contents · 2019. 5. 22. · statement contained in this magazine. whilst every effort is made to...

DuPont answers the call for higher localcontent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Stay-safe tips for winter protective wear -with a focus on FR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Gloves that cater to needs and applications. . . . . . 31MSA The Safety Company remainsrooted in South African with proudchannel partner, PSA Africa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Making safety Personal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34Protection against asbestos fibres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

The practical problems of women wearingmen’s clothing in the workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Quality of life for welders – A focus onrespiratory and hearing protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27The Science behind Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

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CONTENTS

March/April 2019 - Volume 79 Number 2

FEATURE ARTICLES

Achieve a balance when managinghealth and safety of workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Is marijuana a workplace hazard? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Accreditation and Certification explained . . . . . .16The truth about a Zero Tolerance policy . . . . . . .20Five years excellent safety record . . . . . . . . . . . . .42On-the-road-safety during the ‘40s . . . . . . . . . . . .44Development of OSH in Nigeria . . . . . . . . . . . .44

IOSMPresident’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Load Shedding - what are the candle andgenerator risks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

HSE CONNECTION POINTHSECP Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Does the construction health & safety agentstill have a role to play?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 0

Message from the SAIOH President . . . . . . . . . . . .27

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

Participating associations / organisations / institutes with National Safety and the Safety First Association

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE

OSHAfrica Newsletter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

GAS SAFETY

The natural gas revolution in South Africa:An alternative energy source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Lookout for COC fraud . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11LPG safety awareness: Critical during rollingblackouts and winter months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

March/April 2019 National Safety www.safety1st.co.za 1

Plenary presentation themes:OSH and the future of workLeadership for occupational health and safety4th industrial revolution and the future of work

Plenary speakers will include:Mr Alan Stevens Head of Global Engagement and Partnership, IOSH - Latest

approaches to safety and health Mr Peter -John Jacobs President, IOHAMr Ivan Ivanov President, WHODr Jukka Takala President, ICOH Mr Ehi Iden President, OSHAfricaMr Frank Muchiri Senior OHS Specialist ILO - Trends in OSH with a key focus

on Africa Mr Mthunzi Mdwaba ILO Commissioner - ILO at 100 years and the future of work Prof Malcolm Sim Director Centre or Occupational and Environmental Health,

MONASH University and President ICOH 2021 Congress

Plen

ary

Pres

enta

tions

Parallel sessions will include:• OSH prevention strategies• Risk and safety management systems• Hygiene challenges• Occupational diseases and health• Professional development and capacity building• Information management systems and application of technology in H&S• OSH in informal sector• OSH in construction• OSH in manufacturing• OSH in oil and gas• OSH in agriculture• Mining session• Wellbeing and disease prevention and management• Mental health• Ergonomics in Africa• Disaster management/ Fire safety • Healthcare workers• Rehabilitation compensation and social security

Para

llel

Sess

ions

THE INAUGURAL PAN-AFRICAN OSH CONFERENCE

AN EPIC EVENT WHICH WILL BRING OSH PROFESSIONALSFROM AROUND THE WORLD TOGETHER UNDER THE SAME ROOF

Breakaway session presenters will come from all 4 corners of the globe including:• Australia• Botswana• DRC• Egypt• Germany• Kenya• Kuwait• Lesotho• Malawi• Mozambique• Nigeria• South Africa• Senegal• Turkey• United Kingdom • USA• Zambia• Zimbabwe

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

ORGANISING PARTNERSHOST

• HIV & Aids • Workers’ health in the informal

economy – challenges and solutions

• Protecting occupational health andsafety of health workers – towarddecent work and preparedness forpublic health emergencies in Africanhealth care facilities – WHO and ILOglobal recommendations

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER

SPONSORS

Sess

ion

Pres

ente

rs

Pane

lD

iscu

ssio

ns

Hig

hlig

hts

• Participation from OSH organisations such as: ILO, ISSA,WHO, NEPAD, DoL SA, AU,IOSH, IOHA, NSSA

• ILO will use this conference tomark its centenary anniversary

• ISSA Mining will run a full miningprogramme to celebrate theirgolden jubilee

• Launch of OSHAfrica• Banquet

MEDIA PARTNERS

Exhi

bitio

n

• Products and services will beshowcased to a captive audience of OSH Professionalsfrom all over the world.

• Make new prospects and meet new leads to increase your business growth

• Connect with current and new clients

• A once in a life opportunity for South Africa• Network with OSH Professionals from around

the world• Learn from the best in the industry• Participate and help make history• Meet new vendors and suppliers• Stay relevant with international trends• Develop professional relationships

Reasons toATTEND

“Celebrate with us the launch of OSHAfrica. You don’t want to miss out on this historic

event for OSH in Africa ”DDOONN’’TT HHEESSIITTAATTEE:: RREEGGIISSTTEERR NNOOWW!!

go to: www.oshafrica2019.com

2 www.safety1st.co.za National Safety March/April 2019 March/April 2019 National Safety www.safety1st.co.za 3

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Copyright: 2019 Material appearing in this issue may not be reproduced without thepermission of the editor or publishers in any form whatsoever.

The Safety First Association is a non-profit making, privately supported, public serviceorganisation which aims to prevent accidents by promoting an awareness of accidentsituations as they exist in day-to-day living amongst members of the community. ThePublishers and Editors are not liable for any damages or loss incurred as a result of anystatement contained in this magazine. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy in thispublication, neither the Publishers nor Editors accept any responsibility for errors oromissions in the content and reserve the right to edit all contributions. The views expressedin this publication are not necessarily those of the Publishers or Editors.

Editor: Debbie MyerProduction Editor: Lindsay MyerChairman: George BrowseVice Chairman: Leighton BennettMarketing & Subscriptions: Maureen SchwegmannAdmin Manager: Bruce SchwegmannCommittee members: Leighton Bennett

George BrowseSankie GreylingWensley MisroleWellington MudenhaDebbie MyerSteward Shapiro

Subscriptions / Administration / Marketing / Promotions3 Kwartel Street Vorna Valley, PO Box 321 Halfway House 1685Tel: + 27 11 701-5054 Fax: 086 684 2664E-mmail: [email protected]

Advertising & Editorial Delinds Publications cc12 Delta Road, Blairgowrie, Randburg, PO Box 72366 Parkview 2122Tel: + 27 11 886-5985 Fax: +27 11 886-1332 Cell: + 27 83-266-6662 E-mmail: [email protected]

National Safety is published by the Safety First Association and is the officialjournal of• The Institute of Safety Management (IOSM)• Southern African Protective Equipment Marketing Association

(SAPEMA)• Association of Construction Health and Safety Management (ACHASM)

National Safety is supported by:• Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH)• South African Qualification and Certification Committee for Gas

(SAQCC GAS)• HSE Connection Point

National Safety incorporates:• Occupational Safety and Health• Personal Protective Equipment• Corporate Risk Management• Occupational Hygiene• Gas Safety

Editor’s CommentAviation safety recently came into the spotlight after

the second Boeing 737 Max disaster causing panicamongst travellers wanting to cancel their flights. Andyet, aviation tranport remains extremely safe whencompared with road transport.

Road accidents are caused mainly by drunk driving,texting and driving, and speeding. Distracted driving isa major factor, especially amongst young drivers whocheck and post social media content, or text whiledriving. Studies have shown that people who use theirphones while driving are 23 times more likely to beinvolved in a road accident. Accidents caused bydriving under the influence of alcohol have now beenexacerbated with the legalisation of cannabis.

In this issue we have a short insert about the rolethat the Safety First Association played in South Africaduring the ’30s and ’40s with regards to traffic androad safety. Although the scenario then was slightlydifferent to today, the end result was the same withtoo many road deaths and injuries. The car populationwas increasing, and suddenly there were carseverywhere. Civilians could previously just walkacross a road, they now had to check to see if a vehiclewas approaching. Those who did not, often lost theirlives.

The Safety First Association embarked on acampaign to educate both civilians and drivers on thedangers of the road. They ran competitions and postercampaigns amongst school children which was laterextended to the general population as well. TheAssociation also worked closely with the transportdepartment to award certificates to employees for safedriving practices. In this issue, we reprint examples ofthe certificates that were awarded. These campaignswere extremely successful and perhaps it is time forinterested parties to combine their efforts to recreatethe levels of awareness than the SFA achieved.

The other theme that runs through this issue is thatof load shedding which affected many South Africansduring March this year, and will continue to do sountil Eskom has stabilised its system which could takeyears. Leighton Bennett looks at generator safety, withthe understanding that more and more businesses andhomes will be forced to install these. He gives adviceon good risk management practice and explains thehazards.

We also publish an article on the discovery of naturalgas which is one of the cleanest, safest, and mostuseful forms of energy with industrial and transportapplications. This could help rejuvenate anoverburdened, out-dated energy infrastructure andreduce cyclical energy shortfalls, resulting in powercuts. If correctly applied, it could stimulate theeconomy by allowing business and industry to lowertheir energy and operational spend while also creatingemployment and skills development opportunities.

4 www.safety1st.co.za National Safety March/April 2019

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Achieve a balance when managing HEALTH AND SAFETY of workers

In the field of Occupational Healthand Safety (OHS), the month ofApril is arguably the most

important calendar month.

WORLD HEALTH DAYIn 2019, the World Health Day is

commemorated on 7 April. Underthe sponsorship of the World HealthOrganization (WHO), this day is forraising global awareness on publichealth and other health issues.

In many workplaces, there islimited focus and emphasis placed onlooking after the health of workers.Very little is done to protect thephysical and mental health ofemployees. In fact, the word ‘health’itself is scary for many OHSpractitioners as most of us associate itwith something that only trainedmedical personnel should handle.

As a result, the management ofworkers’ health in many organisationsis confined to mandatory pre-employment or annual occupationalhealth tests. Occupational healthissues are only considered when theyare required by regulations orlegislation and many organisationsonly take their employees for medicalevaluations because they aremandated to do so.

Although OHS practitioners maynot always have the skills to manageoccupational health issues in theworkplace, these must not be ignored.

At the bare minimum, there must bemeasures in place to manage theexposure of workers to dust, noise,lighting, vibration, moisture,chemicals, fumes, heat or coldtemperatures.

The occupational health andhygiene issues affecting workers mustbe managed as efficiently as safetyissues. Conducting some research,taking up a short course, hiring anoccupational health or hygieneconsultant or simply following what ishappening in the field of occupationalhealth and occupational hygienewould be a great way to startprioritising health and hygiene in theworkplace.

WORLD DAY FOR SAFETY ANDHEALTH AT WORK

On 28 April is the World Day forSafety and Health at Work which ispromoted by the International LabourOrganization (ILO). Although theday is intended to promote theprevention of occupational accidentsand diseases in the workplace globally,given that the ILO celebrates turning100 years old, the theme for the day in2019 is “Safety and Health and theFuture of work”.

According to McKinsey GlobalInstitute, “Automation, digitalplatforms, and other innovations arechanging the fundamental nature ofwork. Understanding these shifts canhelp policy makers, business leaders,and workers move forward.” Thesafety of workers shall certainly beaffected both positively and negativelyby technological advancements.

Fortunately for safety practitioners,when an Occupational Health andSafety Management system such asOHSAS 18001 or ISO 45001 isimplemented adequately, HIRA is acrucial process for managing changesor innovations taking place within anorganisation that may affect the safetyof workers. It is fundamental forsafety practitioners to understand howautomation, digital platforms andinnovations will affect their workplace

and explore the impact of theseinnovations on worker safety.

Managing the safety of workerscannot be overemphasised. In SouthAfrica, not only is this a legalrequirement under the OHS Act, butthe failure to manage safety results inan influx of occupational accidentsand injuries that largely affect theproductivity of every organisation, itsreputation and worker morale.

Safety management is not only forworkers. Depending on your field ofemployment, managing safety mayalso be extended to the safety of thegeneral public, scholars, visitors etc.Safety practitioners must familiarisethemselves with the scope of theirresponsibilities so that they managethe safety of all stakeholders in theirjurisdiction.

In an FA Cup semi-final footballmatch on 15 April 1989 betweenLiverpool and Nottingham Forest, 95people died and 766 were injured atthe Hillsborough Stadium inSheffield in what is now known as theHillsborough disaster.

At the time of the disaster, GrahamMackrell was the club secretary andsafety officer of English football teamSheffield Wednesday.

Over the years, it has emerged thatthe football administrators tasked withlooking after the safety of the fans atthe Hillsborough Stadium had clearlynot done so.

Almost 30 years to the day of thedisaster on 4 April 2019, a jury foundMr Mackrell (now 69 years old) guiltyof failing to discharge his duty underthe Health and Safety at Work Act.His actions and inactions led to theworst disaster in British sport.

In 2019, OHS practitioners shouldmanage the health and safety ofworkers and everyone in ourworkplaces in equal measure. Abalance of occupational health andoccupational safety increases theproductivity of our workers andcertainly reduces the rate ofabsenteeism at work due to illness orinjuries.

Wellington Mudenha is an experienced and qualifiedprofessional in the field of Safety, Health,

Environmental and Quality Management. He has awealth of experience in SHEQ legal compliance as

well as SHEQ ISO management systemsdevelopment, implementation, maintenance and

audit. Wellington is also a SHEQ trainer / facilitatorand SETA registered assessor.


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Is MARIJUANA a workplace HAZARD?

In this article I will share a newprocedure on a potential workplacehazard with the use of marijuana.

I’m sure that, like me, you have seenmany articles and trainingadvertisements about the need toeducate our employees and preparefor the legalisation of marijuana (I ambased in Canada and marijuana waslegalised here on October 17, 2018).Frankly, the “noise” aroundlegalisation has been so loud that I’mjust glad the date has come and gone.

First, medical marijuana was alreadylegal and being used – for those whowork and use medical marijuana,nothing will change.

And for the average officeenvironment, I don’t see the potentialproblems in the workplace ofrecreational cannabis being that muchdifferent from that of alcohol.

CANNABIS ABUSE MAY AFFECTPERFORMANCE

My concern is not around howcannabis use could affect ourworkplace, but rather how cannabisabuse could affect a person’sperformance and ability to do theirjob.

I foresee the principles thatworkplaces have applied to the impactof alcohol as being effective forcannabis as well.

In our organisation, if someone’sperformance is affected for whateverreason, we meet with them and

manage the performance issue.Obviously, like

alcohol, several peoplewill abuse marijuana,which will have a negativeimpact.

Although these issues need tobe managed,I don’tthink therewill be anythingunique in comparison towhat we are already doing inrelationship to alcohol.

Several of my clients haverequested that I draft apolicy proceduredocument, so I thought I would shareit with South African readers.

EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY:MARIJUANA

Cannabis, better known asmarijuana, is the most widely usedillicit drug in western societies. Morethan 96 million north Americans (40percent) age 12 or older report havingused cannabis during their lifetime,and an estimated 15 million northAmericans are current users (definedas using the drug at least once in thepast 30 days).

Documented reports of humansconsuming cannabis for medicinaland recreational purposes date backover 2,000 years.

CannabinoidsActive chemical compounds in

cannabis - known as cannabinoids -are responsible for its psychoactiveand physiological effects.

Scientists have identified more than60 naturally occurring cannabinoids,some of which bind to receptors inthe body’s central nervous system aswell as to additional receptors locatedin the endocrine, digestive, andmusculoskeletal systems.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)The most well-understood and well

-studied of these cannabinoids is(THC), which is primarilyresponsible for cannabis’psychoactivity.

Acutephysical and

behavioural effectsassociated with cannabis correspondwith the levels of THC in the blood.

Peak THC/blood levels are typicallyattained 15 to 30 minutes followingsmoking and taper off within two tothree hours.

Blood levels typically return tobaseline four hours after smoking.

Cognitive and physical effectsCommonly reported short-term

psychoactive effects of cannabisinclude feelings of euphoria,relaxation, and sociability.

Short-term physical effects andcognitive effects include a mildincrease in heart rate and bloodpressure, as well as some impairmentin concentration, short-term memory,and certain psychomotor skills -primarily decision-time and trajectory.

Additional physiological effectsinclude dry mouth, reddening of theeyes, and increased appetite.

Less commonly reporteduncomfortable effects of cannabis useinclude occasional transient anxietysometimes accompanied by paranoidideations (particularly in naive users).

Long-term effects associated withchronic cannabis use are lessconclusive but are at this timetypically limited to bronchialirritations such as increasedincidences of bronchitis and/orcough. No clear cause-and-effectrelationship exists for the use of

Dr. Bill Pomfret brings an unrivaledperspective on risk, regulation and liabilitywith his 50 years of experience as a safetyconsultant working for leading companiesaround the world. He also spent nearly adecade in the North Sea exploration and

production as a safety manager. Dr. Bill is apassionate advocate for safety training.

cannabis and other illicit drugs (theso-called ‘gateway theory’) and/or theuse of cannabis and negativeeducational or workplaceperformance. Cannabis lacks theaddiction potential of alcohol ortobacco.

Health consequencesIn general, population studies have

failed to document demonstrabledeficits in neurocognitiveperformance - including simplereaction time, verbal/language skills,executive function, motor skills,learning, and recognition - in long-term cannabis smokers compared tonon-users, nor have they identifiedmany of the significant negativehealth consequences typicallyassociated with tobacco smoking -such as increased incidences of lung,upper aerodigestive tract, and oralcancers, in cannabis-only populations.

Cannabis vs alcohol useA pair of recent case-controlled

studies reported that past use ofcannabis - unlike alcohol use - is notassociated with an increased risk ofinjury, including both violent injuriesand non-violent injuries such asburns.

Self-reported use of cannabis is alsoassociated with a substantiallydecreased risk of injury requiringhospitalisation compared to self-reported use of alcohol and/or otherillicit drugs.

Of the 75 million north Americansover age 26 who report having usedcannabis, more than 70 percent areemployed full-time.

Urine testingMany of these individuals are

subject to random workplace drugtesting. Urinalysis remains the mostpopular means of drug detectionavailable in the USA and Canada,particularly in workplace drug testingprogrammes. Courts generally lookupon urine specimen collection as arelatively non-invasive practice.

There are international standardsfor urine testing in place as well asnational certification programmes forlaboratories performing forensic urinedrug testing.

However, standard urinalysis tests

for cannabis, in their current form,are not suitable for detecting acutecannabis impairment or recentcannabis use, because the procedureonly detects the presence of inert drugmetabolites (compounds producedfrom chemical changes of apsychoactive substance in the body,but they are not necessarilypsychoactive themselves), not thepsychoactive parent compound THC.

Presently, no dose-concentrationrelationship exists correlatingcannabinoid metabolite levels tocannabis impairment, nor does apositive test result provide anemployer with any indication as towhether the substance may have beeningested while their employee was onthe job.

This is because cannabis’ primarymetabolite, which is readily detectablein urine, is not psychoactive but maybe detectable on a standard drugscreen for days or even weeks afterpast use, long after any intoxicatingeffects of the drug have worn off.

Saliva and blood testingAs a result, employers wishing to

determine whether an employee isacutely under the influence ofcannabis at work may wish to utilisepost-accident testing of an employees’blood or saliva rather thanimplementing random urine testing.

Unlike urinalysis, both saliva andblood testing can estimate recentcannabis use by detecting thepresence of THC, not inertcannabinoid metabolites.

Overall, however, there exists littleevidence that cannabis use isassociated with lower productivityand/or elevated health costs amongfull-time employees. Like alcohol,moderate use of cannabis byemployees during non-work hoursshould be of little concern for mostemployers.

INTOXICANTS IN THE WORKPLACEThe company has vital interests in

ensuring a safe, healthy and efficientworking environment for ouremployees, their co-workers and thecustomers we serve.

Using or possessing alcohol orother intoxicating drugs in the

workplace presents a danger toeveryone.

Workplace policiesFor these reasons, I have established

the following intoxicants in theworkplace policy for my clients, as acondition of employment andcontinued employment.• Controlled substances (because of

psychoactive effects) are defined bythe federal and Provincialgovernments to describe five levelsof drugs, with schedule 1 drugsbeing the most restrictive andillegal to possess or use (i.e., heroin,LSD and cannabis*) and scheduleV drugs (i.e. cough syrup, aspirinand sleep aids) available withoutprescription at most retail stores.

• Employees and contractoremployees are prohibited fromreporting to work or working whileunder the influence of alcoholand/or other drugs that adverselyaffect the employee's ability tosafely perform his or her job duties.

• (Name of company) does notengage in random and/or pre-accident drug testing of employees.Employee substance abuseproblems will be identified byissues with behaviour andmeasures of performance only.

• The company understands thatthere is a difference betweensubstance use and substance abuse,and that use isn't necessarily abuse.Employees are free to make theirown lifestyle choices when not inthe workplace or otherwise oncompany time. However, such choices must notbe allowed to interfere with jobperformance.

• Employees are prohibited fromreporting for duty or remaining onduty with any alcohol or any otherintoxicants in their systems.Employees are further prohibitedfrom consuming alcohol or otherintoxicants during working hours,including meal and break periods.

• Failure to comply with thissubstance abuse policy may resultin disciplinary action, up to andincluding discharge.

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The use of Liquefied PetroleumGas (LPG) has increasedsignificantly over the past few

years due to the availability of cost-effective and reliable LPGas-poweredappliances. The use of LPG poweredappliances in South Africa has grownas the need for alternative energysources increases.

The need for these appliances peaksduring the colder months – especiallythe space heaters.

LPG is kept under pressure as aliquid and when released it becomes ahighly flammable gas. It is thereforeessential for safety guidelines to beclosely followed.

SAFE GAS APPLIANCESConsumers are advised to only

purchase appliances that have aPermit Verification Number displayed

on them. The Liquefied PetroleumGas Safety Association of South Africa(LPGSASA) and the SouthernAfrican Gas Association (SAGA) haveestablished the Safe ApplianceScheme (SAS) and the Safe GasEquipment Scheme (SGES), in orderto ensure that all appliances andequipment installed in South Africahave been tested and are incompliance with the relevant SouthAfrican safety standards, and are fit forintended use. Any equipment that hasnot been manufactured according tothe standard could be hazardous.Only equipment that has beenawarded a Safe Appliance orEquipment Verification Permitmay be used. A list of all permitcarrying appliances can be found on:https://www.lpgas.co.za/safety/find%20a%20safe%20appliance/Search_Appliance.php

LPG SAFETY awareness

As the need for energy alternativesincreases in South Africa, theuse of gas as an ideal alternative

energy source keeps growing.Domestic, commercial and industrialsectors are increasingly incorporatinggas in their energy mix. A fuel gaspractitioner is required to be certifiedto carry out an installation on aproperty. This also applies to gaspractitioners involved in the airconditioning and refrigerationindustries as well as the industrial gasand medical gas industries.

When having gas equipmentinstalled in your home, you arerequired by law to contract only witha registered gas practitioner. These aretrained and skilled individuals whohave been certified to undertake gasinstallations within their specificscopes. Every gas installation, whetherfuel gas, compressed or refrigerantgas, industrial or medical gas, requiresa Certificate of Conformity (COC)upon completion of a new installationor the maintenance or repair of anexisting one. Only a registered gaspractitioner may issue this document.

INCREASE OF ILLEGAL GASPRACTITIONERS

Unfortunately, the increase in thedemand for the installation of gassystems has sparked an increase inillegal gas practitioners. This has, inturn, also increased fraudulent COCsbeing issued.

Fraud is a serious crime, but oftengoes unreported because it is not aseventful as robberies or heists, but itsimplications can be more serious.Often, individuals do not reportfraudulent offenses for the reason thatthey may go undetected for a longtime, whilst businesses keep suchmatters internal for fear ofreputational damage. Fraudulentactivities should be given moreprominence with the authoritiesbecause they may result in heftyamounts of money lost, and the safetybacklash can be enormous.

FRAUDULENT COCSEvery registered gas practitioner has

a book of Gas COC forms to be filledin upon completion of eachinstallation. Practitioners need toprotect their COCs and theirregistration information at all times. Ifthe form is completed and signed byanother gas practitioner rather thanthemselves, the COC is consideredfraudulent. When a gas practitionerhands out a COC that is notregistered to them, he commits afraudulent safety declaration.

REGISTRATION OF GASPRACTITIONERS

SAQCC Gas has been mandated bythe Department of Labour to registerall gas practitioners in South Africa.The gas associations issue eachregistered practitioner with a GasCOC book. Only documents fromthis book may be issued to certify thata gas installation has been completedas per the Pressure EquipmentRegulations (PER) and relevantstandards. When this document hasbeen falsely created by anunregistered person, the COC is

considered fraudulent and invalidwhich shall lead to legal prosecution.

CONSUMER RIGHTSConsumers should insist on a

COC from the gas practitioner uponcompletion of the installation. This isthe registered gas practitioner’sconfirmation that the installation iscompliant with all relevant regulationsand national safety standards.Incidents from poor installations cancan result in damage to their propertyand loss of life.

IMPLICATIONS FOR INSURANCEIf a gas accident occurs, insurance

companies will not accept any liabilitywhen a valid COC is not produced.Fraudulent COCs will most likelyend up causing the end userunnecessary loss of money.

To confirm whether or not aPractitioner is registered, one cancheck the information provided onthe SAQCC Gas website:www.saqccgas.co.za orDial*120*926#

Lookout for COC FRAUD

Critical during rolling blackouts and winter months

March/April 2019 National Safety www.safety1st.co.za 11•

Recent on- and off-shorediscoveries of globallysignificant quantities of natural

gas in southern Africa – includingtrillions of cubic metres of natural gasin the Rovuma Basin off theMozambique coast, the biggest globalfind of natural gas in decades –represent a new dawn for the region’senergy landscape.

Natural gas is one of the cleanest,safest, and most useful forms ofenergy, providing the world with over20 per cent of its energy requirementsacross power generation, industry andtransport applications. In SouthAfrica, at just three per cent, themeaningful addition of natural gas tothe country’s energy mix willrejuvenate an overburdened, out-dated energy infrastructure andreduce cyclical energy shortfalls.

Perhaps even more importantly, itwill stimulate the economy byallowing business and industry tolower their energy and operationalspend while also creating significantnumbers of new jobs and skillsdevelopment opportunities. As themarket for gas grows, theconstruction of new conversionworkshops, gas filling stations andsatellite gas distribution infrastructurewill provide a permanent stream ofdirect employment. Downstream,training, operations and maintenance,bus assembly and manufacturing oftrailers, cylinders and other gasequipment will also create significantemployment avenues.

The South African government hasstated that natural gas forms thebackbone of regional economic

integration among Southern AfricanDevelopment Community (SADC)member countries. Plans to establisha regional natural gas committee arealso afoot, which will be tasked withpromoting the inclusion of gas in theregional energy mix.

Natural gas is already a reality forindustrial and transport sectors withina 300 km radius of Johannesburgthanks to NERSA-approved gastraders Virtual Gas Network (VGN)and NGV Gas’ development of acompressed natural gas distributioninfrastructure, including deliverynetworks, filling stations andconversion systems. These companies(both divisions of CNG Holdings)have already converted state hospitals,canneries, manufacturing andassembly plants across a range ofindustries, in addition to commercialfleets, buses and around 1 000 taxis, tonatural gas.

In so doing, these end users havebeen able to:Reduce energy / fuel costs

Natural gas has a high energycontent and excellent price/kilojouleratio, with consistent energy outputsthat improve efficiency. Natural gasdelivers 20% to 40% cost savings overpetrol and diesel.Enhance site and vehicle safety

Lighter than air, natural gasdissipates quickly into theatmosphere, reducing the risk of firepools. It’s also more difficult to ignite,with a combustion temperature of600°C (150°C higher than petrol andLPG).Lower operational andmaintenance costs

This cleaner burning fuel reducesresidue, stench and carbon build up,lowering maintenance requirementsand extending service intervals andprolonging overall equipment life,both in plants and in vehicles. Thisreduces downtime and loss ofproduction time.Go green

Natural gas emits less CO2 andother harmful greenhouse gases thanother fossil fuels. The inevitableintroduction of carbon credits inSouth Africa will emphasise theeconomic and environmentalimportance of natural gas increasingly.Enjoy stable pricing schedules

Natural gas isn’t prone to theconstant price fluctuations seen incrude oil products, and thereforeallows far greater budgeting accuracywhile increasing customer cash flow.Enhancing access to natural gas

Natural gas can be distributed invarious ways: through pipelines;compressed in high pressurecylinders; or liquefied by freezing to163°C in cryogenic tanks.

VGN and NGV Gas receive naturalgas at a distribution station inLanglaagte via the Sasol Gas pipelinethat runs from Temane to Secundaand then to Johannesburg. It thendistributes gas to customers anywherewithin a 300km radius of thisdistribution station, managing theentire delivery process on a pay-as-you-use basis according to customers’energy requirements.

The increased availability inGauteng of this superior, alternativeenergy source is enhancing long-termprofitability of assets in the industrialand transport sectors. As the gaseconomy develops, South Africa willbe able to increase productionefficiencies, economic growth and jobcreation, and reducing reliance on aless-efficient, polluting fuel used in anaging energy infrastructure.

VGN and NGV (Divisions ofCNG Holdings) are members of theSouthern African Gas Association(SAGA). Visit www.sagas.co.za

The NATURAL GAS revolution in South Africa: An alternative energy source


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GAS SAFETY

INSTALLING GAS EQUIPMENT Before LPG equipment can be used

it has to be installed properly.Consumers should never attempt toinstall it themselves. Amateurinstallations have caused numerousaccidents such as fires and gasleakages. South African law stipulatesthat only a registered gas practitionermay install gas appliances orequipment.

A comprehensive list of registeredinstallers is available on:www.saqccgas.co.za wherepractitioners can be located by area:

Following are safety precautionswhen using an LPGas heater;• Always read and follow the

manufacturer’s guidelines carefully.• Always turn your heater off at the

cylinder valve before going to bedor leaving the room or yourproperty – in fact, any time whenthe heater is not in use.

• Ensure all the components of yourunit are well maintained e.g. theheater, regulator, hose and hoseconnections.

• When changing the cylinder, firstclose the cylinder valve and thenremove the regulator.

• Always check that the rubber “O-ring” (washer) on the end of theregulator is not worn, brittle ordamaged in any way. Replace it if itis.

• Test any gas appliance or heater forpossible leaks by spraying a soap-water solution on all connections.Leaks will show in the form ofbubbles and must be repairedimmediately.

• Do not use aerosols or flammable,cleaning liquids or sprays close tothe heater.

• Avoid sitting or standing too closeto your heater– a safe distancewould be approximately 1 metre.

• Always ensure that the room in useis ventilated so that there is acontinuous supply of fresh air(oxygen).

• Ensure that your heater ispositioned away from anyflammable materials and is notblocking any escape route.

• Never place clothes or other itemson or near your heater.

• Do not move your unit while it is inuse.

• Educate children on the safe use ofgas appliances and never leave themwithout supervision in a roomwhere an appliance is located.

• If you suspect a gas leak, turn off thegas cylinder immediately and, ifpossible, take the heater outside.

• Only use LP gas appliances that arepermitted to be sold in SouthAfrica. A complete list is availableon www.lpgas.co.za. Click on the‘Safety’ button and then on ‘Find aSafe Appliance’.

• Have your heater serviced regularly.In order to receive maximum

benefits from the efficiency of LPGappliances, it is important to ensurethat all safety guidelines are closelyfollowed. This will, in turn, warrantreliable and efficient energy supply.

For more information visit:www.lpgas.co.za where you will alsofind a short instruction video on thesafe use of LPGas Roll-About heaters


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development. Access to technologyand know-how from internationalexperts brings valuable upliftment inour textiles sector.

Projects of this nature helpsstimulate the local economy bycreating jobs, as it is anticipated thatconsumption will increase, and localresources will be further required.

Thirdly, by launching this project,specialists at the manufacturingfacility are within easy reach ofcustomers, providing opportunities todiscuss individual needs of themarket, such as colors and knits forspecific applications.‘This is a significant milestone in ourendeavor to better serve the electricarc market in South Africa, and is theculmination of 18 months of hardwork with global experts and localindustry’ said Ajen Maharaj, CountryLeader for DuPont.

Fig 2: DuPont Protera® yarn being converted into fabric at a local technical weaver

Fig 3: Full scale production of DuPont™ Protera® in Durban, South Africa

For more information, please visit: www.Safespec.dupont.co.uk Tel: +27 (0 )11 218 8686Dharmesh Lakmidas Cell: 0720980791


T he decision by DuPontTM tomanufacture Protera® in SouthAfrica, is testament of its

commitment to drive innovation andtransfer of technology within theSouth African economy.

The DuPont™ Protera® range ofengineered, arc rated fabrics is apatented DuPont technology, whichhas found increasing adoption inmany markets globally.

With the first consignment ofProtera® already produced and soldto existing customers domesticallythis year, the market is seeing thebenefits of local production - deliveryis better, quicker and the product ismore cost-effective for the end-user.

WHAT DO SOUTH AFRICANCUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT LOCALLYPRODUCED PROTERA®?

Industry in South Africa isdemanding, and asks for globallycertified PPE, with the accompanyingdocumentation. DuPont is globalleader in next-generation technicalmaterials, and today customers seekcertified solutions providing greatercomfort and durability.

At a recent conference withelectrical engineers from heavyindustries associated with steel, it wasindicated that alongside varioussolutions available in the SouthAfrican market, Protera* is lightestand more comfortable.

When referenced by weight, astandard Protera category 2 solution,will have a basis weight of 270gsm,producing an ATPV = 13 cal/cm2.

Protera® is the only inherently fire-resistant garment that ismanufactured locally (from yarn togarments) to international standardsfor use in electric arc applications

ADVANTAGES OF LOCALMANUFACTURE

Firstly, local production has manysupply chain and logistics relatedbenefits, and the most significant oneis availability of material.

Secondly, the transfer of technologyhas significant benefits in skills

DuPont answers the call for higherLOCAL CONTENT

Fig 1: A new ergonomic design of DuPont Protera® meets the needs of South African female electricians


••

cycle continues again.

The DEKRA Seal,indicating the relevantISO standard to whichcertification wasachieved, can be used onthe client’s marketingrelated material.

The Accreditation Body (AB)accredits (gives permission to)Certification Bodies (CBs) to

certify organisations as compliantagainst specified ISO Standards.

To ensure that the accreditationprocess is controlled, ISOestablished a network and a series ofguidelines for all ABs and CBs tofollow.

The end results are AccreditedCertificates which are recognisedworldwide and by all CertificationBodies, irrespective of theregistering Accreditation Body.

Therefore, a certificate underSANAS accreditation carries equalweight and compliance to oneissued under DAkkS.

Why it is important to choose anAccredited CB:

Certified once, accepted everywhereChoosing a certification body thathas been accredited by anaccreditation body that is a signatoryto the IAF Multilateral RecognitionArrangement (MLA) has provedthat it complies with best practice,and that it is competent to deliver aconsistently reliable and impartialservice which meets the appropriate,internationally-recognised standard.

All accredited CBs recognise oneanother’s certificates.

Certification Process:

During an initial Certification, thedocumentation and managementsystem implementation will beexamined.

A certificate is issued for 3 years,provided that surveillance auditstake place in the subsequent 2 yearswithin certain timeframes to checkthe maintenance andimprovement of the system.

After the three-year cycle, arecertification audit is conducted inthe fourth year and the three year

ACCREDITATION and CERTIFICATION explained

Benefits of Certification to ISO Standards: (ISO 9001; ISO 14001; OHSAS 18001)Internal:

• Helps address existing risks or hazards and recognise opportunities in thebusiness

• Increases staff motivation

• Eliminates tunnel vision by inputs from independent external experts

• Serves as basis for continual improvement

• Ensures sustainability through regular surveillance and repeat audits

• Leads to awareness of safety and safe working practices

• Enhances regulatory awareness and compliance

External:

• Serves as a confidence mechanism in products and services forcustomers and interested parties

• Ensures that products and services are safe, reliable and of good quality

• Can reduce costs, minimise waste and error through improved systemsand processes

• Increased customer satisfaction, through improved safety, quality andprocesses

• Reduces impact on the environment

• Helps companies to access new markets, level the playing field fordeveloping countries and facilitate free and fair global trade


•

E-mail: [email protected] / Tel + 27 12 809 3023 / Website: www.iosm.co.za

As I was writing this message, Ithought I should address themajor events that are currently

uppermost in South Africans’ minds– and I suddenly realised that therewere at least five!

MAJOR WORLD-WIDE EVENTSOn the home front in South Africa,

we are on yet another round of loadshedding power cuts reminiscent ofevents in 2008 and 2012, although wehave never reached stage 4 before!

Eskom is doing its utmost toprevent escalation of load shedding toStage 5 (shedding 5000 MW over fivetwo and-a-half hour periods per day)but plans are now in place up to Stage8 (do the maths; 8 x 2.5 = 20 hourswithout power!).

Lack of maintenance, boiler tubefailures on our “new” units and theweather conditions in Mozambiquecausing the loss of power lines fromCahora Bassa are cited as the“culprits”.

Which brings us to the first of thePan African events, Cyclone Idai,wreaking havoc and causing loss oflife and property in Mozambique,Zimbabwe and Malawi.

And in the broader African andeven world-wide context we had theloss of Ethiopian Airways flight 302,which has had far reachingramifications, as has the slaughter ofworshippers in Christchurch, NewZealand.

In all these events, we pray for thedeceased and their families.

President’s MessageBut we need also look at these

events dispassionately with our safetyhats on. Could these events have beenanticipated and what could have beendone to mitigate them?

Eskom load sheddingIn the Eskom scenario, we know

that lack of maintenance has been anongoing issue. However, tube failureson numerous, relatively new boilers,might well be considered an outlier(quality plans aside, of course) and thethree scenarios together might beviewed as a “Black Swan”.

Even though the loss of 9000 MWfrom Cahora Bassa at a critical timedue to the cyclone might not havebeen foreseeable, let’s not forgetDemoina in 1984, which took outwater, as well as power supplies tolarge parts of KZN. Was it really 19years ago that Rosita was born in atree?

Air crash disastersFirst reports on Flight 302 would

indicate that there are incrediblesimilarities between this and theIndonesian Lion Air Flight 610 inOctober last year. In any event theworld fleet of 737 Max has effectivelybeen grounded so there is obviouslyconcern that there is an inherent errorsomewhere.

And, quite coincidentally, I haveseen two National Geographic“Seconds to Disaster” typeprogrammes in the past week wherethe human/computer interface hasbeen the trigger for two other crashes– one military and one civilian.

Attacks on religious centresThe mosque attacks, it would seem,

were “out of the blue”. The evidencein the trial may reveal more, but theAustralian killer was not on any terrorwatch, even though he was a knownextremist. One has to question,though, how the perpetrator acquiredRichard Whittaker

the weapons outside his homecountry.

However, as far as mitigation goes,reports indicate that the experiencegained during the 2011 earthquakemeant the hospitals had the ability todeal with mass casualty events.

THE IMPORTANCE OF RISKMITIGATION

So, even if we don’t pick up aparticular risk in our risk analyses,despite historical evidence, ourrecovery plans on the right hand sideof the bowtie might well be the onlyrisk mitigation that we can count on.

All by way of saying that, as safetyprofessionals, we don’t just need to“think outside the box” but rather ask,“What box?”

And, speaking of boxes, have youconsidered the fate of your housealarm batteries in this continuouselectrical on/off period?

Alarm systems were designed tofunction with a stable power source,but the current spate of load sheddingthat South Africans are experiencing isanything but stable thus not onlyplacing a huge strain on your alarmsystem but on the overall security ofour clients and the community atlarge.

Security service providers, suppliersand importers are battling to keep upwith the demand for replacement 12Valarm batteries because demand hasskyrocketed as the effects of Stage 4load shedding are coming to theforeground more and more.

How do we mitigate the risksassociated with power cuts / loadshedding?

“Zonewatch is trying to takeconventional wisdoms andincorporating the knowledge andexpertise from different industries tomitigate our client’s risk. (We) haveconducted numerous tests and found


Businesses take differentapproaches to alcohol toleranceat the workplace.

The Occupational Health & Safety(OHS) Act dictates many of the rulesthat businesses implement, includingdisallowing any person who is orappears to be under the influence ofalcohol or drugs to enter or remain atthe workplace.

Due to this, and for various reasonspertinent to the industry or businessitself, many companies haveemployed a zero-tolerance policytowards alcohol and drugs.

However, the concept of ‘zerotolerance’ is widely misunderstood.

WHAT IS ‘ZERO TOLERANCE’?A zero-tolerance policy towards

alcohol and drugs means thatemployees may not be permitted towork if they are found to have anytrace of alcohol or drugs in theirsystem, when tested. It does not meanthat a company will immediately firean employee that tests positive foralcohol and drugs.

A zero-tolerance policy should notbe promoted as a punitive measure,rather it should be seen as necessaryfor the health and safety of allemployees working for theorganisation.

Many employees live in fear of azero-tolerance policy, partly becausethe policy is not explained properly toemployees and partly because of a lackof education around drugs andalcohol.

Employees assume that if they havea drink and alcohol is discovered intheir bloodstream, they will be firedor face disciplinary action.

This is not necessarily the case.

THE TRUTH ABOUT ZERO TOLERANCEAND DISCIPLINARY ACTION

Businesses need to follow dueprocess and, if the person is a firsttime offender and has traces ofalcohol in their system, they are oftensimply told to go home and return thenext day.

Many companies also offerassistance such as rehab and/orcounselling, if the employee is arepeat offender and is often found tobe intoxicated when entering theworkplace.

THE BUSINESS END OF ZEROTOLERANCE

Beyond following due process,businesses need to back up their zero-tolerance policy in several ways. It’simportant that if they employ such apolicy, they communicate the detailsof the policy to all staff clearly,properly, and frequently.

Employees need to understand theirlimitations, rights, responsibilities andwhat the processes are should theyviolate the policy in any way.

Employers will need to undertakeregular alcohol and drug testing, aswell as communicate this intentionand the testing process to employees.Employees need to understand thereasons and repercussions for beingtested. However, it’s also vital thatemployees feel assured that theirprivacy will not be violated – thecompanies should conduct testingprivately or, failing that, communicatetheir findings and resulting actions tothe responsible employee in privacy,away from colleagues.

Companies should engage closelywith human resource (HR) experts,their local labour unions and alcoholeducation programmes to ensure theyfollow the right courses of action toback up their zero-tolerance policy.

WHAT EMPLOYEES NEED TO KNOW There are some instances where

alcohol and drug related incidents canbe an immediate fireable offense. For

example, if it contravenes any law,such as an employee being inpossession of an illegal substance, or ifthe employee is intoxicated enough tocause damage to property and / oranother person. In such instances, abusiness is entitled to involve thepolice and lay formal charges tosupport their dismissal of theoffender.

AFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON THEBLOODSTREAM

Employees must be told that theyare not being forbidden fromdrinking in their personal lives.

It’s important for employers toeducate their employees on howalcohol is measured and how long ittakes to leave their bloodstream,therefore enabling them tounderstand their limits.

This allows them to know whenthey may drink and how much,giving them the trust to actresponsibly. This will also vary fromperson to person, depending on theirweight and how many units ofalcohol they have consumed.

If they understand all of this, theywill know how much they may drinkand when, to ensure they have noalcohol in their system when they getto work.

In general, it is assumed that it takesthe human body about an hour forthe liver to digest one beer (330ml)with a volume of 5% alcohol.

CONCLUSIONA zero-tolerance policy should not

be a terrifying prospect but shouldrather be seen as one which canbenefit both the business and itsemployees, reducing risk for theformer while protecting the healthand best interests of the latter.

Rhys Evans, Director ALCO-Safe

The truth about a ZERO TOLERANCE policy


•

that gel batteries are superior to thestandard lead acid batteries associatedwith traditional alarm installations asthey provide excellent deep cycleperformance, can withstand a widerange of temperatures and display anextremely low self-discharge rate”(courtesy of messrs Zonewatch in CapeTown).

As soon as the lights go out, outcome the candles or thegenerator is started. It is good

risk management practice to havesuch things available for use, but whatare the hazards?

Here are some basic good practicesafety suggestions and advice:

CANDLE RISKS • Some form of ignition source (a

lighter or match) needs to be used,hopefully by a responsible person,who puts the ignition source awayfrom the reach of children after use.

• Ensure that the match is properlyout before placing it down, as it stillcan be hot enough to cause a skinburn or can set combustible itemsalight. Note that a cigarette burningin an ashtray has a core temperatureof about 650°C and goes to over1000°C when a “drag” is sucked.

• The candle must be placed in asuitable holder if it is a thin candleto prevent it falling over or from

dropping hot wax onto the candle’ssurrounding area.

• Thick candles can self-stand, butmust be placed on a plate or similarnon-flammable object to avoiddamage to the surface from fallingwax.

• Candles should never be leftunattended as they can burn outand cause a fire, especially if left ona combustible surface.

• Ensure the candle is extinguishedbefore leaving it unattended.

GENERATOR RISKS • Generators have flammable fuels

shocking electricity and are verynoisy.

• Pull start generators can causephysical strain during attempting tostart them.

• Generators do not have earthleakage protection like that installedon electrical distribution panels /boards in buildings.

Note, generator electricity isunlikely to trip should one get anelectric shock, so suffering a severeelectric shock from a generatorelectrical source without an earthleakage devise protection can result inan electrocution fatality.• Some generators are plugged into

the house/office wall socket usingan extension lead with two maleelectrical plugs fitted - this is

LOAD SHEDDING - what are the candle and generator risks


Leighton Bennett (Pr.CHSA)Benrisk Consulting, Insurance Surveyor, & OHS

& Risk Management Consultant

CONFERENCES AND EXHIBITIONSMeanwhile, plans are going ahead

for IOSM’s involvement with twomajor events.

There is the annual A-OSHExpo atGallagher from 14 to 16 May.

IOSM has an exhibition stand atthis annual expo.

Diarise this date.

OSHAfrica ConferenceThe inaugural OSHAfrica

Conference at Emperors Palacefrom 18 - 20 September which SouthAfrica is honoured to host.

IOSM will be awarding CPDpoints to members who participate asdelegates.

Register for this now!

hazardous because the plug pins canbe live if the extension is pluggedinto the wall socket while thegenerator is running. Such apractice is dangerous and illegal interms of the electrical wiring codes,is extremely unsafe and isconsidered as legal gross negligenceshould a fatality occur.

• For safety reasons have an earthleakage protection device extensionbox made to fit your generator andconnect all extension leads fromthis earth leakage box, not directlyfrom the generator. This will tripthe electricity if there is anyelectrical shock or short to an earth.

• All generators have a maximumoutput capacity (in Watts or KVA)and if it is plugged into a “live”house electrical system the powerdemand could be exceeded which islikely to blow the generator’selectronics. A proper switch overisolation switch must be fitted, by acompetent electrical person, tosafely separate the two powersupply systems and to which items(eg. lights, plugs) the generatorcapacity can safely feed during loadshedding.For example: Watts = Amps x Volts.Where a kettle uses 2000watts ofpower to heat water, it will require2000w/220v = 9.1 amps of powerto operate

• Using this guideline formula and

22 www.safety1st.co.za National Safety March/April 2019•

adding up the watts of eachappliance/item you would want touse together gives you the requiredcapacity or size of the generator youwould need to acquire as youremergency power source.Obviously, you would not be able touse high power demand items likegeysers, stoves, ovens, dishwashesand appliances like kettles, irons, etcwhich require significant watts tooperate, but fridges, freezers,security and gate access systems,computers, the TV and some lightlamps with energy saving or LEDglobes can all be run off a mediumsized generator (eg. 2400w orlarger). A 5000W generator wouldalso run a microwave and cold washwashing machine.

• If the building power supply is notproperly isolated with a switch overisolation switch between the

generator and the building electricalsupply system, the generator will bedestroyed when the normal powersupply returns.

• If a switch over isolation switch isnot used, one can use or havespecific separate permanentextension leads installed from thegenerator location to emergencypower plug points to the desiredlocations in the building or houserooms. When the generator isrunning during load shedding, onejust has to unplug the item from thenormal wall socket and connect it tothe generator extension lead socketpoint at each location, like in thekitchen, lounge, bedroom/s, study,etc, and reverse the plugging-inprocess when the normal powersupply returns. The safe wiringlayout for this option is illustratedbelow:

A generator extension boxe withan earth leakage device can be

home-made like the model at thebottom f the page. Or it can bebought from a good electrical

hardware shop (shown below),and then it just needs a suitably

rated power feed cable and plug tobe fitted



•

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT SAPEMA

South Africa is seeing an increasein female workers in industrialenvironments as the traditional

barriers of gender specific roles arebroken down. From a personalprotective equipment (PPE)perspective, women are still pigeon-holed with the expectation that theyshould wear either male or unisexPPE. There is a fundamentaldifference in the size and shapebetween a woman and man’s body,often creating discomfort and evenpotential risk for women.Furthermore, what many businessesdon’t realise is that ill-fitting PPEimpacts the productivity of the femaleworker in the workplace.

THE HAZARDSThe basic concept of PPE is to

protect the worker from the potentialhazards in their workingenvironment. When it comes to safetyfootwear, the hazards may includeslipping, falling objects, corrosive

chemicals and solvents, sharpprotruding metals and shavings andanti-static charges just to name a few.

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL

FootwearIf we look at a typical woman’s foot,

the contours differ to that of a man’sin that the female foot is generallynarrower. As such, a women’s shoewould need to be shaped differentlyto that of a man’s, ensuring acomfortable and secure fit.

A man’s shoe may fit a woman’sfoot from the toe to the heel, but, itwould typically be too wide. As aresult, her foot may oscillate withinthe shoe. Overtime, this oscillationputs strain on her ankle, which leadsto strain on the knee andsubsequently strain on her hip. Whatmay begin as minor discomfit mayresult in injury as the years go by. Inthe case of women who have narrowheels, the potential of slipping out ofthe boot becomes a daily risk therebycounteracting the purpose of wearingsafety footwear in the first place.Instead of concentrating on the dailytask at hand, the woman may befocusing of her ill-fitting footwear,thereby decreasing her productiveoutput.

WorkwearIn the case of workwear (such as

conti-suits, boiler suits etc), thedifference between the shape of a

man’s and a woman’s body is moreevident. Despite this, there is still atrend of procuring men’s workwearor unisex workwear for women. Thisis probably due to the fact that theconsequences and daily struggles ofill-fitting workwear for women arenot understood.

TrousersWith regards to the trousers,

women generally have wider hips anda more pronounced posterior. As aresult, the pattern of the trousersneeds to be cut differently toaccommodate the difference in shape.Failure to do so can result in thetrousers sitting below the belly buttonsection. For women who have givenbirth through a caesarean section,there are often complaints that thebutton places unwanted pressure onthe scarring area causing majordiscomfit. Furthermore, when awoman bends over – a task that iscommon for those wearing conti-trousers - the trouser waist bandtypically falls below her hip regionexposing the top half of her posterior.This not only compromises herdignity in front of her colleagues, butoften results in her wearing nylontights under her trousers. Theconsequences of wearing nylon tightsfor a prolonged period of time,especially in the South Africa climate,have been well-documented. Thenylon material does not absorbmoisture and subsequently the skinremains damp and becomes abreeding ground for fungus andbacteria.

JacketsWhen it comes to jackets, women

generally have a smaller back area, buta more pronounced chest area thanmen. There are typically two issuesthat arise when issuing women withmen’s conti-jackets. Either, jackets aresourced to fit the waist area, hiplength and arm length causingtightness in the chest area therebyrestricting flexibility and movementand exposing a woman’s mid-drift

The practical problems of WOMENwearing men’s CLOTHING in the workplace

Vanessa Ronald, Senior BrandManager at Sisi, BBF Safety Group


There are many “invisible” risksassociated with the weldingprofession. All welding fumes

contain gas and / or particles, and thetype of pollution is partiallydetermined by the material beingwelding, how it is finished or cleaned,and by the type of welding electrodebeing used. Welders who ignorehealthy work practices are puttingtheir long-term health in jeopardyand must be aware of some of the lessobvious health hazards, to help ensurehealthy living later in life.

Long term health complicationsMany long-term health problems

associated with the profession arepreventable but because the causes arenot always visible, they are oftenignored. These complicationsinclude:• Lung function abnormalities

including bronchial asthma, chronicobstructive pulmonary disease(COPD), pneumoconiosis andother pulmonary fibrosis (chronicberyllium disease, cobalt lung), andlung cancer.

• Larynx and urinary tract cancers • Certain fumes can lead to stomach

ulcers, kidney damage, and nervoussystem damage.

Immediate health complicationsThe immediate health effects of

welding fumes include:• Eye, nose and throat irritation • Dizziness • Nausea • Headaches • Metal fume fever: high

temperatures, chills, aches,


vomiting, weakness and fatigue.Notably, these symptoms more

likely to occur after time away fromthe job (weekends, holidays, etc.).

Prevention measuresAlthough welding fumes from

normal steel are not of the morehazardous types, they are not good foryour health. Among other things,they contain particles of iron oxide,which can cause siderosis (chronicinflammation of the lungs). Arespirator and good ventilation in theworkplace are necessary whenwelding with MIG/MAG or stickbecause heavy fumes are emitted.When welding ordinary steel, apowered air respirator with particlefilter is recommended.

Other health problemsNoises that don’t seem so loud, are

often harmful to your ability to hear.Except for TIG, electric arc weldinggenerates harmful levels of noise - theprocess itself produces noise, theother tasks that a welder will typicallydo are also noisy, and welding isgenerally carried out in a noisyenvironment.

But it is not always known thathazardous fumes being inhaled mayharm hearing, and can lead topermanent noise-induced hearing loss(NIHL).

It is also less well known that asubstantial number of everydayindustrial chemicals can themselvescause hearing loss. These chemicalsare said to be ototoxic (oto = ear,toxic = poisonous).

These may damage the cochlea inthe inner ear and / or the auditoryneurological pathways leading tohearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo.Hearing damage is more likely ifexposure is to a combination ofchemicals or to a combination ofchemicals and noise.

Prevention through PPETo combat these hazards, welding

masks should always be worn with earplugs and slim-line ear muffs with aneckband rather than a head band.

Quality of life for WELDERS – A focus on respiratory and hearing protection

when raising her arms. Alternatively,the jackets are sourced to fit thepronounced chest area, resulting in abaggy, uncomfortable fit, where thearms and hip length arecompromised.

Further to this, the female shapevaries from one woman to another.Some have a larger chest area, butsmaller hip area, whilst others have anextended hip area but a smaller chestarea.

In other cases, some women haveproportional hip to chest areas. As aresult, assuming that conti-suits forwomen can be purchased as a set(jackets and trousers together) isanother misconception.

The point to note when it comes toill-fitting workwear is that instead offocussing on the job at hand, one’sattention is diverted throughdiscomfit.

According to industrialpsychologist, Uma Naidoo, if aworker is not comfortable in whatthey are wearing - which is forapproximately eight hours of the day -this could lead to frustration, poorconcentration, increased breaks andmany other debilitating effects onproductivity. She confirms that if youare uncomfortable in your clothing,you will not function at your best.

LACK OF AWARENESSHistorically, industry was

dominated by men. Manufacturers ofPPE focused their time and effort onproducing garments that would suitthe contours of a man’s body, in aneffort to improve comfort andincrease productivity.

With more and more womenentering into areas once deemed thepreserve of men, there needs to be ashift in the way that PPE is procuredfor the workforce, if productivity is tobe maximised.

Much research has been spentlooking into the ergonomics of acorporate space with proven results.

If the same concept is applied toworkwear, we can conclude that themore comfortable a worker is, thebetter they will perform.

For further information visit:https://www.sisi.co.za

Rani Naidoo, 3M South Africa ApplicationEngineer Technical Manager, Personal Safety

Division


•

offers a path for an arc flash to travel.Use appropriate rain gear and have achange of FR wear available foremergencies.

Workers who are exposed toelectrical hazards should not wearsynthetic materials that can melt.

PROTECT YOUR EYESEye protection in winter is essential

for more than just keeping debris orchemicals out of your eyes. Icy blastsfrom harsh winds can irritate eyes andcause decreased visibility.

While working in hazardousenvironments, the use of face coversin addition to protective eye wear maybe needed under certain conditions.

COVER YOUR HEAD, HANDS ANDFEET

Your body loses about 10 percent ofyour heat through your head.

While it is important to keep yourhead warm, you must also be sureyour hard hat fits properly and thathats or liners do not cause slippage.Choose a hat or liner that covers theback of your neck as well as yourhead. Consider getting a slightlylarger hard hat for winter wear toaccommodate the necessary headcoverings.

Frostbite to your hands and feet canoccur rapidly.

You should consider additionalliners for gloves and boots. These willprovide you with extra warmth andyou can change the liners if theybecome damp.

If you are required to wearprotective gloves, liners should bemade of suitable material that will notmelt in the incident of arc flash – suchas Merino wool.

TAKE PREDETERMINED BREAKS INWARM AREAS

During extremely cold weather,workers should take warming breaksat regular intervals.

Access to warm beverages shouldbe included, but caffeine should beavoided.

Even if you can only take a break ina tent area, or the cab of your worktruck, getting out of the cold andwind will allow your body to warm.

Remember that high winds create awind chill factor that reduces theworking temperature to less thanwhat a thermometer may show.

General guidelines recommend 10minutes of warming after two hoursof work.

After the second two hours, a halfhour is recommended. Extremeconditions may require shorter workintervals.

KEEP FR CLOTHING CLEANWhen your FR clothing becomes

contaminated with oil, dirt or debris,you must clean it according to themanufacturer’s instructions.

Allowing chemicals and oil to buildup on your protective wear increasesyour risk of injury. You may think youare protected when in fact, oils andchemicals may ignite easily.

Use gentle washing processes,including warm, not hot, water andmild detergent.

Bleach is not recommended as itwill tend to break down the resistanceof the materials. Store your gearcarefully as well. Crumpling dirtygarments and leaving them for dayswill reduce the garment’s lifespan.

KEEP PPE WELL MAINTAINED It is important for PPE to retain all

its protective properties.Your FR PPE is designed to take

care of you. For it to performproperly, you must take care of it.

When you follow the use and careinstructions, you can expect to get the

ARE YOU MEETING ALL OCCUPATIONALAND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES?

Occutech is an inspection authority for the work and business environment surrounds approved by the Department of Labour

• Indoor air quality assessment

• Risk assessors

• Occupational hygiene

• Environmental consultants

“PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!”

http://www.occutech.co.za Email: [email protected]: (031) 206-1244 Fax: (031) 205-2561

Occutech is able to recognise, evaluate and recommend

cost-effective controls of occupational and

environmental hazards

full service life from your FRproducts.

During winter, you may need tochange garments frequentlyespecially if you are working insnowy or muddy conditions.

The most important factor inchoosing appropriate PPE for thewinter season is to select clothing thatis not only suitable for thetemperature in which you will beworking, but is also functional for thework you will be performing and thephysical exertion required.

Always follow the legalrequirements for your trade andconsult the relevant sections oflegislated codes and standards.


QI hear there is a new glovestandard that is going to comeinto effect. How do these

changes affect end-users?

AYes and no. You are correct thatEurope has adopted a new ENstandard for gloves

(EN388:2016 ). One of the things thenew standard does is improve the waycut and penetration tests are done.South Africa has not yet adopted thisEN and ISO aligned internationalstandard. In South Africa gloves arestill certified according to the SouthAfrican developed standard(SANS1228:2012).

The new EN certification tests aremore closely related to the kind ofsituation an end-user will encounteron the job. The previous cutcertification test used a round blade(like a pizza cutter) passing over theglove many times and rating the cutprotection based on the number oftimes that one blade moved beforethe glove failed. The new EN test willbe performed using a brand newblade each time and increasing theforce applied to the blade until theglove fails.

How do these changes affectend-users?• They do not change the way gloves

are certified or marked in SouthAfrica yet.

• As usual, the correct selection of thePPE is dependent on the hazardbeing encountered on the job.

Should the new EN standard beadopted in South Africa, then:• Any gloves that already have the

previous EN 388 certification arestill valid (until their certificationexpires).

• All gloves will continue to beassigned the same performancelevel/markings that they have beencertified against. When they arecertified according to the newstandard they will have the newmarkings.

established for employees working inareas where they may be exposed tohazardous materials, arc flash or otherconditions that require FR wear. Hereare 7 tips to help you choose the rightPPE, and specifically FR protectivewear to stay safe this winter:

STAY ON TOP OF THE FORECASTWhen we think about staying safe

on a job site, the weather forecast maynot be the first factor that comes tomind.

However, winter conditions andcold weather present dangeroussituations not only with wet weatherand slippery surfaces, but also reducedmental alertness and manual dexterity.Staying informed of the possiblechanging conditions that you mightencounter during the course of yourworkday will, no doubt, keep yousafer and better protected.

KEEP DRY TO AVOID INJURIESKeeping dry is important for body

loss as well as injuries associated withpotential arc flash.

In addition to being uncomfortable,wet clothing will cause you to losemore body heat. You also face agreater risk from moisture seepingthrough layers. Once the clothingnext to your skin becomes moist, it

Stay-safe tips for WINTER PROTECTIVEwear - with a focus on FR

• Some manufacturers have theirown testing equipment in theirlaboratories so that they can test toboth standards. All the more reasonto buy from reputable

The SCIENCE behind SAFETYSAPEMA experts provide the answers to those important questionsCompiled by SAPEMA Hand Protection Technical Committee

manufacturers and distributors suchas the SAPEMA memberorganisations.

In the next edition we will deal with themarkings on the gloves and what they mean.

Tel: +27 11 (0)63 442 9935

Email: [email protected]

www.sapema.org


As we near the winter months inthe southern hemisphere, andthe days grow colder and darker,

it is important to assess conditionsthat make us more vulnerable toworkplace hazards.

Although this is important for allPPE, this article will focus specificallyon FR wear.

While decreasing temperatures andwind chill put outdoor workers at riskfor hypothermia and frostbite, otherdangers include decreased mobility,slower response times and slipperysurfaces.

Additionally, it has been found thatdiligence with wearing FR protectiveclothing over warmer winter wearmay diminish during the wintermonths. For these reasons, it isessential that a winter personalprotective equipment (PPE) plan be

Extracted from an article written by MikeSchoonover, Lakeland Industries, inProtection Update, Winter 2017.Published by the International SafetyAssociation


•

In this newsletter I will update youon recent developments withinHSE Connection Point.

MEETING UPDATESHSE Connection Point held a

follow-up meeting after our meetingwith the Minister of Public WorksThulas Nxesi regarding the concernswe have been having with theSACPCMP.

All the right roll players werepresent at this meeting: the newlyappointed Registrar from theSACPCMP, the CEO for the Councilfor the Built Environment,Phumudzo Maphaha the Director ofthe Department of Labour, somemembers of our organisation andsome disgruntled non-members whoall came together to discuss thesematters and to agree on clear actionplans moving forward.

Once we have received theconfirmation on the issues that werediscussed, we will share theinformation.

We have also been given ourVoluntary Association with theSACPCMP and will be attending thequarterly meetings to discuss pressingmatters which are affecting ourmembers and non-members alike.

JOB OPPORTUNITIESLast month we appointed two of

our members Mellissa Nicholson and

Owen Shabangu who are heading upour jobs division within HSEConnection Point.

Their function is to share anyemployment opportunities with ourmembers and also to approachcompanies willing to assist ourcandidates with field experience.

We also approach companies toassist them with safety professionalappointments.

We have within the past two weeksreceived confirmation of twounemployed members who havesecured employment, and onemember who had an interview and isnow awaiting feedback from thecompany.

OTHER APPOINTMENTSWe have also appointed Franklin

Gunkel as our Candidate anddevelopment Manager and he isinstrumental in assisting ourSACPCMP Candidates find Mentorswithin our organisation.

He tracks their progress, addressesany concerns between candidate andmentors and also facilitates theirtraining within our organisation.

We have engaged with VincentHarmse who has been assisting uswith information which we are usingto develop our training to assist bothMentors under their role and thecandidates to assist with their overalldevelopment.

SACPCMP CPD COURSESWe have also received feedback on

one of our 10 SACPCMP CPDaccredited training courses which weplan on rolling out country widewithin the next two weeks.

Overall, we have been receivingpositive feedback from otherstakeholders who are impressed withwhat we have been doing and whatwe continue to do to improve theHSE fraternity.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FORMEMBERS

We are holding a NeboshInternational Diploma raffle ticket toraise funds for our other businessventures within RSA. so log onto ourwebsite and take a chance you may bethe lucky winner of a career changingqualification.

We have also partnered with anInternational Virtual Reality HSEtraining company, this is somethingexciting and innovative and we willsoon be expanding on it andexplaining it further to our members.

MEMBERSHIP OF HSECPTo join HSECP, send an email to

[email protected] andrequest a membership form, orregister through our website atwww.hseconnection.org.za or send aWhatsApp to 082 804 5838.

HSE Connection Point Newsletter


We live in changing times.More and more, companiesneed to focus on working

smart to keep margins strong and stayahead of their competition.

Keld Jensen, a contributor forForbes.com said:

“In the typical commercialprocurement process, companies willhave two or more suppliers competeagainst each other for a job. Oftentimes the winner is selected solelybased on price and quantity. A fewmonths later, the winning supplierlooks for ways to increase savingsthrough shortcuts so that they are ableto increase or maintain their bottomline. These shortcuts can negativelyimpact other commercial partners aswell as the end consumer.”

It’s the business of being cheap. Butat what cost? Delta Health and SafetyEquipment has always believed insupplying the best product for thesituation, and to compare value, notjust price, across solutions. Whencustomers choose cheap, or are notaware of how their workenvironment fits into the newstandards, there may be hidden costs.The risk of injuries increases andworker’s safety is jeopardised;ultimately a “lose-lose” situation for

the industry. Productivity suffers asusers experience discomfort, handfatigue sets in with loss of dexterity,and these eventually translate frommostly unseen losses into financiallosses.

DOES THE MARKET REALLY WANTTHE CHEAPEST PROVIDER? OR DOTHEY WANT THE BEST VALUE FORMONEY?

Delta Health and Safety Equipmentnow offer a consolidated series of cutprotection gloves from SHOWA, oneof Delta’s major brand suppliers.Their new DURACoil glove seriescaters to a wide range of needs andapplications. DURACoil consolidatesglove inventory and providesoptimised productivity and reduced

costs. Where previously both generalpurpose and cut resistant gloves hadto be inventoried, there is now thebest of both worlds available, at acompetitive price. Fit, dexterity, andgrip are combined with an upgradedcut-resistant liner. Users willexperience safe, dry and comfortablehands, and this increases PPE useracceptance. Whether performing tasksin dry, greasy, oily or wetenvironments, there are no moreexcuses to not wear gloves.

If you would like more informationon the SHOWA range of DURACoilgloves, or have any questions on howthe change of standards has affectedyour work environment and PPEneeds, contact Delta Health andSafety Equipment.

GLOVES that cater to needs and applications


••

MSA THE SAFETY COMPANY remains rooted in South African with proud channel partner, PSA Africa

Throughout their years of addingvalue to the South African safetyindustry with their expert

knowledge of safety systems andequipment, commitment toexcellence in after-sales service andpassion for staying at the forefront ofthe latest technological advancementsin safety gear, MSA has, as a matter ofcourse, undergone many changes andwitnessed many improvements intheir pursuit to remain leaders in theirfield.

One such improvement, and pointof growth, has involved their recentdecision to restructure and team upwith its Channel Partner, PSA Africa.Spurred by the desire to broaden andstrengthen their service networkacross South Africa,MSA appointed itsChannel Partner, PSAAfrica, to sell, installand provide supportfor their products.

After operating as asuccessful MSAdistributor for over 20years, building up aworkforce of highlyprofessional andexpertly trainedindividuals andproviding MSAcustomers withbest-in-classproduct training,after-sales service,support and stockavailability, PSAAfrica was theobvious choice asmaster distributorin southern Africa.

Utilising PSAAfrica’s technicalcapabilities and sales proficiency tooptimise customer service andlogistics efficiencies, MSA willprovide customers with shorter leadtimes - due to significant amounts ofstocked MSA product available locally- the ability to order in brokenquantities, access to a wider end-user

network, wider coverage across SouthAfrica and continued access to the fullline of MSA safety products.

MSA REMAINS FIRMLY ROOTED INSOUTH AFRICA

This strategic move to workalongside a local company with such asolid track-record has clearly affirmedMSA’s long-term commitment toinvesting in the African market andhas revealed their intent to remainfirmly rooted in the South Africansoil.

SUCCESS OF PROJECTS WITHCHANNEL PARTNER

A recent project carried out forHarmony Gold, in Kusasalethu mine,

wherein PSA Africa wasable to develop an MSAmulti-gas detectionsolution - that workedtogether with the mineaccess system to enhancemining safety andefficiency - hasdemonstrated the successof this new ChannelPartner approach and has

provided a glimpse intothe exciting future thatMSA has in store for the

South African customers.“This new partnership

has unlocked a wealth ofopportunity fornumerous industries,and we are certain that itwill lead the SouthAfrican safety industryinto a future thatembraces state-of-the-

art technology whichbenefits workers in ways we

have yet to imagine,” says PSAdirector, Hank Lombard.

Placing the protection of people andfacility infrastructures at the top oftheir priority list, MSA products haveunfailingly integrated – and continueto integrate - a combination ofcarefully engineered electronics,mechanical systems and advanced

materials to provide reliability andpeace of mind to users facinghazardous or life-threateningsituations on a daily basis.

COMPREHENSIVE PRODUCT RANGEThe company’s comprehensive

product lines, used by workersaround the globe, lends itself to abroad range of markets, includingOGP (oil, gas and petrochemicalindustry), the fire services andmilitary forces. But perhaps the mostprominent of industries, have beenthose that make use of gas detectionproducts, such as mining andconstruction.

Channel Partner PSA Africa has anextensive range of the MSA Safetyproducts available for viewing ontheir website.

The specialised safety equipmentcompany offer on or off-site trainingas well as maintenance and calibrationservices, ensuring comprehensiveproduct support.

PSA Africa - Approved MSA ChannelPartner: Southern AfricaTel: 0860 543 356Email: [email protected]


••

Select PPE is a multi-branddistribution and serviceprovider of personal protective

equipment (PPE) and PPE relatedservices, founded in 1998.

Select PPE provides customers,with partnership-based managementsolutions for the procurement andrecord keeping of PPE.

We are leaders in the procurementand distribution of quality andapplication specific products thatprotect the people that we serve.

We have evolved into anorganisation which serves manyindustries including mining,manufacturing, agriculture,construction, petroleum, hospitality,medical, corporate and security.

OUR PRIMARY ACTIVITIES: • We specialise in onsite stores with

over 20 years’ experience in this.• Sourcing and distributing Personal

Protective Equipment forcustomers and their employeesacross the African continent.

• Monitoring the individual usage ofPPE per employee based on specificjob requirements and maintainingdocumented proof of legislativecompliance.

• Solving customers’ PPE challengesby offering tailor made andcustomer specific solutions withour wide range of service offeringsand with software which providesreal-time information on all PPEissued and PPE usage.

MAJOR SERVICES INCLUDE:All our services are customised to

the requirements of our clients:• Onsite Store Solution (Vendor

Managed Inventory Solution)• Ppe365.net Solution• Vending Machine Solution• Consignment Store Solution• Mobile Store Solution• Retail Store Solution• Safe@work Solution• Direct Sales

Making safety PersonalTM


••

THE HEALTH THREAT OF ASBESTOSAsbestos mineral fibres are non-

toxic. However, when asbestos issmashed into very fine fibreparticulates, people will becomeexposed to the fibres by touching orinhaling these tiny materials.

Asbestos fibres are responsible forsome diseases such as asbestosis(fibrosis of the lungs), andmesotheliomia (a cancer of the pleuraland peritoneal linings). Theincubation period of these diseasescan take 20-40 years.

RECOMMENDED REQUIREMENT OFPPE TO PROTECT AGAINST ASBESTOSEXPOSURE

The UK Health and SafetyExecutive(HSE) issued arecommendation claiming that theproper PPE for workers handlingasbestos should include: disposablecoverall, disposable gloves, footwear,respiratory protective equipment, andtraining to use PPE and RPE properly.

The HSE suggests Type 5 (EN ISO13982-1) disposable coveralls aresuitable. Respiratory protectiveequipment (RPE) is necessary.

A hood must be worn over the RPEstraps. Coverall legs must be wornover footwear to prevent dust leaking;and if the cuffs are loose, they must besealed with tape. Workers in outdooror wet environments need waterproofor taped sealed coveralls to ensuretheir safety.

CHOOSE THE CORRECT PROTECTIVECLOTHING TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE

Protective clothing is the crucialPPE for protecting workers fromcontact with the fine asbestos fibres.Qualified garments provide goodbarriers through their material, seamand design.

Type 5 garments provide goodprotection against dry particulateshazards and meet CE EN 1073-2

protection against radioactiveparticulate contamination particles,which require more restrict criteriaagainst particulates. These garmentstherefore provide a higher protectionlevel and are more suitable for asbestosresistant applications.

WHAT IS ASBESTOS Asbestos are mineral fibres which

include six kinds of asbestos -chrysolite is the most common one.Asbestos fibres are soft, insulatedagainst thermal and sound, and areresistant to high temperature, acid,corrosion and abrasion. Theytherefore, have had wide applicationsin commerce, public utilities andindustrial facilities, such as fire-resistant asbestos textiles, pipes,

asbestos-cement products (insulationboards), and various insulationmaterials used in construction,electrical appliances, automobiles andhousehold goods.

LEGISLATIVE PROTECTION FORSAFETY AT WORKPLACE

Regulations state that employersmust ensure the proper protectionagainst asbestos fibres, including:providing properpersonal protectiveequipment, puttingup warning signsand preventingthe spread ofasbestos dust.Furthermore,employers alsoshould provideappropriatetraining forworkers.

Ultitec garmentsprovide the perfectprotection againstasbestos fibres.

Protection against ASBESTOS fibres

Garments ideal for asbestos protection. Theyfit the body shape and are sealed to preventthe risks of particulates and liquid leakage.They also provide comfort and movementand are stitched to prevent the garmentpulling and bursting


Contact: Vanguard Fire and Safety Email: [email protected]

•

substances. The draft revision of the

Regulations for Hazardous ChemicalSubstances will rely heavily on theGHS requirements and an.understanding of all aspects containedin the GHS will be paramount forour members. The ResponsiblePackaging and Marketing Associationof South Africa will offer all trainingmodules at their reduced memberrates for SAIOH-certified membersas part of the MoU agreement.Regular advertising for their coursesthroughout South Africa will beposted on our web site and sent viamail.

Julie Hills, SAIOH Immediate Past President,and Liz Anderson, Executive Director ofRPMASA, with the signed MoU

National OHS Re-curriculumCommittee

Julie Hills, SAIOH Immediate pastPresident, represented the SAIOHCouncil at the National OHS Re-curriculum Committee meeting heldby the heads of departments of thevarious technical universities of SouthAfrica.

Heads of departments andstakeholders meet annually in Januaryeach year to deliberate and ensureconsistency and uniformity in thedelivery of occupational health andsafety throughout South Africa. Themeeting focuses on the curricula ofoccupational health and safety, fromthe National Diploma and BTech inEnvironmental Health, to the four-year Bachelor of Science inEnvironmental Health (BScEH).The next meeting is provisionallyscheduled for 20 - 24 January 2020 atNelson Mandela University in PortElizabeth.

The opportunity allowed SAIOHto promote the Institute and discussour processes, membershipregistrations and the advantages of

becoming a member of SAIOH. Wewere also given an opportunity todiscuss SAIOH’s expectations of theminimum knowledge and educationrequirements for candidates tosuccessfully achieve registration at thevarious levels of SAIOH certification.Important communication such asthis allows the SAIOH Council andPCC to understand how we canfacilitate our academic institutionsand assist students by providingpractical assessment support andopportunities.

Zanele Zulu (MUT), Roslynn Baatjies(CPUT), Leon Harmse (TUT), Julie Hills(SAIOH Immediate Past President),Chwayita Mtembu (NMUT), Polka Rathebe(UJ), Ivan Niranjan (DUT). Absent from thephotograph is Dr Carien Weyers (CUT)

INTERNATIONAL LIAISON REPORTIOHA International ScientificConference

Early reminder: if there is only oneinternational conference dedicated to

the occupational hygiene disciplinethat you can, or would like to, attend,then the IOHA InternationalScientific Conference needs to be ‘theone’. With early planning, you canturn this into a reality. The 12thIOHA International ScientificConference will be held in Daegu,South Korea, 16 to 22 October 2020.The theme of the conference will be‘Bridging Gaps in OccupationalHygiene Development, OpeningNew Horizons’. See you there!

OSHAFRICA 2019 CONFERENCESAIOH is supporting the first

OSHAfrica 2019 conference to beheld at Emperors Palace from 18 to 20September 2019. The theme of theconference is ‘Occupational Healthand Safety: Challenges and Action’.Prof. Cas Badenhorst and MrNorman Khoza are on theConference Organising Committee.Several SAIOH members are playingactive roles, including Prof DerkBrouwer and Mr Jakes Jacob who willbe the conferences keynote speakers.There is also a planned occupationalhygiene session. The conference willbe attended by delegates from thewhole of Africa and we urge SAIOHmembers to come and share theexperience.

SAIOH takes great pleasure in announcing this year’s conference dates,theme and location. Keep your eyes on the SAIOH Website and various socialmedia platforms for additional information.

This year the SAIOH Annual Conference will be held at the African PrideMount Grace Country House & Spa, Magaliesburg and will be held over aperiod of four days from the 15th to the 18th of October 2019, with a theme of“Occupational Hygiene and the 4th Industrial Revolution”

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/jnbmm-african-pride-mount-grace-country-house-and-spa-autograph-collection/

Report by: Celia Keet, SAIOH President 2019; Julie Hills, SAIOH Immediate Past President; Deon JVan Vuuren, SAIOH Chief Examiner; PJ Jacobs, SAIOH International Liaisons representative.Photographs courtesy of: Julie Hills, SAIOH Immediate Past President; PJ Jacobs, SAIOH InternationalLiaisons representative

2019 SAIOH CONFERENCE


Iwish to take this opportunity, in myfirst report as President of SAIOHfor 2019, to wish all our members a

very happy and healthy 2019. Asalways, the many types of workenvironments and industries wherewe find employment will setchallenges for our members. Yourrepresentatives on the SAIOHCouncil and the ProfessionalCertification Committee (PCC) willwork hard to develop additionalprocesses, materials and supportsystems to aid you in your daily work.

We thank all the Council memberswho put in so much time and efforton a voluntary basis.

Vice-President Norman KhozaOur new Vice President for 2019 is

Norman Khoza. We look forward tohis continuous and valuablecontributions, both in his newposition and in supporting our manybranches and discussion groups aspart of his Branch Coordinator role.

SAIOH CEO and Regional Co-ordinator

Due to the increased workload atthe SAIOH head office, and to ensurethat we are able to meet the strategicobjectives related to the RegionalBranch initiative and to effectivelyserve our members, SAIOH is in theprocess of employing a part-timeCEO and Regional Coordinator. Thisposition was advertised in January2019 and the nominations andapplications are being evaluated toshort list candidates for a formalinterview. We hope that the newincumbent will be in place in the nextmonth or so and will be contributingto this report going forward.

PCC NEWS AND UPDATESRegulations1. NIHL and Environmental

Representatives from the PCChave been busy setting up meetingsto review the present Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Regulationsand the EnvironmentalRegulations for Workplaces.SAIOH has been approached byrepresentatives from theDepartment of Labour to reviewthe current regulations and tocomment on and suggest any needfor revision. We intend to involveSAIOH Members via theirrespective SAIOH branches/groupsand the Occupational HygieneApproved Inspection AuthoritiesAssociation (OHAIA) to aid in thisimportant task. The Institute(SAIOH) is in the process ofsetting up Specialist Committees tocoordinate this task and will liaisewith members within the next fewweeks.

2. Malawian mine (safety) regulationsThe New Partnership for Africa'sDevelopment (NEPAD) Agencyhas also requested SAIOHmembers, as experts in the field ofoccupational hygiene, to reviewMalawian mine (safety)regulations. The regulations arecurrently undergoing aconsultation process in Malawi andthis is a great opportunity tocontribute. If you are keen to getinvolved in this process, pleasecontact Norman.

Electronic generation of PCCwritten assessment papers

A long-term project relating to theelectronic generation of PCC writtenassessment papers is in the final stageof development. The system wasdemonstrated to PCC members atthe last meeting of 2018 and thecontent caused great excitement. Thesystem will allow assessment papersto be generated randomly for eachcandidate and answered directlyonline.

There are still questions to befinalised to ensure that the question

database is fully populated for each ofour certification levels. It is envisagedthat the first writing of electronicPCC assessments will occur beforethe end of 2019. The Gauteng PCCassessments will be used to pilot thesewritten assessments, starting with theRegistered Occupational HygieneAssistant (ROHA) assessments on 21June 2019.Minimum qualifications forROHs

To remain compliant with both theInternational Occupational HygieneAssociation (IOHA) NationalAccreditation RecognitionCommittee (NARC) and the SouthAfrican Qualifications Authority(SAQA) requirements, the newminimum qualifications forRegistered Occupational Hygienists(ROHs) are almost finalised. Thiswill be tabled for approval at the nextPCC meeting, scheduled for 12 April2019.

LIAISON AND COMMUNICATIONS The year got off to a sprint for our

Relationships and Communicationsteam. We continue to actively engagewith our sister organisations andinterested parties to strengthenrelationships, where we feel supportand contact can enhance our serviceto members.MoU with RPMASA

In January, we signed a newMemorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the ResponsiblePackaging and Marketing Associationof South Africa (RPMASA). TheAssociation is the leading southernAfrican organisation in the supplychain of industrial and retailchemicals and products, providingvarious services for classification,packaging, labelling, safe transport andstorage of chemicals. The Associationhas links to various internationalorganisations through its participationin the United Nations (UN)Committee of Experts for transport ofdangerous goods and the GlobalHarmonisation System (GHS) for theclassification and labelling of chemical

News from SAIOH

OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE - SAIOH

Norman Khoza,SAIOH VicePresident 2019


••

Does the construction HEALTH & SAFETY AGENT still have a role to play?

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ACHASM

The Department of Labourthrough the promulgation of theGovernment Gazette of June

2017, the Guidelines to theConstruction Regulations, allows aregistered construction health andsafety manager to undertake theduties and carry out theresponsibilities of the client’s agent asdefined.

What was the intention of thelegislator in this instance? Was it tospread the work load currently beingcarried by the relatively few registeredclient agents practising currently(approximately ninety) country-wide)?

SCOPE AND RISK PROFILE The Guidelines Gazette refers to

“the scope and risk profile” and allowsthe construction H&S manager to beappointed in place of the registeredagent with respect to the managementof health and safety on a project.

The question then arises as to whatis this scope and risk profile of theconstruction work in question?

A further guidance document ishereby required.

It would appear as if the intention isfor the agent to be appointed for thehigher risk projects where perhaps thescope of work is more complex whilethe manager undertakes the lower riskprojects (risk referring to health andsafety risk).

The legislator further states that ifthe question arises as to whether aconstruction H&S agent or aconstruction H&S manager isnecessary, the decision of an inspector

(of the Dept. of Labour) will bedecisive. The inspector would thenneed to base his or her decision on aset of criteria i.e. a risk profile settingout what project risk rating and scopeof work is defined as requiring anagent and when is it permitted for amanager to be appointed.

This set of criteria will surely needto be common knowledge andavailable to the industry with the aimof clarifying this somewhat important‘amendment’ to the ConstructionRegulations.

SACPCMP SETS OUT DELIVERABLESThe South African Council for the

Project and ConstructionManagement Professions(SACPCMP), the entity mandated tomanage the construction health &safety profession i.e. constructionH&S officers, construction H&Smanagers, and construction H&Sagents, and an entity of theDepartment of Labour, has already setout the duties and deliverables foreach category based on the sixconstruction project stages.

The agent operates and hasdeliverables through all six stageswhile the construction H&S manager

operates, has deliverables, and hastherefore been tested for competencein stages four, five and six.

It would therefore appear contraryto the Department of Labour’s ownrequirements to permit a manager toundertake an agent’s work throughstages one to three as the competenceof such manager cannot be assessedand confirmed.

Somewhat confusing but moreimportantly inconsistent with thecurrent legal position?

Perhaps the Department of Labourthrough its provincial offices shouldat least decide on a common stancewith respect to the project scope andrisk profile.

Perhaps as a starting point, theyneed to make use of the R40 millionpermit trigger (contract value, notproject value) and make use of thiswhen deciding on whether aregistered agent or registered manageris necessary.

The Department of Labourcurrently allows for a constructionwork permit to be issued on the basisthat a construction H&S manager hasbeen appointed by the client.

No agent is required anymore.Hence the title of this article.

Marius EppenbergerMTech (Constr. H&S Manag.)

Association of Construction Health and Safety Management

The Association of Construction Health and Safety Management is

a registered non-profit company established to provide all those

working in the Construction Health and Safety (CH&S) field with

an advisory and representative body.

ACHASM CONTACT DETAILS:

Yasmeen Fort

ACHASM Registrar

Cell no: 076 263 0549

[email protected];

www.achasm.co.za


•

Submitted by Ehi Iden

Itake this opportunity to thank youfor the trust and support you havegiven to OSHAfrica and for your

time and ideas towards the successfulplanning of the much awaitedOSHAfrica 2019 conference. Onething we can be sure of, this will be anOSH conference we will all be proudof and live to remember for a verylong time.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEESWe previously emphasised the need

for every member to identify with acommittee they can belong to, andtherefore offer their services towardsthe overall good of OSHAfrica. Wecan all be active if we identify acommittee where we can becomeinvolved. The scientific committees,we have are:• Research, Data and Publication

Committee• Education and Competency

Improvement Committee• OSH Legislation and Policy

CommitteeThe OSH Legislation and Policy

Committee has began the process ofidentifying, collating and reviewing allthe National OSH Policies of eachAfrican Country. The overall aim ofthis project is to review and comparewhat OSH policies currently exist ineach country, look at the similarities,differences, gaps and make provisionswhere necessary with the intentionsof using the harmonised finaldocument in engaging the AfricanUnion for one African Regional OSHPolicy that can be adopted acrossmember countries.

According to the last report, 13African countries’ policies have beenreviewed by this committee so far.Work is actively in progress.

The Education andCompetency ImprovementCommittee has been able to create aroad map in their efforts towardsreducing the high cost of acquiringexternal OSH certifications byAfricans. The committee is currently

engaging with a number of externalcertification bodies on the bestavailable ways to build partnershipsthat can make these certificationsaffordable in Africa and for Africans.

The committee is also on a journeyof designing our own African OSHcertification and qualifications whichcan be used in Africa and accepted inevery region of the world. TheCommittee recently set up a TrainingAdvisory Council (TAC). This is an8-man team that has been given themandate to review the level of OSHtraining and certifications currentlyavailable in Africa, review what iscurrently available in other regions ofthe world, and use this knowledge todesign a training programme thatspeaks more to the African workenvironment. They will develop thisinto a training programme andsubmit for review, for approval andfinally adaptation.

The Research, Data andPublication Committee is workingon a number of projects. Prominentin their mandate is to seekopportunities in scientific and peerreview journals for Africans to publishtheir research materials. We lookforward to hearing from them. Weneed more hands to join thiscommittee for optimal effectiveness.

MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION ANDSUBSCRIPTION

Free membership was given to allmembers until the end of 2018. Wesaid membership subscriptions wouldcommence in January, 2019.However, we were not able to startthis due to the difficulties we hadwith our bankers in creating a globalpayment system enabling members topay with their credit and debit cardsfrom anywhere in the world. Theprocess is now close to being set up. Anumber of members have contactedme requesting membershipcertificates. We will only be able toissue these once the payment processhas been put into place. We appeal tothese members to be patient,and wewill keep you updated on theprogress.

Remember, OSHAfrica runs on atriennial membership subscriptionsystem i.e. membership payments aremade once in 3 years. Membershipsubscription for 2019 will expire in2022 when you will have to renewyour membership.

We currently have only 2 categoriesof membership subscriptions asfollows:Member - $100.00 covering 3 yearsStudent Member - $50.00 covering3 years

NOTE: Student Member refers toundergraduate or graduate students ofOSH or related fields who want to bemembers.

OSHAfrica newsletter

OOSSHHAAFFRRIICCAA 22001199CCOONNFFEERREENNCCEE

We must at this point commendthe Local Conference OrganisingCommittee headed by ThuthulaBalfour for the great job they aredoing towards a successful hostingof this great conference. A numberof meetings going back and forth,we are seeing them gradually pay off.We have the commitment andinvolvement of ILO, ISSA, WHO,NEPAD, DoL SA and many otherinternational agencies and OSHassociations within and outsideAfrica.

We encourage those who have notregistered for this conference toplease do so, it is easier to buy yourflight tickets now before summerstarts when fares will increase. Youcannot afford to miss this, especiallybecause a number of side attractionsand parallel events abound in thisconference. ILO is 100 years old thisyear, and will use this conference tomark their centenary anniversary.ISSA Mining is turning 50 this year,and will run a full miningprogramme at the conference tomark their Golden Jubilee.

Once again, we thank everyonefor the support thus far, we lookforward to meeting you all inJohannesburg, South AfricaSeptember, 2019.


These days, having an impressivecompany with an air of safetyculture is no longer just an

option. Today's workers are graduallycoming to understand the importanceof a safe workplace as much as theyconsider salaries and benefits.

What is the use of having good payand other benefits when the companyhas no safety culture to protect itsworkers from occupational health andsafety hazards? Every worker wants togo to work and return home safe.

It is in the light of the above thatEgbin Power Station Plc has becomeknown for its impressive safetyculture in Nigeria. Egbin is the largestprovider of electricity generated inAfrica's largest economy.

Egbin Power Plc is nestled in theserene Egbin Town in Lagos, SouthWest Nigeria, operating one of thelargest thermal power plants in Sub-Saharan Africa, powering livesand economic activities withdistinction for over four decades.

WHAT DOES EGBIN'S SAFETYCULTURE LOOK LIKE?

Egbin is more than just a powerplant or the locality's largest employer.It is embedded in the fabric of thecommunity, teeming with dynamic,hardworking people and multiplecultural expressions.

It doesn’t just generate electricity,but also utilises its power as an agentfor a social purpose by giving wings tothe aspirations of its hostcommunities via corporate and socialresponsibility interventions which arespecifically designed to touch livesand make lasting, positive changeswith particular focus on good health,safety and quality education.

Egbin's investment in safetyequipment and training is anothermajor reason for its culture, whichhas been commended by variouspost-privatisation monitoring teamsand other regulatory agencies

following inspection visits. According to the Chairman of

Egbin Power Station Plc, Mr. KolaAdesina, “For us at Egbin, ensuringsafety at all costs is a non-negotiablepolicy and we are delighted with theprogress we've made in this regard.”

In Egbin, all the company'soperations are in line with globallyacclaimed standards for health, safety,security and the environment.

Part of its requirements for staff andstakeholders is to abide by its zerotolerance policy on safety infractions.

Adesina emphasised that “every staffis a safety ambassador. We demand thesame level of commitment from allour partners and stakeholders; andremain confident that HSSE issueswill always be paramount in ouroperations.”

It is noteworthy, that since itsprivatisation, the company has gone 5years without fatalities.

According to the management,Egbin is in the process of gettingISO45001 standard certificationwhich helps organisations reduce theburden of occupational injuries anddiseases by providing a framework toimprove employee safety, reduceworkplace risks and create better, saferworking conditions.

One reason for Egbin Power Plc’simpressive safety record is in itsstrong management commitment anddedicated team. The company makessure that there is always an upcomingfun event so the entire team hassomething to look forward to andlearn from.

Reprinted with permission from HSENations, Nigeria. www.hsenations.com

Five years EXCELLENT SAFETY record

Award presentation for best compliancestaff members

Daily departmental tool box meetings

Monthly health walk for employees’fitness


••

Kadiri Shamusideen, MobilisationDirector of the Safety Advocacyand Empowerment Foundation

NGO, was recently in Germany tohand over an award to Dr KemperGrgor, Director of internationaloperations DGUV and Prof JoacimBreuer, DG/CEO DGUV/ PresidentISSA.

The award was presented for theirinterest and development of OSH inNigeria. This picture is taken at theoffices of DGUV Germany.

The Safety First Association wasestablished in 1932 at the requestof Sir Ernest Oppenheimer to

educate employers and employees ofthe burgeoning mining industry onthe importance of safety.

Over and above on-the-job-safety,the association soon became amouthpiece for safety on the roads aswell. This was a growing problemwith the rapid increase of the motorvehicle population. Pedestrians whowere used to horses and horse drawnvehicles now had to share the roadswith vehicles and buses.

Things that we take for grantedtoday, were foreign in those days -such as being taught tolook left, rightand left againwhen crossingroads.

Drivers had tolearn about safedriving practices -they needed to beaware ofpedestrians, othercars and animalswhile driving.

To encourageroad safety theSFA introduceda “safe drivingscheme” wherethe winners andparticipants wereawarded certificates,diplomas and gold bars.

The trolley buses were powered byelectricity from overhead powercables, so the driver had to stay in thelane, if he strayed just a little offcourse, the connectors woulddisconnect from the supply and thebus would stop.

We recently received thesecertificates and medals from JohanTaljaard whose father was a tram andtrolley bus driver during the 1940s,and was awarded these from the SFAfor his safe driving practices.

The certificates were awarded forevery 3 years of accident-free driving -all in all the certificates show that hehad 9 years of accident-free driving.

ON-THE-ROAD-SAFETY during the ’40s

Development of OSH in Nigeria


contents · 2019. 5. 22. · statement contained in this magazine. whilst every effort is made to...

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