Safety

S AF E TY WWW.BUSINESSMEDIAMAGS.CO.ZA

2021

SAFELY REOPENING THE WORLD INSIDE: MINING I CONSTRUCTION I OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH I AND MORE

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FOUR REASONS TO CONSIDER AUTOMATED CASH MANAGEMENT to CUT COSTS AND IMPROVE SAFETY Contrary to many predictions, the days of physical cash are not numbered. Given that cash is here to stay, every responsible merchant needs to find ways to safeguard the cash on their premises. With an automated cash management environment, retail stores can trade with a greater sense of security

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ith more than 50 per cent of consumer transactions completed with notes and coins, cash is still king in South Africa, says the Payments Association of SA. Cash Connect, a leading provider of robust, intelligent cash vaults, lists four simple ways that automated cash management solutions can benefit retail stores.

1. Automated cash handling is more cost-effective than managing notes and coins manually In-store cash and cash-in-transit (CIT) insurance, cash shrinkage, deposit fees, back-office and cash counting supervision costs quickly add up. For a retail store that trades 30 days a month, employs a daily CIT service Monday–Saturday and banks a monthly total of R2-million in cash, these and other cash management costs could top R30 000 a month. A fully automated, end-to-end cash management service with a secure cash vault will cost around R15 000 a month – a saving of nearly 50 per cent.

2. Immediate risk transfer IMAGES: SUPPLIED

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An important element of an automated cash management solution is a robust cash vault, built to SABS Category 4 standards, to ensure that retail merchants can operate in a safer and secure trading environment. This is like having a

Cash is deposited into the N3K cash vault

bank in the store. Once the merchant deposits cash into the cash vault, there is an immediate transfer of risk, and the merchant’s funds are guaranteed with a same-day settlement into their bank account.

3. Real-time access to cash flow An automated cash management solution not only provides secure storage of cash, but also helps merchants to manage and improve their cash flow. With an instant access facility, merchants can access the cash that is still in their cash vault. If merchants need to make an urgent payment for delivery of stock, for example, but their cash is still in their vault and the cash-in-transit service provider hasn’t collected their cash yet, real-time access to their cash is just a click away.

Instant access gives merchants access to the cash in their vault, whenever they need it.

An added benefi t for Cash Connect clients: Merchants get access to Capital Connect which offers business finance of up to R2.5-million in just 24-hours, based on the cash and card volumes of the store. Quick access to hasslefree finance for retail merchants is crucial – this allows retailers to buy stock or to make bulk purchases at discounted rates, immediately increasing their profit margins.

An automated cash management solution is a must for any retail business owner who wants to improve cash flow, access opportunity capital, streamline cash management, deter criminals and take business efficiency to the next level.

Retailers should seek out providers who can offer a full solution that covers the risk from beginning to end – from the moment cash goes into the vault, while in transit, and until their money appears in their bank account.

4. Increased business efficiency Automated cash management is fast and accurate. More importantly, automated cash management will save a merchant up to 40 per cent of their time as it eliminates all staff touchpoints associated with manual reconciliations and banking, counting, shrinkage and double-count supervision.

This back-office counting role automatically becomes redundant, and employees can focus on tasks that add value, rather than on counting money or standing in bank queues.

APPROVED SUPPLIER Cash Connect is one of South Africa’s largest suppliers of cash to the banking system and processes in excess of R90-billion a year on behalf of its diversified retail client base across the country. The company is an approved service provider to blue-chip companies including the Spar Group, Shell, Engen, Pick n Pay and OK.

For more information:

0861 MYRAND (697263) cash@connected.co.za cash.connected.co.za

SAFETY

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F ROM T HE EDI T OR

S A F E TY PUBLISHED BY

A proud division of Arena Holdings Hill on Empire, 16 Empire Road (cnr Hillside Road), Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193 PO Box 12500, Mill Street, Cape Town, 8010 www.businessmediamags.co.za EDITORIAL Editor: Rodney Weidemann Content Manager: Raina Julies rainaj@picasso.co.za Contributors: Trevor Crighton, Simon Foulds, Gareth Griffiths, Anthony Sharpe Copy Editor: Anthony Sharpe Content Co-ordinator: Vanessa Payne Digital Editor: Stacey Visser vissers@businessmediamags.co.za DESIGN Head of Design: Jayne Macé-Ferguson Senior Designer: Mfundo Archie Ndzo Advert Designer: Bulelwa Sotashe Cover Credit: istock.com

More than just COVID

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afety has never been more top-of-mind for people and businesses, and while COVID-19 remains a key concern, it is not the only safety issue facing industries today.

Take the construction industry, where injuries – everything from the obvious cuts, wounds and broken bones to the little-known issue of suspension trauma – continue to cost manhours and money. The mining sector is another dangerous workplace, but Kumba Iron Ore has a plan that doesn’t merely focus on accident prevention, but instead aims to eliminate fatalities entirely.

When it comes to road safety, it seems laws are not enough to change attitudes among drivers, so perhaps the time has come instead for more effective enforcement of existing laws. We also look at how technology can play a role in helping long-distance truckers stay safe from both criminal and natural elements.

Of course, no publication on safety would be complete without at least taking a look at some

of those sectors deeply impacted by the pandemic, such as occupational health and safety. This hardly appears to find its way onto the radar of SMEs, while large enterprises’ strategies have also had to change following a massive increase in remote working.

We also take a look at the food and beverage sector, and how it has dealt with and implemented measures to handle the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, as well as the necessity for regular food service audits.

Finally, in the healthcare arena, a recent technological innovation, combined with rapid antigen testing, opens up the possibility of many hard-hit industries such as the travel, tourism, entertainment and sports sectors being able to resume a level of normal business operations again soon.

Remember that in today’s trying times, whatever industry you are in and whatever you do, safety should be at the forefront of any decision you make.

Therefore, stay healthy, stay safe, and don’t forget to mask up and socially distance.

Rod Weidemann

Contents

SALES Project Manager: Bongani Matwa matwab@picasso.co.za | +27 21 469 2416 I +27 76 251 4590 PRODUCTION Production Editor: Shamiela Brenner Advertising Co-ordinator: Johan Labuschagne Subscriptions and Distribution: Fatima Dramat fatimad@picasso.co.za Printers: CTP Printers, Cape Town MANAGEMENT Management Accountant: Deidre Musha Business Manager: Lodewyk van der Walt General Manager, Magazines: Jocelyne Bayer

10 4 MINING While accident prevention is the key focus of mine safety, one enterprise believes a new approach might potentially eliminate fatalities entirely

5 CONSTRUCTION A look at common on-site injuries in this sector, including a less familiar condition: suspension trauma

6 ROAD AND TRANSPORT Road safety is being tackled through new laws – but perhaps better enforcement of the existing ones is the right option

7 FOOD AND BEVERAGE How have we kept the food supply chain safe during the pandemic, and what is the role of food safety audits in ensuring its integrity?

COPYRIGHT: No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent of the publisher. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. Manufacturing is published

by Picasso Headline. The opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Picasso Headline. All advertisements/advertorials have been paid for and therefore do not carry any endorsement by the publisher.

10 HEALTHCARE A unique combination of app and COVID-19 testing shows how we might successfully reopen travel, tourism, sport and entertainment

11 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY A tricky area for SMEs, and an increasingly complex one for enterprises that now have more employees working from home

SAFETY

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MINING S A F E T Y

Focus on

eliminating fatalities Is it possible for mines to eliminate fatalities entirely?

Rodney Weidemann investigates

1. Safety starts at the top Leaders must change their mindsets around safety and understand that whatever happens on their watch is a reflection of their leadership.

2. Instil a company-wide culture of safety Safety must be embedded in the hearts and minds of the people, but creating a culture of safety at mines takes time and significant leadership commitment to establish. For one, visible leadership is needed in the field where

5. Plan and schedule fanatically Fatality-free success Since embedding a company-wide focus on becoming injury and fatality-free, and taking a holistic approach to health and safety at its operations, Kumba has been without a fatal incident since May 2016, says Philip Fourie. “In the same time, we have seen a 67 per cent reduction in serious incidents and injuries across all our operations. In 2020, we achieved our lowest rate of total recordable incidents in five years, despite the additional demands of COVID-19.”

the work of greatest risk is done. When workers see this, it confirms for them how seriously safety is taken, resulting in them following procedures more correctly. This has had a major impact on Kumba’s accident rates.

3. Put the right processes in place Implement a well-designed risk and change management process that identifies the critical controls of fatal risks. Focus on compliance with the critical controls that can result in a fatal accident if they fail. If a mine can ensure 100 per cent compliance, 100 per cent of the time, then it will eliminate fatal accidents.

4. Learn from incidents Place emphasis on learning from your own experiences, as well as across the broader South African industry and the rest of the world, and rigorously investigate every high-potential hazard and incident.

“Fatality prevention and accident prevention are two different issues, as the circumstances that cause fatalities are generally very different to those that cause accidents.” – Philip Fourie, Kumba Iron Ore 4

The way to manage fatal risks is to make sure that when high-risk activities are performed, they are planned and scheduled down to the very last detail. Use a “high risk work” verification process to deliver the oversight required.

6. Use technology to separate people from harm Use technology to automate risky processes and reduce human exposure to harsh conditions and risk of danger. Some of the technology Kumba is deploying includes: • Auto braking on haul trucks • Auto drilling, where drills are operated remotely • Remote dozers, which are also operated remotely • Drone technology, to assist in blast clearances, survey technology and general structural integrity observations “Fatalities do not have to be, and must not be, an inevitable by-product of mining,” says Fourie. “If the industry can work one day with no injuries and no fatalities, then it can do two, four, 100 and more. As miners, we know the fatal risks facing us, and we need to manage them properly. This is what it means for us to reimagine mining to improve people’s lives.

“At Kumba Iron Ore, we truly believe that becoming injury- and fatalityfree is achievable, though it is an ongoing process. Ultimately, the industry cannot rest until 100 per cent compliance is achieved. We are certainly never resting at Kumba,” Fourie concludes.

Philip Fourie

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n May 2016, Kumba Iron Ore’s chief executive Themba Mkhwanazi made a bold declaration: not one more person would die while working for the company. He was responding to a fatal incident that had claimed the life of a colleague at the company’s Sishen mine that week. It was certainly a big commitment, considering the nature and complexity of Kumba’s operations, and the intricacies that come with making mining operations safer.

Philip Fourie, outgoing executive head of safety and sustainable development at Kumba Iron Ore (part of the Anglo-American group), explains what the company did to achieve this. “For a start, we changed our focus 180 degrees from accident prevention to fatality elimination. Most mines focus on preventing accidents to prevent fatalities. In reality, fatality prevention and accident prevention are two different issues, as the circumstances that cause fatalities are generally very different to those that cause accidents.

“Others can learn from Kumba’s ongoing journey to becoming an injury- and fatality-free organisation. This is built on a comprehensive six-point approach that we believe can guide the entire mining industry to reduce – and potentially eliminate – fatalities.”

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CONS T RUC T ION S A F E T Y

On-site injuries Despite many hazards existing on a construction site, safety measures to minimise risks do not always address the heart of the issue. GARETH GRIFFITHS provides answers to questions about common injuries on site

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atalities, injuries and disease continue to occur in South African construction, says Professor John Smallwood of the Department of Construction Management at Nelson Mandela University. “But it is a myth that ‘construction is inherently dangerous’ or ‘accidents are part of the job’. In reality, strategies, systems, procedures and protocols can mitigate or even eliminate hazards and risk.”

However, accidents continue, as the claims statistics for Professor John Smallwood reported injuries by

the Federated Employer’s Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) indicate. FEM covers approximately 30 per cent of the trade and is by far the largest insurer in the sector.

Whilst 2020 was atypical, 2019 produced some pertinent statistics for reported injuries on site, with the following the most common: • Superficial wounds: 24.54 per cent • Penetrating wounds: 22.29 per cent • Miscellaneous/insect/reptile bites: 13.25 per cent • Joint injuries: 13.18 per cent • Bone injuries: 8.21 per cent • Multiple injuries: 2.32 per cent • Post-traumatic stress disorder: 1.13 per cent

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Working at heights: suspension trauma

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uspension trauma is also known as harness hang syndrome, suspension syndrome or suspension syncope.

This occurs after a fall is stopped at the end of a line and the human body is held upright without movement being possible for a certain period, according to An-Lie Nel, trade manager at the Institute for Work at Height.

“The dangers of working at height do not stop once the worker’s fall-arrest equipment prevents a fall,” says Nel. “The worker may now be at risk of an equally life-threatening emergency: suspension trauma.”

Suspension trauma symptoms • Light-headedness • Nausea • Tingling/numbness in the arms and legs • Faintness • Flushing sensations These can lead to death due to oxygen deprivation in the brain.

Source: Institute for Work at Height and MBA

Significantly, bone injuries led to the most lost working time on site – a whopping 14 344 worker days, at an average cost-per-accident of close to R110 000, which is also the highest cost to company.

“To reduce this, we need to change attitudes towards workers’ health,” says Smallwood. “The perception exists that construction health and safety (H&S) are viewed as the contractor’s problem. However, given that the true cost of on-site accidents is estimated at between 4.3 and 5.4 per cent of the completed construction value, and the cost of implementing H&S is estimated at only 0.5 to 3 per cent of project costs, H&S should, in fact, be viewed as a profit centre.”

FAST FACT

In 1972, the first case of suspension trauma was recorded, where 10 out of 23 climbers who had fallen died after being suspended in their harnesses, despite not having been injured.

Source: European Journal of Applied Physiology

This is caused by a combination of various factors, including too much blood flowing to the legs, becoming trapped and causing blood pooling. The brain can also become starved of adequate oxygen.

Neil Enslin, occupational health and safety manager at the Master Builders Association of KwaZulu-Natal, advises that solutions rely on industry standards, legislation and best practice including personal protective equipment options. “Fortunately, there is a solution to protect against this sort of injury: trauma straps. This comprises a pair of straps, one with hooks attached and the other with a loop to receive the hooks. These are coiled up in hip pouches attached to the fall harness. After a fall is arrested, a worker can uncoil the straps, hook them, and brace

his weight against the straps under his feet. This enables standing in the fall harness, utilising the leg muscles and taking weight off the arteries – restoring blood circulation until help arrives.”

Neil There are other simple Enslin steps that can be taken to mitigate the hazard of suspension trauma too, like a fall protection strategy for all work at heights that includes a rescue plan, and training on the use of fall protection equipment.

“With greater knowledge of what suspension trauma is and how it affects the body, we can plan better for the hazards and continue to improve the safety of our workplaces,” Enslin concludes.

“The dangers of working at height do not stop once the worker’s fall-arrest equipment prevents a fall.” – An-Lie Nel, Institute for Work at Height SAFETY

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ROA D A ND T R A NSP OR T S A F E T Y

It’s a familiar question: does South Africa need better laws or better enforcement of existing ones?

ANTHONY SHARPE investigates

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ccording to Professor Sophia du Plessis of Stellenbosch University, our existing laws are just fine; rather, what we do need is more targeted enforcement. Du Plessis says the World Health Organisation (WHO) links road traffic deaths and injuries to several major behavioural risk factors: speeding; driving under the

Safer trucking through data analytics

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ig data is increasingly being harnessed by logistics companies to improve efficiencies across the supply chain. But is it being used to protect drivers from crime?

While everyone wants to do this, the issue is having the capacity to perform proper analytics around the data, suggests Johann Raubenheimer, director of Landmark Tracking. “Larger companies have risk management divisions that do this well, using analytics to try identify high-risk areas.”

However, while modern telematics systems may produce a burgeoning wealth of data, gleaning information on truck hijackings is a little more difficult. “Trucking companies vie for contracts, so they don’t necessarily want it known when they suffer hijackings and cargo loss,” explains Raubenheimer.

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The wrong focus Du Plessis says that data for South Africa as a whole is difficult to find, but gives the example of the leading cause of accidents in Cape Town (excluding crashes that involve pedestrians) as being failure to control the vehicle. This includes swerving, losing control, being under the influence, as well as blackouts and falling asleep. Other major causes include turning into the face

of oncoming traffic, changing lane while it is unsafe to do so, making unsafe U-turns, failing to stay in a lane, not signalling when turning, driving on the wrong side of the road, and failing to keep left.

“If we compare this to fines issued for violations of traffic regulations in Cape Town there seems to be a huge difference: the vast majority of fines were issued for only a small subset of these offences,” says Du Plessis.

“Almost 70 per cent of all fines were issued for violations linked to speed limits and vehicle licensing regulations.”

Du Plessis adds that the University of Stellenbosch has recently created an interdisciplinary transport research group to try and understand road users’ behaviour.

“Professor Ada Jansen, Dr Krige Siebrits and I are looking at ways to change the behaviour of road users. We do not want to live in a society with traffic authorities and cameras everywhere; we want to live in a society where road users adhere to traffic Professor Sophia rules because it is the right du Plessis thing to do.”

“According to the list of risk factors and the associated best practices recommended by the WHO, South African road safety legislation conforms to international best practice.” – Professor Sophia du Plessis, Stellenbosch University Furthermore, Raubenheimer adds, since the SAPS vehicle theft unit was disbanded, the police have been very reactionary. Crime intelligence as far as this sort of activity goes is very low. “The data thus typically comes from tracking and recovery companies.

There’s a handful of really good recovery companies in South Africa and they pick up the trends, they know where incidents take place, they know about the different syndicates, and will feed the information through to companies like us.”

While inclement weather can also pose a threat to trucks, Raubenheimer says that weather data has not yet been integrated into route planning platforms. “There Johann are certain transport groups Raubenheimer that send out warnings of strong winds in the Cape, for example. The platforms can be used to redirect trucks, but they don’t have predictive capabilities as far as weather is concerned.”

“While modern telematics systems produce a wealth of data, gleaning information on truck hijackings is a little more difficult.”

– Johann Raubenheimer, Landmark Tracking

THE RIGHT SKILLS FOR THE JOB Graham Wren, general manager of business development at logistics group SG Freight, says certain clients, contracts, products or certifications require different driver training. “Fuel or dangerous goods generally require greater certification given the nature of the product being transported and the risk therein.” Wren says SG Freight drivers receive the following training: • Dangerous goods – loading and offloading • Fire fighting level 1 • First aid level 1

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Annual medical Company induction Company policies Driver coaching programme Defensive driving theory Vehicle stability/roll over prevention Fatigue management Emergency response Practical loading – contract specific Practical delivery – contract specific Practical driving – in-cab assessment Practical pre-trip check Product knowledge

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Limits of the law

influence; failure to use seatbelts, motorcycle helmets and child restraints; and using mobile phones while driving.

“According to the list of risk factors and the associated best practices recommended by the WHO, South African road safety legislation conforms to international best practice,” she says. “Yet road safety outcomes are far from acceptable. Traffic authorities undertake a large number of law enforcement actions every year, but there remains much concern about the overall effectiveness of traffic law enforcement.

Do authorities target the leading causes of road accidents?”

SAFETY

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Food supply chain integrity during a pandemic Keeping the world fed during a pandemic is an intricate affair, writes TREVOR CRIGHTON

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hile every industry was disrupted by COVID-19 lockdowns, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the global food supply chain under these restrictions remained critical.

“Our sector was designated as an essential

service, initially limited to selling only basic products,” says Matlou Setati, food safety initiative executive at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa. “Naturally, this affected profitability, but we understood that this was in support of the national effort to flatten the curve.”

Hesrie van Heerden, food scientist at FACTS Food & Allergy Consulting & Testing Services, lists other lockdown challenges, including

product quarantining, constraint in movement of goods, diminished workforce, changes in consumer demands, difficulty sourcing and approving new or alternative suppliers for materials, as well as closure of production facilities and financial pressures.

“Crisis management is an essential element in many food safety systems,” says Van Heerden.

“However, the onset of the pandemic presented unique, unprecedented challenges, including panic-buying, which exacerbated the pressures on the supply chain.”

Setati adds that there is a need for South Africa to enhance its disaster preparedness, in line with World Health Organization guidelines. “The industry and country could do better – each organisation needs to be well equipped with contingency plans to safeguard supply.”

Matlou Setati

KEY RISKS Hesrie van Heerden says that at the start of the pandemic, limited SARS-CoV-2-specific data was available relating to potential transmission through food and food packaging. ‘’Prevailing evidence strongly indicates that it is an unlikely route of infection. However, the initial confusion and uncertainty surrounding the issue contributed to supply chain and manufacturing constraints.’’

Van Heerden adds that several food safety and food fraud risks emerged due to increased demand and frequent disruptions.

“Vulnerabilities in the supply chain have been amplified by a lack of surveillance – routine supplier checks were not always possible, risks

were often controlled remotely, alternative suppliers were sourced without proper screening or through non-routine approval processes, and auditors weren’t able to perform on-site inspections.”

Matlou Setati notes that another risk was the danger of transmission between employees. “Companies had to ensure that personal protective equipment was in place and employees had to rotate, while the way they travelled to work was addressed, as was the provision of support to workers and their families.”

Food safety audits

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ood safety has always been critical across the chain, from supplier to transporter and distributor, to the endpoint, be it a retail store or restaurant.

“A food safety audit is the verification of a company’s internal systems by an

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independent and competent individual, to verify compliance with specific food safety criteria and requirements,” says Melissa Sithole, food safety consultant at MiChem Dynamics. “Such criteria and requirements include South African legislation and international standards. It gives assurance that a premise meets the minimum food safety requirements, which ensure food is safe for human consumption.”

Matlou Setati, food safety initiative executive at the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa, says that a food safety audit forms part of an audit of a food safety management system, implemented by a company to ensure safe food production.

The pandemic has introduced several new levels of protection and safety in almost every

“A major food safety audit focus is personal hygiene – and we have always had checks on wearing of masks, gloves, hand-washing and the like.” – Matlou Setati, Consumer Goods Council of South Africa

Hesrie van Heerden

sphere of everyday life, and Sithole explains that COVID-19 protocols have been integrated into existing audits to ensure compliance, but there is no specific COVID-19 audit requirement. “The prevention of ill people working with food has been a big part of the audit process and COVID-19 placed further emphasis on this. A major food safety audit focus is personal hygiene – and we have always had checks on wearing of masks, gloves, handwashing and the like.”

While South African law prohibits manufacturers from declaring the audit body, status or results on any products – which may lead to the assumption that the product is Melissa automatically safe – the facility Sithole that produces the food is subject to audit.

Setati says the public can look out for a legally required Certificate of Acceptability that must be displayed at any food handling establishment, to verify the legality of a facility in terms of food safety.

“A Certificate of Acceptability is applicable from farm to fork,” confirms Sithole.

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CASH SERVICES WITH A DIFFERENCE Secure, reliable and efficient cash management services

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outh African consumers remain loyal to cash. In fact, a recent Deloitte study on the future of payments in South Africa, showed that although 80 per cent of South Africans have a bank account, most consumer transactions are still cashbased. Cash usage in the economy continues to grow at an annual rate of between six and ten per cent. “These statistics underline the need for secure, reliable and efficient cash services,” says Albert Erasmus, founder and CEO of iziCash Solutions, which specialises in cash management services.

Security and operational efficiency are of paramount importance when managing cash, especially for the retail sector, which cannot trade without cash.

Established in 2016, iziCash distinguishes itself in both the range and quality of services it offers, particularly in terms of security and the precision with which cash is handled. “Our payoff line – note the difference – says it all,” comments Erasmus. iziCash provides cash logistics and cash management services to businesses in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Pietermaritzburg and plans to expand to other areas soon.

Cash management services for businesses that require cash to trade are the backbone of iziCash’s offering. Depending on the client’s needs, iziCash can collect, deliver, process and insure cash. Included in its service offering is the management of ATMs, from cash replenishment, balancing and first-line maintenance.

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“We pride ourselves on cash logistics and management services that are on par with the best in the industry,” says Erasmus. “However, what truly sets us apart are our partnerships.” iziCash is an accredited vendor for most of the electronic safe device solutions companies

Albert Erasmus, founder and CEO of iziCash Solutions.

Each CIT vehicle in IziCash’s fleet is fitted with seven CCTV cameras that feed real-time footage to the company’s control rooms where the fleet is monitored around the clock.

Audio-visual recordings are stored for at least 60 days. in South Africa. “The endorsement by G4S Deposita, Cash Connect, PaySolutions, CCMS, CashAccSys, Haneel, CashNET Logistics and Umnotho Cash Services enables us to provide each client with the integrated cash management solution best suited for their business. Another noteworthy partnership is with global cash-in-transit (CIT) company Brinks Global Services, which specialises in secure transportation and the handling of valuable goods in South Africa. iziCash is the primary subcontractor for all the Brinks CIT and armed escort services in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. iziCash uses Transtrack software to manage the entire cash cycle. This end-to-end cash management system is used in the CIT and Cash Centre operations to track cash bags and process customer deposits daily.

This meticulous tracking of cash improves operational efficiencies and streamlines every stage in the cash logistics process.

This end-to-end tracking capability is enhanced by Fleetcam™ – an integrated surveillance and intelligent vehicle tracking system, enabling real-time monitoring of the iziCash fleet and personnel. Each CIT vehicle in iziCash’s fleet is fitted with seven CCTV cameras that feed real-time footage to the company’s control rooms where the fleet is monitored. Audio-visual recordings are stored for at least 60 days.

In addition to retail-focused services, iziCash offers armed escort services for the secure transportation of high-value goods, including fine art, precious metals and foreign currency, while the Commercial Services Division delivers cash solutions to corporate clients, as well as municipalities and local and national government departments.

WHY TRUST IZICASH WITH YOUR CASH? We ensure that our clients not only have peace of mind with reliable and secure cash services, but that they also enjoy a host of benefi ts including: • immediate risk reduction and improved cash flow • service transparency backed with electronic track-and-trace capability • stringent personnel vetting standards focused on experience, skills, aptitude, attitude and security clearance • faster deposit credit for speedy settlements • direct cost savings through operational efficiencyreduced time spent on cash handling • reduced losses with a tailor-made insurance solution to underwrite a client’s total risk.

“We are committed to meeting our clients’ needs, enhancing our shareholder value, and making a meaningful contribution to our community,” concludes Erasmus. “In everything we do, we make sure our clients can’t help but note the difference.”

For more information: 010 595 9421 info@izicash.co.za www.izicash.co.za

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HE A LT HCA RE A clear test result and the QR code that is scanned at an event entrance

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erhaps the biggest concern facing countries around the globe right now is how safely to reopen the many industries severely impacted by the ongoing pandemic. Sectors like travel, tourism, sport, and arts and entertainment have all been crippled by COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns and social distancing rules.

To this end, Irish-based company Health Passport Europe has launched a new solution that combines rapid COVID-19 testing, vaccinations and real-time mobile technologies to ensure that people can safely attend crowded gatherings or even travel internationally.

Robert Quirke, founder of Health Passport Europe, says that the process is quite simple: individuals visit an approved testing facility and are tested or vaccinated by a medical professional. “An authorised healthcare administrator then updates the Health Passport Medical Hub. With rapid antigen testing, people can have their results within 15 minutes and their current status is then reflected on the Health Passport application, which has to be downloaded to their mobile device.

“This is a model capable of dealing with massive numbers in a short time – we are currently working with local government in Portugal to test 65 000 people within eight hours. The existing facility in Cape Town, if capacitated properly, could probably process around 1 000 people per hour.”

Justin Van Wyk, CEO of Big Concerts, which has partnered with Health Passport Europe to bring this solution to South Africa, adds that it worked perfectly during a pioneering test event in the Mother City in December, which hosted some 250 people. “Ahead of the RECHARGE 2020 event, all attendees, including staff, were required to download the app and were then tested before the event. Multiple positive detections were successfully made during pre-testing, and anyone who tested positive was not permitted onto the event site but was instead given professional medical advice.

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A new health-focused application may be the answer to reopening industries like travel, tourism, sport and entertainment safely.

By Rodney Weidemann “The event passed safely and thus represents an important stepping stone towards a wider reopening of live events in 2021. It is vital we get this industry kickstarted again – remember that the creative industry is worth billions of rands to the South African economy.”

Reopening safely Quirke notes that Health Passport’s chief goal is to help the world reopen safely.

“While it is not necessarily a perfect system, it significantly lowers the risk of flying long distance, for example, as you would know your fellow travellers had tested negative within the previous 72 hours.

“While we have brought the knowledge, IP, processes and technology into South Africa,

Robert Quirke of Health Passport and Olympic athlete Wayde van Niekerk show off the new app.

we are working with local healthcare, insurance and event companies on this. It is not about competing over customers; it’s about making the world safe again.”

South African gold medal-winning Olympic athlete Wayde van Niekerk says the app is very exciting for sportspeople, particularly with the Tokyo Olympics on the horizon. “Having fans in the stadium is really important to us. Their impact on atmosphere and on our own ability to challenge records is enormous, so hopefully this can help us to get back to the way things used to be.

“Moreover, with the Olympic village and so many athletes from all over in one place, something like this can make us all feel safer.

We’ve all been working years to be there, so the last thing you want is to come into contact with someone who has tested positive. The app should eliminate anxiety and stress, which should translate into better performances!”

“While it is not necessarily a perfect system, IT significantly lowers the risk of flying long distance, for example.” – Robert Quirke, Health Passport Europe Security is the key Health Passport puts the individual at the centre of data privacy, as the user has control over who can access their account. The platform is highly secure and encrypted, with twostep verification to confirm accounts and new devices. Moreover, it is fully compliant with the General Data Protection Rule and is entirely consent-based.

“We even have to request access from the individual before we can send their test results to their app,” says Quirke, adding that the company also does not track any data, uses no location-based options and doesn’t have a Bluetooth or GPS function. “The app cannot communicate externally or report in any way. While we understand the need for tracking and tracing, we believe this should be the purview of governments alone.”

images: SUPPLIED

Registering for a COVID-19 test

A passport to a new world

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OHS challenges for SMEs All employers, including self-employed persons and SMEs, have a legal obligation in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act to provide a safe and healthy work environment, writes SIMON FOULDS

T

he challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are twofold, namely knowledge and finances.

“Many, probably most, SMEs are either unaware of or are unable to interpret these stringent and complex legal requirements,” says Aranka Verster, head of department for Human Capital Management at Gijima. “The second challenge is the affordability of providing a safe and healthy work environment, which can become a very costly affair. Typically, SME business plans do not factor in occupational health and safety (OHS), often resulting in non-implementation.”

The Department of Employment and Labour, as the custodian of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, is aware that OHS compliance among SMEs is not satisfactory, thereby putting the health of many South Africans in the workplace at risk.

Verster’s advice to SMEs is that they should commit to providing an environment where employees can return home safe, free from injuries or deteriorated health due to unhealthy conditions at their place of work. “Now is the

Ensuring employees are safe working from home

F IMAGES: ISTOCK.COM, SUPPLIED

IMAGE: DRAZEN ZIGIC/ ISTOCK.COM

OCCUPAT ION A L HE A LT H A ND S A F E T Y

or many, working from home has become the norm over the past year.

While the Occupational Health and Safety Act is the law that seeks to protect the well-being of workers at work, how does an employer ensure staff are safe while they are working from home?

Ideally, employers should carry out a full health and safety check and risk assessment of their employees’ home offices. This can be done by asking them to compile a checklist that ensures their home office complies with OHS requirements.

In such cases, according to legallyyours.com.au, they could ask the employee to check off specific items, to make sure they are compliant.

Examples of questions that should be on the checklist include: • Are there an ergonomic chair and adequately sized work surfaces?

• Is a fire extinguisher readily available?

• Is a basic first aid kit easily accessible?

• Are exits from the work area clear and unobstructed?

• Are all electrical cords and appliances safely secured?

• Are there any tripping hazards?

• Are all floor coverings safe and non-slip?

• Is the lighting appropriate for the work being undertaken?

• Is there proper ventilation and adequate heating/cooling?

Getting your employees to complete a checklist like this – and checking it yourself to be certain – is the key first step towards ensuring that a home office is a safe place to work.

Ideally, employers should carry out a full health and safety check and risk assessment of their employees’ home offices.

time, while the SME fraternity is still relatively small and a young concept, to instil a strong health and safety culture.

Furthermore, like unions, I would personally suggest that SMEs from different sectors become organised and form representative organisations or associations that can engage, Aranka collaboratively, with the government.

Verster “They should also engage with organisations like Gijima on their specific OHS needs, challenges and possible solutions, in order to address these sustainably,” concludes Verster.

RESHAPING THE WORKPLACE “The coronavirus pandemic has permanently reshaped the workplace in terms of how, when and where people work,” says Sara Sutton, founder and CEO of FlexJobs. “Business models have been forever disrupted with the realisation that remote work is smart, strategic and sustainable for companies to embrace – not only improving the bottom line but also providing benefits to the overall workforce.”

FlexJobs has been compiling a remote work list, highlighting the most popular work-from-home jobs since 2014. Computer/IT and healthcare industries continue to offer the highest number of remote jobs, while the financial industry has also enjoyed sustained growth of remote working opportunities, though it still has some way to go.

The most popular remote jobs in 2020 were: • Computer/IT • Medical and health • Project management • Sales • Accounting and finance • Customer service • Marketing

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