Modern Quarrying Q3 2018

In pursuit of consistent improvement, every year surface mining industry association, Aspasa, recognises its members with remarkable results in the association’s stringent ISHE and About Face audits. This year’s awards ceremony, which coincided with the annual IQSA Conference, raised the bar high with unprecedented score levels, confirmation that development continues apace among both member operations and individuals. REWARDING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AUTHOR: MUNESU SHOKO

ASPASA AWARDS

T he significance of reiterated enough. Addressing health and safety should not be seen as a regulatory burden; it offers significant opportunities for surface operations. Benefits abound and can include, among others, reduced costs; reduced risks; lower employee absence and turnover rates; fewer accidents; lowered threat of legal action; improved standing among suppliers and partners; better reputation for corporate responsibility among investors, customers and communities; as well as increased productivity, because employees are healthier, happier and better motivated. For these reasons, surface mining industry association, Aspasa, has a very strict set of operational greater health & safety and environmental standards on an open- pit mine cannot be

ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS These awards are sponsored by the Aspasa About Face auditors, Cluett Consulting, in recognition of excellence in environmental service practitioners. There were three winners this year: • Andre Stoltz – for his contribution to the development of a world class Environmental Management System document control software • Brian Wevell and Louis de Wet – for their dedication to the upgrading of the Environmental Management System to the ISO 14001: 2015 standard for Afrimat

of competition and pride,” explains Marius van Deventer, independent auditor, ISHE Audits at Aspasa. Nico Pienaar, director of Aspasa, declares that the health and safety performances of Aspasa members compare to those of any premium miner in South Africa. “Out of the 102 ISHE audits done during 2017, 16 operations achieved scores of above 90%,” explains Pienaar. Another 26 operations achieved scores between 90% and 95%, while 40 other operations scored between 80% and 90%, to end on an average of 85,84%.

parameters for its members. To further improve these crucial issues at member operations, every year Aspasa recognises good perfor- mances of its members when it comes to ISHE health & safety and About Face environmental audits carried out at every operation. The ISHE Audits have ushered in new health & safety levels in the local quar- rying industry, with Aspasa members at the summit of excellence when it comes to health & safety issues. “Every year it has become more andmore difficult to decide on the recipients of these awards, considering the level

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MODERN QUARRYING QUARTER 3 - 2018