Electricity and Control July 2024

FEATURES: · Control systems + automation · Drives, motors + switchgear · Measurement + instrumentation · Safety of plant, equipment + people

COMMENT

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT

People are central to all that we do

energy + information in industry

O f course one cannot predict the future, but I do find myself reflecting on the resilience of the country we live in and the fact that there seems always to be a ray of light at the end of a long, long tunnel. I speak naturally of the political situation in the country right now, and how deftly it has been managed. There is evidence of significant maturity being shown by most of our politicians. This must be lauded. And it must surely be an indication of a more stable future to come? As it is inappropriate to discuss politics in this comment, I will leave it there. But the fact of the matter is that it is at the political level that policy is established, and that policy has profound impacts on our economy – by virtue of the bearing it has on all our enterprises. So, let’s imagine a positive future. This also reminds us that people are central to all that we do. We speak about control and automation, artificial intelligence – and the like, so we often think about the replacement of human labour and even intellect in what we do. But ultimately, it is for people that we deliver a service or produce a product. Quite how we produce it is, of course, a matter of efficiency – how best to do it. People are the beneficiaries of all our endeavours – even if at times that objective may seem a bit obscure. One of the features in Electricity + Control this month is Safety of plant, equipment and people. This focus on people is crucial – and core to all that we do. Very often issues of safety are reduced to tick boxes or meaningless exercises that benefit no one. However, taken seriously, safety can not only improve the wellbeing of employees – but also contribute to improved efficiency on your plant. How often has one had to complete a

simple questionnaire that effectively allows you access to a (potentially) dangerous plant? Here, it is not really your competence that is being assessed, but rather a confirmation that the process was followed. Often one finds that safety is an ‘office’ – rather than being a culture within an organisation. Practically, there are numerous exam ples of where safety systems have been by passed simply to ensure production does not stop. The consequences can be catastrophic. And the question is: why did anyone even think of doing that? Well, this month we appeal to you never to lose sight of the fact that no matter how you view safety at your plant, it is the human element that is absolutely fundamental. The challenge is to inculcate a culture of safety through which employees are equipped and empowered to identify and proffer solutions to safety issues. Of course there are many remarkable systems that support a culture of safety: fail-safe systems, light curtains, carefully designed mechanisms requiring operators to engage them in a way that automatically makes it extremely difficult to be hurt or cause harm. But at the essence of your plant, safety must be a culture – a culture endorsed by all employees – where care for people and care for the plant are core. Safety systems and processes must be conscious interventions that really work – that are developed with input from the people whom they are meant to protect – and that are understood and maintained at every level by all the people on the plant.

Editor: Leigh Darroll Design & Layout: Darryl James Advertising Manager: Paul Engelbrecht Circulation: Karen Smith Editorial Technical Director: Ian Jandrell Publisher: Karen Grant Deputy Publisher: Wilhelm du Plessis The technology and benefits of HV battery energy storage systems have evolved to make them applicable and scalable across sectors, providing energy security in industrial, commercial and utility settings. (Read more on page 3.)

Audited circulation Quarter 1 (Jan-March) 2024 Total print and e-editions 10 571

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CROSS PLATFORM CONTENT INTEGRATION: * Electricity+Control Magazine * Online Edition * Weekly e-Newsletter * Website* LinkedIn

Electricity+Control is supported by

Ian Jandrell PrEng IntPE(SA), BSc(Eng) GDE PhD, FSAAE FSAIEE SMIEEE

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher, the editor, SAAEs, SAEE, CESA or the Copper Development Association Africa

JULY 2024 Electricity + Control

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