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Health and Safety

Alcohol Breathalysers

18th January 2022 Alcohol Breathalysers was established in 2004 with the aim to make reliable, affordable and accurate digital breathalysers available to ensure that all businesses and individuals can gain access to alcohol testing equipment. The company offers the widest range of alcohol testers available in... →

New safety learning programme launched

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Safety training solutions provider KBC Health & Safety introduced its microlearning training programme for employees in July this year. “We developed the microlearning training to focus on high-risk work areas . . . hazards and controls to avoid incidents from occurring,” explains KBC Health &... →

KBC Health and Safety innovation manager

NATALIE PITOUT Every module covers one topic; the duration of an online module spans about 15 to 20 minutes and the microlearning flash videos about two minutes

PPE designed for women now more accessible

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Owing to the rise of female employees in sectors such as construction, mining and engineering, which were previously male dominated, personal protective equipment (PPE) brands are looking at offering safety wear specifically for women. Catering for women in these sectors will require companies to... →

Drug testing dipped during pandemic

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Breathalyser and drug testing equipment supplier ALCO-Safe has noticed a trend over the past 12 months, during which a number of companies discontinued drug testing and testing that requires breathalysers. This is because people are working from home (WFH) and, consequently, fewer people are... →

RHYS EVANS The enclosures allow for proper physical distancing

Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Owing to the latest guidelines provided by the Department of Employment and Labour, which stipulates that Covid-19 vaccinations can be made mandatory by employers, companies would need to update their policies and procedures to ensure that they comply with the guidelines, which correspond with... →

Digital Cloud base solution manage remote breath alcohol testing

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 17th September 2021 Breathalyser specialist Alcohol Breathalysers is in the early stages of rolling out its iSober Breathalyser App & Cloud Service which is a breath alcohol test management tool and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Huawei App Gallery. This application (app) is a new... →

CONNECTIVITY Employees use their smartphone to connect to the app using Bluetooth

Company ready for Covid-19 medical waste surge

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 21st May 2021 Waste and recycling company Averda says it has treated more than 600 000 kg of Covid-19 waste in January this year. “This represents a significant increase in the volume of medical waste, compared with those of previous months. Only a month prior, in December 2020, at the peak of the second wave,... →

KEEP IT CLEAN Averda, which has extensive medical waste treatment facilities located in City Deep Johannesburg, Klerksdorp, George and Killarney Gardens has made provision for the possible third Covid-19 wave

Company achieves zero harm operations

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 21st May 2021 Drilling technology and services provider Rosond celebrated a year of zero-harm operations last month with 263 employees across six different mining operations in Carletonville, Gauteng. The company achieved this through its hazard identification and risk assessment (HIRA), which forms the basis... →

NO HARM Rosond celebrated a year of zero-harm operations last month through its hazard identification and risk assessmen

Company brings evolution to PPE

21st May 2021 As South Africa’s premier supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE), G.Fox continuously strives to break new ground and offer the very best “fit for purpose” products to their customers. This ethos is embodied in their new brand of EVOLUTION and CUTGUARD gloves and EVOLUTION masks amongst... →

TOUGH AND RUGGED Designed and tested for safety, comfort and endurance, these gloves provide maximum hand protection and durability in the most rugged and physically challenging work conditions

Safety critical to ensuring ‘solid business case’ for projects

By: Simone Liedtke 21st May 2021 Safety excellence is not separate from construction or operational excellence – a safe site avoids the cost of incidents and improves personnel’s motivation and the company’s relationships with clients, thereby forming a “solid business case” for a project, says South Africa-based contractor... →

CRAIG LAWRENCE
The Covid-19 pandemic has added a layer of difficulty to focusing on safety

Concor’s Craig Lawrence talks about the company’s health and safety approach and protocols

Get your Employees Home Safely

21st May 2021 Safety is everything, to everyone. This statement is never truer within the mining community. Mining houses are completely safety driven and are founded on the principles of eliminating fatalities, providing a safe working environment and putting employee safety first. →

Fugitive dust reduced on mine haulage roads

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 21st May 2021 Owing to the dust emissions generated on mine haulage roads and the growing health concerns associated with Covid-19, environmental management company I-CAT has developed the GreenBit dust-suppression solution. The water-soluble and easy-to-apply product improves tyre grip while reducing the need... →

LESS DUST I-CAT manufacturing plant

New app tracks, assesses driver behaviour

By: Theresa Bhowan-Rajah 21st May 2021 Telematics tracking solutions provider MiX Telematics has developed the MyMiX Tracking app to track and assess driver behaviour without the need for embedded hardware. MyMiX Tracking leverages mobile phone technology to enable real-time tracking of drivers while also recording, measuring and... →

HENRY SMITH The MyMiX app increases driver accountability through the monitoring of drivers

Breathalyser tests should be adapted, not cancelled

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 The misconceptions regarding the potential hygiene risks associated with alcohol breathalyser tests can have a significant negative impact on affected industries, since the safety of staff and expensive equipment can be compromised by intoxicated workers, says alcohol breathalyser and drug... →

RHYS EVANS Lives can be saved and accidents can be avoided if proper alcohol testing continues to be implemented

Covid-19 outbreak delays launch of dust suppression system

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 Environmental solutions company I-CAT intended to launch a new dust suppression system earlier this year but there were many delays owing to the national lockdown, says I-CAT director Lourens Jansen van Rensburg. “While the Covid-19 national lockdown halted many mining operations, the outbreak... →

A MIST OPPORTUNITY I-CAT’s new misting system launch was delayed because of Covid-19, but the company aims to launch it before the end of the year

Acquisition ensures increased OHS offering

By: Darren Parker 18th September 2020 Facilities management services provider Afroteq Advisory, a subsidiary of holding company AFMS Group, expanded its service offering in the occupational health and safety (OHS) sector by acquiring OHS service provider OHS Africa. Acquired in May this year, the new division, OHSAfroteq, forms part... →

Photo by Adobe
A HEALTHY OUTCOME Covid-19 has put health and safety in the workplace at the top of the agenda

Correct policies, equipment vital for substance testing

By: Mc'Kyla Nortje 7th February 2020 Without the correct drug-testing policies and correct testing equipment in place, companies can face serious legal implications, warns workplace testing company ALCO-Safe MD Rhys Evans, adding that these policies serve as guidelines for employees and employers. “Having policies in place ensures... →

WELL INFORMED Policies ensure employees understand the drug-testing equipment better and eliminate misconceptions

Employment services assist facilities go digital

7th February 2020 Temporary employment services (TES) provide the missing link in helping healthcare facilities on their journey to digital transformation, says information and communication technology company T-Systems South Africa operational excellence manager Theresa Ackerman. Healthcare costs continue to... →

Devices assist to combat sick building syndrome

7th February 2020 Monitoring devices that are able to detect high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been introduced to the local market to help detect poor air quality that can lead to sick building syndrome. Sick building syndrome refers to the condition affecting office workers, typically marked by headaches... →

NO PLACE TO HIDE The devices allows operators to easily monitor carbon dioxide levels

Sprinklers and ventilation systems must work in harmony

By: Tracy Hancock 20th September 2019 Sprinkler and ventilation systems are essential parts of a building’s fire-protection system and need to operate in harmony with each other to ensure its holistic operation, says fire risk management company ASP Fire CEO Michael van Niekerk. “Many people don’t understand the value of employing... →

SAFETY IN HARMONY Sprinkler and ventilation systems need to work together to preserve life, as well as the building they protect

Economic difficulties creating OHS challenges in South Africa

By: Tracy Hancock 20th September 2019 South Africa continues to have a high injury-on-duty rate despite its advanced occupational health and safety (OHS) legislation and regulations, and adoption of best international practices, says industry body South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh) president Sanjay... →

ZERO HARM QUESTIONED Is zero harm possible, considering the complexities and varying risks associated with different industries?

Health and safety practitioners need tech roadmap

By: Tracy Hancock 20th September 2019 Health and safety practitioners need to develop a technology roadmap to provide a foundation for planning aspects of safety that support technological advancements, says Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) director-general Thobile Lamati. “The roadmap will allow for the expansion or... →

SAFETY EVOLUTION Occupational health and safety practitioners need to become more familiar with emerging technologies to support safety efforts

Collision solution complements operator activities

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 8th February 2019 Since the launch of its fourth-generation MineAlert collision awareness system (CAS), the core focus of industry leader in fleet management technology in mining, Modular Mining Systems, Inc. (MMSI) is to ensure that the collision awareness solution mitigates false alarms while continuing to... →

Know how to choose quality PPE and workwear

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 8th February 2019 Personal protective equipment supplier, Dromex has launched a specialised range for arc protection, which includes Arc Workwear and includes a 51 Cal rated Suit, Arc Visors, an Arc Hard Hat and Arc Gloves, Kimi Gas Escape Mask, Denim Conti Suits and a flat fold respirator tailored for women and... →

PROTECTIVE GEAR Companies should ask suppliers for a copy of certifications when purchasing products with specific standards

Latest technology improves clients’ on-boarding experience

By: Khutso Maphatsoe 8th February 2019 Next month cloud-based platform company Passport 360 will release the latest version of its Passport 360 application (app), which incorporates the latest robotic process automation technology to improve the platform and assist clients to on-board even faster. What exactly does the app do? →

Appropriate measures, equipment emphasised to ensure safety

By: Tasneem Bulbulia 21st September 2018 Owing to the prevalence of dangers whilst working in confined spaces, it is imperative that companies implement proper measures to ensure safety at all times. This was the message conveyed at multinational company 3M’s Fall Protection – Confined Spaces workshop, held last month at 3M’s offices in... →

PERILOUS ENVIRONMENT Occupational health and safety when working in a confined space is a pertinent issue, as it is a feature at most work sites, spanning all industrial sectors

Plastic pallets championed in factories

21st September 2018 The use of wooden plastic pallets when considering the health and safety issues at factories is one of the most important decisions for managements, according to plastic pallets distributer Premier Pallets. The balancing act of juggling costs, “green conscience” regarding recyclability of company... →

Culture imperative in facilitating safe workplaces

21st September 2018 Creating a safe working environment is a complex issue and requires a concerted effort by all stakeholders over a sustained period of time, posits cement, lime and related products supplier PPC technical and lime executive Hardie de Beer. “It is this understanding that is at the core of PPC’s... →

SAFE APPROACH
While there is no single formula for creating a safe workplace, there are certain basic principles that can be adapted to create an all-important safety culture

Photo by Bloomberg
SAFE APPROACH While there is no single formula for creating a safe workplace, there are certain basic principles that can be adapted to create an all-important safety culture

Rational fire design solutions championed

21st September 2018 It is imperative for buildings to be designed to allow for safe escape and the control of fire and smoke, as a minor design flaw could potentially put people, equipment and property at risk. For example, inhaling five breaths in a smoke filled room can lead to death. →

FIRE RISKS The three main causes of fire are electrical, arson and heating equipment

Lack of communication impacts on safety

By: Paige Müller 9th February 2018 Many large companies typically do not have the required technology or resources available to adequately communicate with lower-level staff, which software company Wyzetalk believes affects industry health and safety negatively. “Organisations provide a corporate email address for executives and... →

GYSBERT KAPPERS Constant health and safety communications result in safety practices becoming habitual in an organisation

Employees electing not to join medical aid schemes a concern

By: Paige Müller 9th February 2018 Construction and civil engineering industry professionals are reluctant to join medical aid schemes, citing monetary concerns as a primary deterrent. The Building and Construction Industry Medical Aid Fund (BCIMA) states that this is a concerning trend, given the number of work-related injuries... →

THE MEDICAL AID OF CHOICE The Building and Construction Industry Medical Aid Fund was elected the industry fund of choice by the Bargaining Council for the Civil Engineering Industry

Fire suppression technology improves industrial kitchen safety

9th February 2018 Electric and gas operated equipment in kitchens, which uses large amounts of flammable ingredients, is susceptible to ignition and a fire break out, says protective fire equipment provider Centa Group chairperson Duncan Boyes. “Cooking oils have high ignition temperatures and spontaneously... →

F-CLASS FIRE KITCHEN SYSTEM Designed for kitchen areas in hotels, restaurants and public institutions

Saliva drug testing growing in popularity

By: Paige Müller 9th February 2018 Since establishing that antiretrovirals (ARVs) cause positive cross-reactions during employee drug testing, saliva testing methods, which circumvent cross-reaction issues, have drastically increased in popularity, says Pretoria-based drug and alcohol testing equipment and accessories company... →

Untrustworthy PPE leads to higher injury rates

By: Paige Müller 9th February 2018 Companies buying personal protective equipment (PPE) without conducting adequate market research on vendors and the products supplied may result in more harm than good, says labour, financial assistance, broad-based black economic empowerment and PPE outsourcing company Innovative Solutions Group... →

A GROWING INDUSTRY The personal protective equipment industry had a turnover of about R57-million over the last financial quarter of 2017 and an 11% turnover increase from 2016 to 2017

Cooling vest reduces industrial heat stress

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd September 2017 Staff exposed to hot environments, in combination with doing arduous work and wearing multi-layered protective clothing, such as firefighters, may suffer thermal physiological strain, says water jet cutting company Total Blasting, which is the South African distributing agent for Sweden-based... →

JUST CHILL TST Sweden’s cooling vest consists of nontoxic, nonflammable compound blends of salts, which are known to be an effective ingredient for temperature regulation

New global standard for workplace health and safety, company proves compliance

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd September 2017 The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) will announce the next stage in development of its ISO 45001 health and safety standard later this month. Companies across various industries globally are required to comply with ISO standards before operation starts. →

UP TO STANDARD Interwaste implements solutions such as fully automated shredding technology and baling machines to assist in achieving optimal workplace safety

Platform ensures more effective communication

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd September 2017 With ineffective communication often affecting the level of health and safety implementation and efficiency in industries that have stringent safety requirements, software company Wyzetalk provides more effective communication for such industries. →

CUSTOMISED ENGAGEMENT Wyzetalk can deliver content that is valuable for both the employer and the employee

Upgraded zero-tolerance device ensures safety across industries

By: Marleny Arnoldi 22nd September 2017 Alcohol testing equipment supplier Alco-Safe launched its Lion Alcoblow Rapid Test breathalyser, which has received a technology upgrade, last month. A built-in wireless transmitter now enables the device to wirelessly activate a receiver-enabled entryway, granting or denying access based on a... →

ACCESS DENIED Depending on the alcohol test result, Alco-Safe’s wireless transmitter technology determines whether employees or visitors are allowed access on site

Editorial Insight

Urgent solution needed

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Dean Thompson

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DUSTBIN OF HISTORY

South Africa simply cannot afford a repeat of 2021 this year. Further delays in dealing with the country’s big problems of load-shedding, economic and social crime, vaccine hesitancy and, most worryingly, a growth rate that is too low to make a dent into chronic unemployment will set the scene for the type of deadly instability that gripped the country in July last year. Decisive policymaking and diligent implementation are the only ways to confine 2021 to the dustbin of history.

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