Modern Quarrying July-August 2016

SPOTLIGHT ON BRICKMAKING REGULAR UPDATE ASPASA

About Face 2016 mid-year report Giving an overview of this year’s audit to date, Aspasa’s About Face auditor Alan Cluett says 50 audits have been con- ducted to the end of June with some 60 scheduled between now and November. “Seven operations have, for various rea- sons, withdrawn and requested post- ponement to a later date during the year. To date, audit results confirm continued environmental performance improve- ment across the auditees – this despite more difficult economic trading condi- tions experienced in most markets.” The About Face audit protocol has been significantly upgraded from the 2012, 2014 and 2016 versions, with increased emphasis placed on the setting of objectives and targets; environmental legal requirement compliance; physical conditions on and around the operation; and management and employee training and awareness. “Collectively, the 2016 audit focus forms part of the Aspasa About Face

strategy of increasing the awareness and capacity of operational management and employees to meet the challenges of an ever-changing environmental requirement that has potential penalties for non-compliance,” Cluett says. These range from licence withdrawal or suspen- sion; exposure to prosecution for owners, directors, management and employees for defined infringements; to poor public perception and/or publicity. Discussing the audit process, he says all 2016 audits commence with a two- and-a-half to three-hour training session; a one-and-a-half to two-hour operational physical inspection, followed by the man- agement systemaudit. Training focuses on: • environmental legislation set in the context of Mine Health & Safety leg- islation, covering the extent, various applicable laws and offences and penalties. • the structure of the Environmental Management System (ISO 14001 EMS- based Aspasa About Face) in assisting

mining industry but are thankful that Aspasa was not a contributor to these figures. It is, however, worrying to see an increase of 15% on recorded LTI or dis- abling injuries for 2015, and in most cases this was a contributing factor to our stats as well. This is definitely a focus area for the future. “The first quarter of 2016 has not been a good start for mining in general. We have already seen 17 fatalities for the first quarter with over 500 disabling or LTIs recorded for this period; we need a lot of attention in these areas,” he reiterates. “As you know, the main focus of our audit is operational control – the condi- tion of the mine, the plant, workshops, etc. This isn’t an easy audit because we also look at industry requirements, your own policies, your procedures and obvi- ously legal compliance. I wish we could honour everybody, but there is only a handful that stood out and we need to give credit for their hard work and com- mitment,”Van Deventer says.

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MODERN QUARRYING

July - August 2016