Cradle to grave
Osborn expands footprint in Northern Cape
Mining and quarrying equipment manufacturer Osborn has secured an R8.5-million order to supply a range of its high-quality machines to a new manganese mine in the Northern Cape .
Product sales manager Francois Scott says that this order and the region are significant to Osborn . “ The highest concentration of Osborn equipment anywhere in South Africa can be found in the Northern Cape , where our high-performance machines dominate the region ’ s manganese , iron ore , and diamond mines . We are delighted to be growing our footprint in this area and , at the same time , forging an important new partnership with Met63 , a supplier of advanced modular process plants to the mining industry .”
Scott explains that Osborn will supply Met63 with an Osborn Telsmith 36 × 16 vibrating feeder , an Osborn Telsmith 25 × 40 jaw crusher , an Osborn modular Telsmith 38 SBS gyrasphere crusher , and an Osborn modular 16 × 20 double-deck screen for the new Sebilo Resources ’ manganese mine in Hotazel . The Osborn machines will be employed in a new fixed plant that Met63 has designed to replace mobile crushing equipment .
The Osborn equipment will all be shipped by road from the company ’ s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Elandsfontein , Gauteng . “ The heaviest machines in the order — the 21t Osborn Telsmith 25 × 40 jaw crusher and the Osborn modular units — are innovatively designed so that they can be stripped and fitted into a container . This means that they can be shipped with ease by normal road freight and rapidly erected as soon as they arrive at the site in the Northern Cape ,” Scott reveals .
Prepare better for strike action
In the run-up to the 2019 elections in South Africa , striking action will become increasingly damaging , dangerous , and costly . According to Jacki Condon , managing director of Apache Security Services , organisations facing strike action must prepare better , and ensure that both their people and property are protected . “ During labour unrest , real , strategic protection must be established to prevent vandalism , physical assault , property invasion , and intimidation ,” says Condon .
In an increasingly hostile environment , it is essential that strike control teams comprise qualified experts , including operatives with expertise in hostile environment recording . “ It is essential that hostile situations are recorded . In the heat of the moment , witnesses lose perspective and the specific details are often forgotten amid the adrenaline and panic ,” adds Condon . “ Video recordings will capture those forgotten details , providing evidence against those that break the law . This ensures that the criminals can be held accountable .”
Close protection operatives ( CPOs ) assigned to strike action management must have the highest level of experience in conflict . These CPOs must have the ability to focus on protecting staff , service providers , property , and the business ’ s reputation , even when surrounded by chaos .
Condon concludes with the nine key elements to effective strike protection . “ Counter-strike protection services must include crowd control teams . Specialist employee protection is required , especially to protect those who choose not to participate in the strike . When the organisation is at loggerheads with striking staff , executives often become the target of the strikers ’ rage . For this reason , executive protection is essential . The strike must be monitored by video and drone footage , and perimeter protection must be secured timeously . The strategy must include hostile environment risk management and respondents must be qualified to administer immediate emergency care if it becomes necessary ( first aid ). CPOs must be prepared to testify and / or present evidence in hearings after the fact . Lastly , undercover infiltration is crucial to getting the inside scoop , and preventing disasters before they occur .”
Apache Security Services
Strikes in South Africa are becoming more violent and dangerous in the run-up to the 2019 elections .
[ 32 ] MINING MIRROR OCTOBER 2018