Turnkey snake awareness for exploration & mining projects Containing the risk of snake bites and attacks

Wherever there are mining activities, snakes pose a huge threat to the safety of employees. So far, improved awareness is the most potent weapon in mitigating the risk they pose. However, African Reptiles & Venom recommends that only a credible service provider must be engaged to conduct snake awareness courses among employees at all times.

called ‘low-hanging fruits. In a nutshell, as far as health and safety issues go, it is better to err on the side of caution with snake encounters or bites.

This is the viewpoint of Mike Perry, the Managing Company Owner of African Reptiles & Venom. As an old hand in snake awareness, he is tirelessly advocating for an attitude change towards containing risks from snakes mineworkers face. African Reptiles & Venom is a highly esteemed provider of relevant turnkey snake awareness solutions to companies in the mining and other sectors.

Raising awareness

Based on the company’s extensive know-how, Perry is keen to raise awareness about the risk mining companies face, highlighting the level of prevalence at mineral exploration and mine development and operation phases. This is above and beyond the relevance of the company’s turnkey snake awareness solutions. Prevalence

Of Snakes

Usually, there is a high prevalence of snakes both at mineral exploration and mine development and operation phases.

• Mineral exploration phase

Legislation – the Mine Health and Safety (MHSA) and Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) - obligates mining companies to leave no stone unturned in the quest to achieve compliance. Unfortunately, the reality is that some mining companies tend to be selective - unwittingly or not - in containing identified safety risks.

The overlooked safety risk

Conspicuously, the primary focus is on so-called ‘low-hanging fruits‘ like fire accidents and fallat-height, just to cite a few. And in the course of this, inherent risks from snake encounters or bites that equally merit similar attention are ignored or underestimated.

Actually, wherever mining companies have operations, the risk of snake encounters or bites should be regarded as high at all times. It is rational to approach the risk of snake encounters or bites in a similar manner they do with so-

The location of the mine during the exploration phase determines the level of prevalenceWhether or not it is close to green fields during the exploration period by drilling companies and the number of people involved in the drilling. Typically, while the drilling takes place the snake population will remain intact, and will not be disturbed by this process.

• Mine development and operation

Once minerals have been discovered and planning has been completed, the steps that follow are: clearing the bush, and erecting buildings and infrastructure like the plant, mine shafts, clinics and hospitals, living quarters and dining areas. Due to these activities, there are a lot of encounters with snakes - depending on where the mine is situated.

After completion, as soon as there is an influx of people onto a mining site, there are large quantities of waste food disposed of, which will attract rodents by the thousands. This in turn will attract an influx of snakes. Usually, the following areas in operating mines are prone to high snake presence (risks) - living quarters, dining areas, storage facilities or any areas that border virgin bush next to falling dams.

On a different note, seasons also need to be taken into consideration as a factor in the prevalence of snake populations - hot, dry, cold, or wet. These will influence activity.

Turnkey snake awareness

There may be several techniques – if any - to manage the risk of the presence of snakes in mining environments. Arguably, while others may work, if at all, African Reptiles & Venom has identified raising employee awareness as the most effective way to manage the risks. And so, it has devised mining-specific turnkey snake awareness solutions segmented into the following areas: Snake identification, First Aid for snakebites, Snake bite treatment and Handling technique.

While the company’s snake awareness solutions are segmented, Perry stresses that they can be customised to suit the needs of clientele. This is because every mine may have unique risks they face from potential snake attacks. For this reason, the company ensures that a mine is provided with a solution suitable to its challenge, as Perry demonstrates: “Upon reaching the mine, we will do a walk around assessment, advise Health and Safety officials of existing and potential risks, and make recommendations that are appropriate to the mine.“

The service providers‘ competence

In no doubt, African Reptiles & Venom bends over backwards in its commitment to delivering relevant solutions to client expectations. That is why the company is concerned about how mining companies approach procurement of snake awareness – a critical area in mine health and safety.

Perry tells mining companies to separate the wheat from the chaff among companies claiming to provide snake awareness solutions. “There should be no cutting corners in the mitigation of risks from snakes, as shortcuts can put the lives of employees at risk.“

By and large, he advises mining companies to consider the following when looking for a competent service provider:

• The company should have a credible history and involvement with snakes;

• The organisation should be under someone in the company who is accredited as an expert in the field;

• It is important to get a summary of the layout of the course to see the quality; and

• Do not use price as the sole determinant of procurement decisions. Nine times out of ten the cheap price is a red flag. The rule of thumb is: The cheaper the course, the lower the quality and the higher the risks of incidents.

African Reptiles & Venom’s credibility

Currently, mining companies are embarking on greenfield and brownfield projects in areas where there is likely to be a huge prevalence of snakes. So, Perry warrants there should be no question about the African Reptiles & Venom’s credibility. Noticing increasing potential risk to employees from snake attacks and bites, he says the company is keen to leave no stone unturned in imparting its know-how in snake awareness.

The scope of African Reptiles & Venom’s turnkey snake awareness course

The course starts with a theoretical session with content which consists of the below. A PowerPoint presentation is done by Mike Perry with images explaining all the necessary information, covering:

1. Snake Awareness

2. How to identify snakes

3. Dangerous snakes found in their specific regions

4. Prevention of snakebite

5. Snakebite syndromes

6. First Aid for snakebite treatment

7. Medical snakebite treatment

8. Recognition and treatment of allergic reactions

Introduction to safe snake handling

• Rules to apply for snake handling without causing medical emergencies

• Safe snake handling equipment, First Aid for snakebite kits and how to use it.

• How to catch different snakes illustrated using slides and video.