SAFETY PROFESSIONALS IN THE QUARRY INDUSTRY

INTRODUCTION
Aspasa with its ISHE 18001 Health and Safety Audits have found that there is a scarcity of skills in the Occupational Health & Safety discipline in the industry.

The training of safety offices would help and Aspasa in conjunction with the IOQ (Institute of Quarrying) is looking at this.

The Chamber of Mines with its Zero Harm program is also dealing with this problem.

Some big companies in the mining industry do a great deal of development of safety offices.

The registration of safety professional is also something that should be considered by the Aggregate and Sand industry.

Some Recommendations
The recommended approach is that a standardised training and development program for safety professionals (which will include safety officers) be established and maintained.

Experience has shown that current academic models often seriously lack implementation and application skills, and as such, many service providers in the field of Occupational Health and Safety, has come up with development programmes in this regard which addresses not only technical knowledge and skill, but also look at application of this knowledge and skills in the specific industries.  A generalised approach simply does not cut it, industry requirements must be considered when it comes to application of the science, something that most academic institutions currently does not see as part of their educational process.

Safety Management is an intensive and highly focused discipline.  Safety professionals are required to give specialised guidance to management in order to mitigate the liabilities and risks associated to the business.

Issues to be covered in developing Safety Manager
It must be noted that different companies will refer to the job titles below differently and thus assign different grades for each, e.g. Safety Officer, Safety Advisor, Safety Manager, Risk Manager, etc.

Safety Coordinator

• Conducting HIRA
• Conducting legally required workplace inspections
• Monitoring safety
• Executing initial emergency response
• Executing first line first aid and fire fighting
• Conducting minor incident investigations
• Participating and supporting major incident investigations
• Assisting with the implementation of safety drives and campaigns.
• Preparing for and participating in safety audits
• Conducting task observations
• Inputting data into the safety systems
• Developing and implementing safety audits schedules

Safety Practioner

• Conducting systematic safety audits – evaluate compliance
• Coordinating and ensuring effective functioning of the Health and Safety committees
• Supervising safety subordinates
• Analysing of leading and lagging safety indicators
• Ensuring compliance by employees and contractors
• Developing and implements safety awareness campaigns and drives
• Conducting in-house safety training
• Developing in-house safety training tools and material
• Advising the organisation on safety issues and international best practices
• Assisting in the development of Standard operating procedures
• Participating in the development and design of safety system
• Monitors organisational emergency preparedness
• Supporting the Coordination of organisational emergency response
• Identifying the needs for occupational hygiene surveys and interventions
• Possessing legal documentation and maintaining required safety records

Safety Professional

• Reporting to the executive regarding safety management
• Executing executive level decision making regarding organisational safety issues
• Reviewing and improving the safety system
• Developing overall organisational safety training program
• Analysing safety indicators and implement corrective actions
• Conducting safety research and develop best practices
• Ensuring appropriate organisational safety culture
• Managing the safety function
• Managing emergency situation and Facilitates business continuity
• Participating in organisational projects to ensure application of safety standards.
• Evaluating and ensuring legal compliance for all safety aspects
• Signing off on all changes to the use of technology, work processes and system regarding the safety aspects.

IN CONCLUSION
Aspasa with its audits would recommend that Safety Officials sit in on the audits and thereby gain experience in what is required.

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