Modern Quarrying April-May 2016

SPOTLIGHT ON BRICKMAKING REGULAR UPDATE ASPASA

Manufacturing, stating that we are not mining. Then in terms of the commission looking into all mining legislation, again we submitted an opinion and explained the situation. All of these submissions have cost Aspasa a great amount of money, but it seems as if we have made progress.” At the time of writing, SARS was holding meet- ings in various centres to share its proposed log- book system, with emphasis placed on storage and usage logbooks. The follow up to these meetings will be available on the website. There are also several best practice papers on the Aspasa website, including one on contractor safety in quarries. “Aspasa members are commit- ted to giving contractor safety equal priority to that of employee safety,” Pienaar says. “While our contractors are always responsible for their own safety, we now commit to setting an example for the safety management through our own activi- ties and contractor management. We believe that this can be achieved by implementing these best practice guidelines, which will help reduce fatalities through a greater emphasis on safety on contract management.” The primary focus of the document relates to large-scale quarry operations; however Pienaar says the same basic best practice principals apply to small-scale contracts in readymix, aggregates, asphalt roadbuilding or other activities, with an implementation scope proportionate to the lower degree of risk involved in these latter cases. “The best practice should appropriately applied to all types of contracts,” he says. Another guideline on the website is the work- place inspection and hazard identification checklist, which assists in identifying workplace hazards and in preventing injuries and incidents. This invaluable document includes a 60-page prompt list which enables easy hazard identification and actions taken. While Aspasa deals with the ‘softer’ issues in terms of caring for the environment and the social responsibility of its members, it is a tough cam- paigner for the rights of its members.“While it is our role to unite the industry, it is also our responsibility to guard against collusion and discourage compet- itive behavior,” Pienaar says, adding that Aspasa’s aim is for its members to be honest and upstanding operators. www.aspasa.co.za

Report and photographs by Dale Kelly, unless otherwise accredited.

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MODERN QUARRYING

April - May 2016