DQS-certified for ISO 9001 for the restricted scope
Provision of multi-disciplinary engineering, construction, project & programme management and project finance services for the chemical, mining, metallurgical and industrial markets in South Africa.
Safety First for Woman at TGL
22 February 2010
Mining and construction are both worlds that are traditionally
male-dominated, yet a female SHEQ officer at Thuthuka Group Limited (TGL) is
overseeing one of the most important jobs on site at one of South Africa's
leading platinum mines.
TGL's Olivia de Klerk is the SHEQ officer at Boynton Platinum's Pilanesberg
Mine, located some 60 km north-west of Rustenburg. Before joining TGL, De
Klerk gained extensive experience with several SHEQ consulting firms and
also worked as the safety officer on two mines, so she is well qualified to
ensure that the projects at Boynton are fully compliant with the strict
safety legislation pertaining to mines.
TGL has been appointed to carry out three major projects for the mine since
2008: the construction of a 30 km steel water pipeline; construction of a 35
megalitre domed reservoir; and construction of a 10 MVA power plant. TGL was
additionally awarded the safety appointment on all three of these projects,
offering as it does a comprehensive service to its customers, which saved
the client from having to find a third party SHEQ provider.
De Klerk explains, "We start with the initial risk assessments, we train our
sub-contractors' employees and oversee management of the safety system. We
have a safety representative on site at all times and I visit the site
weekly to meet with the mine's safety officer and TGL's safety
representative. I also carry out my own inspections to make sure that
everything is compliant with safety legislation."
One of the biggest challenges at this particular site, according to De
Klerk, is having to incorporate the safety systems for construction into the
much more stringent safety procedures laid down for mines, as TGL is
basically operating three construction sites within the mine. The mine's
safety record is affected by that of its sub-contractors - such as TGL - and
the mine's incident-free man hours rating can be affected if
sub-contractors don't adhere to strict safety procedures.
Boynton is in the process of implementing ISO standards, which means that
future sub-contractors on site will have to be similarly certified. "TGL
already has ISO 9001 certification in place so is well placed to carry out
current and future contracts for the mine," concludes De Klerk.
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