Modern Quarrying October-November 2017

SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT POTLIGHT ON BRICKMAKING FACE TO FACE WITH ASPASA

What about a skills audit for your members? We are developing a system for a skills audit for mem- ber companies. There are some companies that have indicated that they need to discuss such an audit at their companies. We have set up meetings with Afrimat and Blurock, and are looking forward to similar discus- sions with other companies.

industry professionals. Besides assisting members with compliance issues, they also dovetail with our two audit programmes. We’ve spoken about Aspasa’s skills development programme to some degree, here and in other issues of MQ , but what are some of the lessons learnt from the past? We have found training providers that are not regis- tered, with their training facilities not in accordance with OHS and MHSA standards. We are also aware of some training providers not submitting a Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and the Annual Training Report (ATR) at the relevant SETAs. For a trainer to be accredited, they have to show proof of HR competency, proof of Education, Training and Development Practices (ETDP) compe- tency and proof of their registration with the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA). The problem is that there is no other industry body coordinating skills development. Some service pro- viders only cover certain things. Companies want to be trained and not only in compliance, for example. We utilise one main service provider who is reg- istered with the MQA, and as I’ve said, we also use specialists to conduct specific workshops, such as attorneys who handle transport issues, competition legislation and health and safety. And we partner up with this through our well-respected audits. Why have you become involved in skills development? We have just reprinted the new Mine Health and Safety Act No 29 of 1996 regulations booklet. We also have various document templates, best practices and other documents, which include the training courses – all of which are on our website at www.aspasa.co.za. What about educating the community? In the past, the industry’s approach to community relations has ranged from attack being the best form of defence, and a head in the sand approach. We have too readily slipped into the trap of regarding the community as being ill informed, their protests unreasonable, and as such have resorted to emer- gency counter measures. More recently, we have started to inform the public of the importance of surface mines and quar- ries. We have also shown how our members are world leaders in terms of safety, health and envi- ronmental matters, which has led to a more positive perception of the industry. Now all we need to do is to ensure that our members are suitably well trained to uphold this image. Is this documentation available to members?

Aspasa is actively assisting the industry with training aimed at ongoing development of workers within the industry.

Do your members take social responsibility seriously?

Social responsibility is a key focus for Aspasa members and something we take extremely seriously. By nature, the quarry- ing industry, which we used to serve exclusively, is usually sit- uated alongside communities, and we have learned to take our neighbours into consider- ation in all aspects of mining. The same applies for new min- ingmembers fromother sectors and Aspasa encourages the

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MODERN QUARRYING

October - November 2017