WINNING
The operational audit entails going through facility and checking the plants, machines and
work areas.
running for a minimum of eight to nine
hours. To remain focused on ‘minutia’
through such an extended period is no
easy task, and requires a painstaking
level of precision and an exact eye for
detail. This is particularly important given
that the audit focuses specifically on the
areas for which Department of Mineral
Resources (DMR) inspectors will issue
Section 54 or Section 55 notices.
The purpose of these audits is not to
catch the member operations out – to tick
boxes and find non-conformances – van
Deventer explains, but rather to assist
and train them. “We aim to examine the
operating conditions and the processes
and procedures in use at the operation,”
he says, “and to highlight any potential
problem areas, particularly those that the
DMR may focus on when coming in to
do an inspection. Our primary focus is
on legal compliance, and the overall goal
is to ensure that the operations maintain
the highest health and safety standards
for their workforce, as Aspasa member
companies.”
The audits also present a leaning
opportunity for those involved, as well as
a chance to share knowledge, experience
and even innovation within the industry
22 _ QUARRY SA | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
in the areas of health and safety.
Van Deventer also brings to bear his
significant experience in this area, and
highlights findings and comments from
inspectors at other operations throughout
the country to inform quarry operators
about particular focus areas, as well as
changes and issues in both the industry as
a whole and the particular region in which
the quarry is situated. This is because the
focus areas – and even the interpretation
of specific laws or regulations – can differ
significantly from region to region, and
even from inspector to inspector within
the same region.
The audit document itself is in line
with the latest legislation, and is updated
as new legislation or amendments are
promulgated, and the actual audit covers
everything from proper use of personal
protective equipment (PPE) to high-level
operational concerns. The scoring and
weighting of the various sections was
discussed in detail by industry members
to arrive at a final document that is
representative of the audit’s aims.
To gain a better understanding of
exactly what the audit entails, as well as the
context in which it takes place, I attended
a meeting of Aspasa’s Health and Safety
Committee, where matters affecting this
area were discussed, prior to attending the
audit. The committee also went through
the ISHE audit document used for the
health and safety audits to discuss issues
that had been raised throughout the year,
and to decide on any changes to be made
for 2018. One of the key issues raised was
the manner in which continuous, year-
on-year improvement can be measured
against an ever-changing audit document.
It was also pointed out that the audit day
can be registered as part of the operation’s
in-house training for those who attend.
Such a day allows for a great opportunity
for young and new staff to participate in
a new learning experience. Companies
should use this to the fullest.
In addition to the audit results to date
and the audit document itself, among the
issues discussed at the Health and Safety
Committee meeting were regulations
surrounding trackless mobile machinery
(TMM) and collision avoidance systems
(CAS) and proximity detection systems
(PDS); actual and upcoming changes to
legislation and regulations; codes of practice;
fatigue management; and the regional
tripartite forums, as well as commonly
occurring issues throughout the industry.