The Civil Engineering Contractor May 2019 | Page 32

PROFILE
In the right places
at the right times
By Eamonn Ryan
Kobus van Wyngaardt (33) has been appointed the new SAFCEC national advisor: SHERQ
with effect from 1 February, bringing considerable experience and qualifications to the role.
He holds a master’s degree in management of technology and innovation within business
management from the Da Vinci Institute, completed in 2017.
H
30 | CEC May 2019
reduction programme for construction
projects, which improves aspects such
as safety performance through the
enhancement of leadership, culture,
behaviour, attitude, and the physical
environment. This achievement speaks to
his personal mantra of ‘Through creativity
and innovation, the problems of today
become the opportunities of tomorrow’.
Steph
Swanepoel,
SAFCEC
national manager: Marketing &
Communications, says: “Team SAFCEC
welcome Kobus into the SAFCEC
Advisory Services fold. We are certain
that in his role as SAFCEC’s national
advisor: SHERQ, his aspiration to
ensure that the industry reduces all
aspects of risk will be achieved through
is journey in the field of
health and safety began
in 2006 when he was
appointed as a safety officer at a
mining project undertaken by
Aveng Grinaker-LTA Earthworks
Engineering in Middelburg, followed
by various other projects around
the country, such as the 2010 FIFA
Soccer World Cup stadia; the Eskom
Ingula Pumped Storage Scheme; as
well as the designated SHE manager
for contracts under Sanral’s Gauteng
Freeway Improvement Project. Van
Wyngaardt was appointed as the
divisional SHE manager for Aveng
Grinaker-LTA Rand Roads where
he oversaw all SHE-related aspects,
prior to moving to the Mechanical
& Electrical division as the SHE
manager on projects including the
Glencore Mine project and Eskom
Kusile Power Station project. The
latter position included assisting with
the development and implementation
of risk reduction programmes within
Aveng Grinaker-LTA, assisting in the
development and implementation
of mechanical and electrical SHE
management systems.
His need to gain a better understanding
of the role that SHERQ implementation
and management plays in the
construction sector has seen him actively
seeking out roles in civils, roadworks,
earthworks, manufacturing, and building.
While obtaining this qualification,
he simultaneously developed a risk
Kobus van Wyngaardt, SAFCEC national advisor: SHERQ.
www.civilsonline.co.za