seventh award this year, Kendall its third,
tonnage and work turnover in terms of access scaffolding,” he says proudly.
Durban its first, RBM-Richards Bay its first
“What makes us different from the rest
and the FT Wax project in Vanderbijlpark,
of the players in the field, is commitment,
its second. That brings the company’s tally
structure and an awareness drive to show
to over 15 awards so far.
that we want to be the best service
Reinhardt Coetzee, national SHEQ
provider in Africa,” Coetzee says proudly.
manager SGB-Cape, explains that the
The company uses its stand at Noshcon
company began introducing Nosa audits to
every year in support of this goal, and
all its branches in 2003, winning the first
Coetzee’s sports metaphor was certainly
Noscar in 2008 (the first time it attended
apt this time around – the company playing
Noschon).
on the theme of this year’s Soccer World
“Since we introduced the Nosa grading
Cup in Brazil. The company erected a
and safety management systems, our lost-
section of seating stands in the middle
time injury and frequency rates have gone
of the exhibition hall and hooked-up
down to be on par with, or better than,
a PlayStation 4 to run a virtual soccer
those of our clients. We have an edge in that
tournament.
we’re proactively involved with occupational health and safety (OHS),” he says.
“The idea is to educate people about access scaffolding, because there is a
Coetzee explains that SGB-Cape
perception that scaffolding is totally
provides a “one-stop shop” for its clients,
unsafe … If it’s constructed by competent
but with that comes safety-related issues
people, it’s a very safe platform from which
that expose the company to risk. For
to work and it’s not difficult to manage, but
example, he explains, part of the service
basic, simple rules need to be followed,”
the company provides is to conduct
Coetzee notes.
weekly inspections on the scaffolding
It’s attitudes such as this that have
on behalf of its clients. “In terms of the
made the company a successful Noscar
law, our clients are responsible for the
winner. “Nosa has been a help to us
inspection of the scaffolding on a weekly
over the last ten years, having brought
basis, once we hand it over to them, but
certain safety standards throughout its
that is part of the service we provide,”
processes and management systems.
he says.
We are proud to be associated with
The company also advises on how to
Nosa and I’ll make sure our relationship
access difficult places. It is a registered
is maintained as far into the future as
asbestos removal company and supplies
possible,” he concludes. | SHEQ
ABOVE: SGB-Cape walked away from Noshcon 2014 with a slew of awards, including the Best Stand award and five Noscars.
| SHEQ management
S
GB-Cape’s performance at
31
noshcon
PROFILES
Air Products goes
platinum
The Noscar awards, dubbed the “Oscars of occupational health and safety”, have seen Air Products in a starring role once again this year. Employees from around the country were honoured for their consistent commitment to safety at the company’s nationwide facilities
R
un
by
the
Occupational Association
National
“Nosa’s ‘Five Star’ system enables
of such systems relies on the continuous
Safety
us to benchmark ourselves against
dedication and participation of each
environmental,
safety
and every employee at all levels of the
Noscar awards take place at
(Nosa),
the
legislation and best practices,” says Janse
organisation. At Air Products South Africa,
the annual Noshcon Conference. Both
van Vuuren. “It also gives our existing
safety and quality have become a way of
events are a highlight on the calendar
and potential customers a measure of our
life. We have long believed that safety is
for companies such as Air Products South
commitment and performance in this field.”
an individual responsibility.”
Africa – which takes its performance and
Air Products South Africa received a
She adds, however, that the company
commitment in all aspects of health and
total of 26 accolades at the various regional
does run incentive programmes, to
safety extremely seriously.
events during 2013/14, with most of its
encourage participation in the various
This year, Air Products South Africa’s
facilities receiving awards. Its head office
campaigns and initiatives, which are
also received the Nosa Northern Region
designed to consolidate a SHEQ culture
received its eighth platinum Noscar, while
Top Companies Award, in the commercial
across the organisation.
the Springs facility, on Gauteng’s East
sector, for its achievements as a safety,
Rand, received its fourth. In addition, the
health and environment company in 2013.
first platinum Noscar.
Janse van Vuuren ascribes the company’s success to the implementation of its
Debbie Crawley from head office,
integrated safety, health, environment and
Dumisa Gina from Springs and Elsa Vorster
quality (SHEQ) management system, which
from Pinetown were in attendance to
is centrally run by the risk department.
receive the awards on behalf of their facilities.
| SHEQ management
and
head office in Kempton Park, Gauteng,
company’s Pinetown facility received its
32
health
Receiving their platinum Noscar awards from Nosa’s Justin Hobday and Duncan Carlisle are, from left: Debbie Crawley, from Air Products South Africa’s head office; Dumisa Gina, representing the Springs branch; and Elsa Vorster, from the Pinetown branch.
She adds that the system consists of a
“Statistics show that up to 90 percent
number of elements that the department
of incidents are caused by unsafe acts or
For Sue Janse van Vuuren, Air
has integrated. “These include global
behaviours, so Air Products will be focusing
Products South Africa’s corporate risk
Air Products standards, local legislation,
on behavioural safety in the coming year,”
manager, the Noscar awards, as well
certification system requirements and best
Janse van Vuuren points out.
as the regional Nosa awards, represent
practices, which are set out in a SHEQ
In the meantime, the company is
an invaluable opportunity for the
manual. Compliance is then monitored
happy to look back over the past year and
company to measure itself against the
through various auditing and reporting
celebrate its achievement in the regional
highest industry standards nationally.
processes,” she explains.
and national Nosa awards. Says Janse van
It is also a chance for individuals and
Janse van Vuuren is quick to point
Vuuren: “Without resting on our laurels,
the company to enjoy well-deserved
out, however, that an effective SHEQ
Air Products South Africa’s facilities and
recognition for another year of hard
management system is only as good as
individual employees take great pride in
work and focus.
the people who implement it. “The success
their safety achievements.” | SHEQ
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| SHEQ management
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33
SKILLS AND TRAINING
Proactively addressing
skills shortages Skills shortages are plaguing various South African industries, yet unemployment numbers remain sky-high! SHEQ MANAGEMENT takes a look at how training can be the “one stone” that tackles these “two birds”
A
ccording to Cargo Carriers, a
deficit is a problem from a technical as well
Jansen van Vuuren. “Two of them have
specialised transport, supply
as a managerial perspective. “The shortage
successfully passed their exams and are
chain and logistics service
of technical skills affects general operational
now qualified diesel mechanics.”
provider, the shortage of skills
efficiency. Our aim is to train technicians
He explains that, in general, finding
is a major handbrake on business growth
to a level that increases productivity and
good technical personnel is a major issue
countrywide. Companies are, however,
safety, health, environmental and quality
for the company. “There is most certainly a
realising that the best way forward is to
(SHEQ) standards.”
shortage of qualified diesel mechanics and,
take responsibility for training and skills
| SHEQ management
development.
34
He continues: “In the management
when you do find them, they come at a
area, it’s a business-sustainability issue. It’s
very high cost. So the apprenticeships that
“After rising fuel costs, the shortage
about managing a growing business, while
we are funding can only prove fruitful for
of skills is the major challenge faced by
bringing people up from base level so that
us in the future.”
road-freight service providers,” says Andre
they really understand the culture of the
The company applies the same principle
Jansen van Vuuren, divisional marketing
company. It’s about producing managers
to management training, as Jansen van
director of Cargo Carriers. “That’s why
with the company’s culture in their blood.”
Vuuren explains. “We currently employ
Cargo Carriers is enforcing training and
The company’s hands-on approach is
eight trainee managers. They all have a
skills development. The company has been
already bearing fruit. In 2012, the first
tertiary education, whether it’s a transport
proactively engaged with the problem
management trainee (enrolled in 2010)
diploma or a degree in logistics or supply
for several years. With the demise of the
completed her training and was placed
chain management.”
apprenticeship system, we have had little
within the group. “We’ve also had our first
These trainee managers undergo
choice.”
group of five apprentices come through the
training in every aspect of the business
diesel mechanic training programme,” says
– which includes the marketing and sales,
Jansen van Vuuren adds that the skills
SKILLS AND TRAINING
whether the course has Seta-registered assessors or a facilitator who is a subjectmatter expert, and whether it provides learner-centred training (including on-thejob coaching). Singh points out that certain TSPs will need further accreditations if they’re regulated
by
national
government
departments. “For example, OHST is further approved by the Department of Labour to provide training for First Aid Level 1, 2 and 3 – as stipulated in the Occupational Health & Safety Act, no. 85 of 1993.” He continues: “Another example is that even though the unit standard is verified by the Seta, the Department of Transport also has gazetted and approved training service providers (one of them being OHST) on the conveying of dangerous goods by road.” TPSs don’t have to break your bank, however. “Organisations that pay skillsdevelopment levies can claim up to 70 percent back on the money they spend on educating and developing their staff.” This, according to the Services Seta webpage, includes any company that has an annual payroll exceeding R500 000 and staff who are registered for Employees’ Tax – commonly referred to as Pay As You Earn (or PAYE). The company must register with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) and to a number of training providers, but there
monthly payroll. “If the company doesn’t
divisions. Jansen van Vuuren adds that
are a few things to be mindful of, as
fall within these criteria, it doesn’t have to
the next step includes a 24-month audit
Gary Singh – business manager at Sector
pay levies or register with SARS.”
learnership programme in conjunction with
Education and Training Authority (Seta)-
So, many companies don’t have an
the Institute of Internal Auditors, to offer
accredited Occupational Health & Safety
excuse not to join the training revolution.
employees the relevant training within the
Training (OHST) – explains: “Training courses
“Employers must note, however, that
internal audit and risk function.
must be designed, facilitated and assessed
training does not end in the classroom,”
with specific outcomes in mind.”
says Singh. “They must provide effective
As Cargo Carriers is proving, it is futile for companies to sit back and wait for the
He adds that it is advisable for
supervision and coaching on the relevant
education system to produce the required
organisations to train with Seta-approved
outcomes once the learners exit the
skills on its own – the backlog is simply
institutions that offer courses aligned
classroom.” He adds that this is really
too great. A proactive approach to skills
to approved unit standards. This will
important, or the training could be perceived
development, in every area of company
ensure that there are specific outcomes.
as being ineffective.
activity, is required.
“Additionally, there are four important
The most important thing to remember
Jansen van Vuuren says it best: “The
aspects that an organisation must look at
is that people are the focal point of
reality is that if you want to attract and
before choosing a training service provider
training, as they are an organisation’s
retain skilled personnel, you have to ensure
(TSP),” Singh tells SHEQ MANAGEMENT.
greatest asset … “So, it makes perfect
These include whether the TSP’s
sense to ensure that your employees
You are, in effect, responsible for training
courses are approved by the South African
have the most effective training and
your own skills.”
Qualifications Authority (SAQA) – or aligned
education. This will maximise output and
to its unit standards. One should also check
performance,” Singh concludes. | SHEQ
that the correct programmes are in place.
Companies can outsource this function
| SHEQ management
pay a skills levy of one percent of the operations, technical, admin and finance
35
PPE
Certified to Prevent
Painful Encounters
Personal protective equipment (PPE) saves lives – full stop. Have you ever thought about what happens before you strap on your live-saving gear? JACO DE KLERK takes a look at the origins of PPE as well as the manufacturing and testing processes behind some of today’s equipment
H
umans, like most every
didn’t exist until clothing came about in
Clothes are thus our original PPE that
other
the
humans,” Reed explains. So, his five-year
protected us against the elements and
planet, are obsessed with
creature
on
study used DNA sequencing to calculate
broadened our horizons. Things have
self-preservation. It’s no
when clothing lice first began to diverge
become a lot more high-tech, however; the
genetically from human head lice.
personal protective clothing manufacture
wonder that PPE – while perhaps not exactly as we know it today – has been
| SHEQ management
around for thousands of years …
36
The data shows that modern humans started wearing clothes about 70 000
Charnaud’s Metal-Safe gear being an example.
After studying lice in modern humans,
years before migrating into colder climates
Thanks to a blend of high-strength
David Reed, associate curator of mammals
and higher latitudes, which began about
fibres, the Metal-Safe range provides
at the Florida Museum of Natural History,
100 000 years ago. “It’s interesting to
protection to workers undertaking welding,
at the University of Florida in the United
think that humans were able to survive
electrical and metal foundry tasks. It offers
States, found that humanity started
in Africa without clothing and without
protection against life-threatening hazards
wearing clothes 170 000 years ago.
body hair, and that it wasn’t until they
such as fire, static, electric arc flash and
Why lice? “It’s because they are so
had clothing that modern humans began
severe molten red metal splash. (And,
well adapted to clothing. We know that
moving out of Africa into other parts of
believe it or not, it can be washed in water
body lice or clothing lice almost certainly
the world,” adds Reed.
at residential or industrial laundries.)
PPE
First up is an impact-resistance test. “For this test we use a mock-up head onto which the product is installed,” Oliver points out, adding that a 1 kg weight is then dropped onto it from a height of one metre. The impact on the neck’s vertebra is then measured to determine if it is in accordance with the standard. “If it is below a certain measurement, then the product complies with this part of the standard.” Next up is the penetration resistance test. “In this case there is another weight, of slightly less than 1 kg. It has a sharp point and has to be dropped from a height of one metre onto the hard hat,” Oliver elaborates. He says that the weight is allowed to penetrate the outer shell of the hard hat, but isn’t allowed to touch the liner that touches the head. “The specifications also require that the tests are done under three different temperature conditions; room temperature, 50°C and -5°C,” states Oliver. “We do those tests on every batch of hard hats that we manufacture, and we get audited by the South African Bureau of Standards on an annual basis. If our products pass all the tests, we get to continue to apply the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) mark to the product.” However,
the
company
doesn’t
only take regulatory specifications into account. “Typically, as part of our research and development process, we expose out prototypes to various customers on a global basis before we make the last refinements to the products and then start manufacturing the final version.” One example is the Gallet F1XF Fire Charnaud,
founder
and
right from the word go,” adds Colin Oliver,
Helmet launched at the end of last year.”
managing director of MSA Africa.
The research and development on this
its materials are sourced locally; “thereby
This is why research and development
product started three years ago,” Oliver
reducing overhead costs and turnaround
is non-negotiable. “Our products go
points out. MSA showed the prototype
times.”
through very rigorous testing processes
to various customers worldwide and
Charnaud has been at it for quite a
at these facilities,” Oliver emphasises. He
incorporated their feedback into the
number of years. Established as a husband-
adds that they have to comply with a vast
design of the product.
and-wife team in 1975, the Ladysmith-
range of standards and specifications.
It is evident that PPE walks a long
based company now has a large number
To drive his point home, Oliver explains
and very tested road before it makes
of employees and a geographical footprint
the testing process behind MSA’s locally
its way to the workplace … and with
that spans over 30 countries on five
manufactured hard hats – which comply
companies, like MSA, investing massive
continents.
with both European (EN) and South African
amounts of money into research and
It’s clear that PPE has come a long
National Standards (SANS). “The product
development, in order to stay abreast of
way since its prehistoric, cold-combating
has to go through two specific tests that
the latest lifesaving developments, PPE
origins to where it’s protecting people’s
we conduct on every batch manufactured
will continue to protect people for many
lives … “So it’s super important to get it
at our facility in Johannesburg.”
years to come. | SHEQ
| SHEQ management
Andrew
chairman of the company, adds that all
37
HINTS & TIPS
Safe trip Chemicals are used for various functions in a wide range of industries. If transported irresponsibly, they may pose risks to both humans and the environment. Cargo Carriers, a top-notch logistics service provider, shares some tips on what it takes to safely transport hazardous chemicals
M
anufacturers focus on
differentiate one transport operator
the safe production and
from another.
storage of hazardous chemicals.
but it’s also a foundation for inherent
Production
“cream of the crop” from the “dime a
safety on the road over the long term.
dozen” are the state of the vehicles
Accidents can happen; that is the risk
– as far as possible – minimise the risk of
used, irrespective of the high costs of
of traffic on the road. Yet, even in such
injury and the possibility of pollution.
keeping them pristine, and the level of
an unfortunate event, the inherent
On the flipside of the supply chain,
training that is provided to all personnel
safety-driven vehicle operation will, to
the end user focuses on the effect of
(operators have to go beyond mere
a large extent, minimise the effects and
the product when it is used. Have you
statutory compliance).
severity of an accident.
Safety practices also need to include conservative
driver
design, realistic driver training and
are transported from the manufacturer’s
selection. Intensive training and the
coaching, and the overall response to an
plant to the end user?
and
practical
continuous focus on safety embeds
accident, make a massive difference to
In logistics, and particularly when
a mindset and positive attitude that
the severity and cost of any such event.
it comes to the transport of hazardous
is vital to the safe transportation of
Any minimisation of risk factors is
chemicals, the highest possible levels
dangerous goods over the long term.
also a plus for overall safety, and an
of safety, health, environmental and
The inculcation of these vital values
emphasis on continuous safe behaviour
quality (SHEQ) standards have become
really makes a difference.
provides results that can be measured
industry fraught with dangers …
At Cargo Carriers, drivers are screened
and audited.
and selected according to the operational
The mantra “no short cuts in
As every road user will know, this
factors of high driving competency and the
transporting and handling dangerous
transport mode operates in a high-
seldom found, but much valued, attribute
goods” has to rule; anything less
risk environment! It is, however, the
of “vehicle sympathy”; whereby drivers
invites
management
will unconsciously look after their vehicles
consequences. | SHEQ
of
these
risks
that
We don’t talk logistics solutions, we walk it | SHEQ management
Furthermore, the selected vehicle’s
point A and B, when these chemicals
non-negotiable. This is, however, an
T03005
Not only does this attitude save costs,
Other factors that distinguish the
plants utilise controlled environments to
ever wondered what happens between
38
and treat them as if they were their own.
serious
problems
and
Being able to deliver high-quality logistic and supply chain solutions requires having more than just a one-size-fits-all approach. At Cargo Carriers we pride ourselves on being customer centric and while vertical specific we are always looking for challenges and opportunities in new industries and regions. We strive for the highest levels of reliability in all that we move. With each customer comes an individual set of safety, health, environmental and quality requirements, and our innovative and service orientated offering means that we are consistently able to provide for your specific needs. Call us. We go the extra mile
Innovative supply chain solutions
39
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