Modern Quarrying October-November 2017

PPLIER OTLIGHT OT IGHT ON ICKMAKING

FACE TO FACE WITH ASPASA

PDS and trackless mining equipment. • As far as international liaison is con- cerned, we are an active member of the Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN) which represents similar organisations across the globe. • Local liaison is carried out with all the relevant industry bodies including the CoM, Sabita, TCI, the Road Federation, Master Builders, etc. • We are also collaborating with compa- nies like the Coal Ash Association. Looking at the technical side of the industry, how can aggregate standards be improved? Cooperation and communication are the key ingredients to delivering aggregates that conform to standards. We believe that authority should be vested in those responsible for maintaining quality at every step of the process, from the pit to production, transport and ultimately sales and delivery of the product. It is easy to see how conflicts can arise when you look at a typical operation in which production people are often pre- occupied with pushing production, sales staff pushing sales and logistics staff mak- ing arrangements to store and transport the aggregates. On the other end you have the quality inspectors and labs slow- ing down the process and getting in the way of reaching targets. How does one avoid this conflict? We have found that quality should be placed at the forefront of a divisional man- ager’s key performance indicators (KPIs). They need to understand that without consistency and quality their efforts are misguided. After all, quality gives market- ers something unique to sell. Consistency gives them a good reputation. The catch

point is that it does not help to have prod- uct if your market is diminishing because you are losing clients due to quality con- cerns. The aggregate industry is now being judged on quality as much at it is on price. Mitigation is a risk. Quality inspectors and laboratory staff tasked with the moni- toring of aggregates must be empowered to act and communicate directly with the manager to make well-informed deci- sions. After all, if there is a comeback or a court case, it will be decided by the results of the lab tests and the action taken by those in authority to remedy the situation. Aspasa has been running several very successful workshops over the year. Is this going to continue? Aspasa believes that the industry has tended to concentrate on treating the symptoms, giving priority to the warts, while the cancer has gone unchecked. The environmental content of some train- ing courses has tended to be reactive with problems taking centre stage, rather than avoiding these problems. We are actively assisting the industry with training aimed at the ongoing devel- opment of workers within the industry. While initial training should at least embrace elements that include technical, health and safety, management and environmental training, our ongoing vocational training is more focused on specific elements at oper- ations. It is clear that education has become the key in surface mining operations in order to evolve with new technologies and to stay abreast of the tough legislation and statutory compliance matters. What are some of the other courses offered? These vary from technical issues relat- ing to blasting, crushing, and equip-

road and other infrastructure bodies – at all times influencing and putting our members’ views forward. What are your focus areas? • Legal compliance is one, where we share relevant legal updates and information with members timeously. We also undertake health, safety and environmental audits at member oper- ations, all of which supports the com- pliance required by theMining Charter. • The Technical Committee is also a new focus area for the Association. Technical and quality issues are becoming more critical as new techniques and methods drive the supply of better and more efficient- ly-obtained materials. We believe that aggregate producers need to embrace quality across all areas of their quar- rying operations to obtain the con- sistency required on modern quarry sites. A quality standard has therefore been developed for members and this is being rolled out in 2018. • On the environmental side, we carry out an environmental audit for mem- ber operations on an annual basis. Any concerns the auditor may have are shared with the respective quarries. • Public relations is another focus and we have actively marketed the indus- try in terms of our website, regular news bulletins together with the close relationship we have developed with the industry’s media. For our mem- bers, the treatment of public rela- tions purely as a marketing exercise is not enough and stakeholders really need to be handled in a professional manner. A mine effectively needs to prove that it is a good neighbour and a professional corporate citizen. It is important that it is seen to have a respectable management team and a competent workforce, which is far more likely to attract long-term com- munity support than a host of glossy brochures. • As far as government liaison is con- cerned, we have established a specialist committee to deal with relevant issues. • We have also formed a specialist com- mittee to handle transport on site as well as on the roads. Presently, the com- mittee is formulating best practices for

ment. In-pit best practices and road transport are also among some of the courses on offer. These are geared towards the safe, sustainable and profitable operations of the mine and are all presented by experienced, hand-picked Cooperation and communication are the key ingredients to delivering aggregates that conform to standards.

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MODERN QUARRYING October - November 2017