Introducing a new level of precision and control to the issuing of Personal Protective Equipment at Samancor Western Chrome Mine in Rustenburg, Select PPE has commenced, as of February 2014, a three-year contract to supply, monitor and dispose of the site’s PPE requirements. Select PPE’s issuing matrix monitors the use and lifecycle of every PPE item distributed on site, allowing the mine to prove, verify, and thus enhance, its safety compliance in terms of the MHSA, while minimising equipment waste and abuse for lower capital expenditure.

Select PPE provides partnership-based management solutions for the procurement, issuing and monitoring of PPE. Equipment decisions, specifying the type and frequency of PPE dispersal per occupation, are formalised between the mine’s management, employee and safety representatives, in consultation with Select PPE’s site hygienists, establishing a code of practice. The resulting Issuing Protocol provides the basis upon which PPE is issued according to occupation. With a stock inventory of over 7 000 PPE items, Select PPE offers clients equipment alternatives for trial, the adoption of which is decided by the aforementioned sites standards committee.

The IP is exercised through an automated, electronic card matrix logging PPE transactions at the customer’s on-site equipment satellite store. Select PPE presents these item transactions to its customers as comprehensive monthly reports, describing each line item’s record of usage. By ensuring its over 5 200 employees are consistently wearing the right PPE for the job through the matrix, delivering the highest levels of personal equipment safety as prescribed by the MHSA, Samancor Western Chrome Mine is indemnified in the event of an accident, as its issuing records reflect whether the correct PPE was disbursed beforehand, reducing the scope for contestation. This detailed monitoring of PPE usage also allows Samancor to ensure that it is being utilised according to manufacturer specifications; reduce waste and abuse; or isolate and eliminate less effective protective equipment.

Seamless operational handover
In aiming to improve process efficiency, one of the biggest concerns for site and safety managers is always ensuring uninterrupted access to the required PPE during the initial handover period.

“The biggest concern on our behalf was ensuring that the initial integration of an outsourced PPE supplier was smooth and did not prevent site employees from obtaining their required PPE. However, the Select PPE team consulted extensively with us in advance to ensure that the changeover was seamless,” explains Heather Fleming, Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Manager for Samancor Western Chrome Mine. In addition, Select PPE acquired Samancor Western Chrome Mine’s existing PPE stock, ensuring it would be utilised, and was not a wasted company expense.

Benefits that reduce risk
“There are many benefits of a more automated protocol for PPE issue,” Fleming explains. “Apart from projected capital savings, enhanced employee safety and a sounder legal framework for operations, with the introduction of the new Waste Act of 2013, monitoring the disposal of used PPE is more important than ever. Select PPE aids us in reducing our risk in this regard. With mine owners being held responsible for equipment from ‘cradle-to-grave’, Select PPE’s disposal of discarded PPE in an appropriate manner according to environmental regulations is an important function.” The company’s environmentally-compliant disposal of discarded PPE is done on an exchange basis with site employees; ensuring equipment is not discarded on site. “Outsourcing our PPE also ensures a higher standard of equipment due to tighter, more controlled procurement procedures that are fully monitored by Select PPE,” Fleming adds.

A first for women
Select PPE also provides the full range of PPE for female site employees. Well-fitting equipment is vital to its protective potential, and reduces undesired application interference, thus increasing both safety and productivity. Select PPE is one of only a handful of suppliers of female PPE, providing specialised equipment and clothing. Select PPE is a B-BBEE partner with the Mineworkers’ Investment Company, as a level four contributor.