Modern Quarrying Q1 2020

In future, quarries belonging to Aspasa will have an option to par- ticipate in an annual audit designed to measure compliance of testing facilities including their apparatus calibration and personnel compe- tence against an abridged ISO 17025 format, to assist in ensuring the correct classification of products. Over time, as their systems improve, they can opt to obtain accreditation through South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) for ISO/IEC 17025 – general require- ments for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. According to Barry Pearce, chairman of Aspasa’s technical committee, the audits complement the association’s well established environmental, as well as health and safety audit systems, which have contributed to the association’s rec- ognition internationally as a leader in these fields. “Now, the idea is to help Aspasa members to produce better graded products that are tested consistently to meet the specifications of their clients as well as national standards – where required. It entails the inspec- tion of the laboratory including the testing apparatus and the verification of procedures,” says Pearce. “The audits will be simple but thorough and will leave the quarry in no doubt as to what is required. With this in place producers can confidently supply their products without fear of material rejections in future, provided that the necessary procedures are followed,” he adds. “It will also be tailored to the requirements of individual quar- ries which may range in size from a small family-owned quarry to large multinational concerns producing aggregates and crushed granular material for multiple uses in differ- ent markets,” says Perace. He adds it is a fallacy that only large quarries can afford to have in-house laboratories. At the cost of a set of sieves, a flakiness gauge plate, some scales, a drying oven and containers, any quarry can set up the required tests to meet ISO 17025 requirements. Management systems can then be introduced at varying levels of detail depending on quarry’s requirements.

ASPASA

Pieanaar adds that the issue of environmental compliance is also becom- ing a big issue in the industry, both from a community and regulator point of view. “The good housekeeping type of audits previously done have been changed, with specific focus on being legally compliant to assist mine man- agers understand their roles and being not so dependent on consultants who often don’t grasp certain important issues as well,” says Pienaar. Blasting Audit One of the latest service offerings from Aspasa is the Explosives/Blasting compliance audit. With blasting regulations changing, and communities being more aware of their rights, even when not often justified in their complaints, Aspasa has entered into an agreement with a blasting expert to conduct one- day audits to ensure compliance. “We have decided to offer Blasting Audits to members due to the mining industry facing numerous practical legal challenges since the MHSA’s new explosives regulations came into effect on 14 December 2018. There have also been various demands made by affected communities and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) officials,” says Pienaar. “While some of the demands are not provided for in legislation and others are simply impractical, they have an impact on the running of mining opera- tions. A Blasting Audit that’s in line with all new requirements of the MHSA is a positive step toward clarifying and endorsing the legal parameters of mining operations, and particularly when it comes to the use of explosives,” says Pienaar. To develop the audit, Aspasa has tasked an explosives solutions company that manages explosives related legal challenges, blasting engineering improvement initiatives and independent investigations to undertake audits of members’ sites. While the audit’s objective is primarily to prevent explosives-related incidents, accidents and legal stoppages, it does employ a more compre- hensive examination. Basically, it covers operational legal compliance to the Explosives Act and to MHSA explosives regulations, as well as regulations relevant to licenses, permits and approvals, among others; operational implemented systems, measures, procedures and risk assessments; as well as physical inspection of explosives facilities and blasting processes. Quality/Technical compliance Increasing requirements for certified quality aggregates has seen Aspasa introducing its own guidelines and auditing systems to ensure testing of aggre- gates and crushed granular materials is done in accordance with South African National Standards (SANS) 3001 AG and GR series test methods. With blasting regulations changing, and communities being more aware of their rights, Aspasa has entered into an agreement with a blasting expert to conduct one- day audits to ensure compliance.

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 1 - 2020