Frank Cotton
National Occupational Health & Safety Manager
Tel : (011) 409-0900
Fax : (011) 450- 1715
E-Mail: safety@safcec.org.za

Occupational Health and Safety Services

The OH&S Department’s main objective is to provide exclusively to members a support service that will encourage a management system or program to ensure that essential elements of good health and safety practices are followed.

Various initiatives and products have been launched over a period of time and the service of a full time Safety Advisor adds to these initiatives. These initiatives are supported through the financial grant made available each year by FEDERATED EMPLOYERS MUTUAL known as FEM. FEM is also operating under the license of the Compensation Commissioner and was established in 1936 by the organized building industry as a mutual insurer to insure the compensation liability of employers for both the Civil and Building industry. For further information on the benefits provided to members by FEM please contact their regional offices in:

• Gauteng - Johannesburg (011) 359 4347
• KwaZulu Natal - Durban (031) 304 8958
• East & Western Cape (021) 418 3210

With the multitude of risks and hazards encountered in the construction industry as well as complying to Legislation and Client required specifications, it has become increasingly difficult to implement formal Safety Management systems to comply with the aforementioned requirements. Managements’ commitment to health and safety together with organized employee’s participation are two essential elements necessary to implement and ensuring a successful safety program.

SAFCEC’s safety department has over the years provided service to members that required assistance with the design and implementation of OH&S programs and systems. Members are encouraged to make use of this service. SAFCEC newsletters facilitate information on applicable OH&S Legislation and relevant information on DOL activities. SAFCEC members are fortunate in the sense that they can obtain first hand information applicable to the OHSACT and Regulations from the Safety Department. SAFCEC currently has representation on the Advisory Council for Occupational Health and Safety and together with representatives from Grinaker-lta and WBHO they have been part of a Technical Task Team responsible for the amendments to the Construction regulations, which will be published in the New Year. The SAFCEC Safety Committee meet at least every quarter to discuss issues relating to Occupational Health and Safety and members are encouraged to submit OH&S related questions and suggestions to the Safety Committee.

The OH&S Departments service consist of the following: 

• OH&S Legal compliance Audit
• Compilation of OH&S Safety plans based on Client Specifications
• The design and implementation of a formal OH&S Program and system
• Conducting workshops on the following legal requirements:
  • Managements Legal Responsibility with regard to the OHS Act and applicable Regulations
  • The Construction Regulations
  • Risk Assessments: Guide to Understand the Basics
  • Health and Safety Representatives

The following products are also available to SAFCEC Members to supplement OH&S requirements:

• The OH&S Construction Manual on CD that contains supporting documentation to comply with Legislation
• Appointment forms as required by the Construction Regulations
• Registers and Checklists
• A complete Construction OH&S Audit System
• Risk Assessment – A guide for Understanding the Basics
• Guide to Contractor Indemnity Undertaking (Sect. 37(2) Agreement
• Safety Posters

The following information is also available from the Safety Department: 

• Toolbox talks that covers a range of workplace hazards, from accident prevention to the more insidious hazards including toxic fumes, dust, noise, heat, stress etc..
• A Basic Risk Assessment Worksheet Format and process
• Daily Task Risk Assessment (Continuous)
• Planned Task Observation
• OH&S File Index Format
• Requirements prior the appointment of a Subcontractor
• Generic Risk Assessments
• Application form for Registered Safety Professional

The proposed changes to the Construction Regulations for comment.  Please forward comment to Frank Cotton on e-mail safety@safcec.org.za

For information purposes please see the attached poison information card.

Environmental
The Draft National Waste Management Strategy(NWMS), under the National Environmental Management Act,2008(Act No.59 of 2008), have been promulgated for comments on 08 June 2010. Notice 575 of 2010 in Government Gazette No. 33277 dated 08 June 2010. Comments regarding this strategy should reach the Department of Environmental Affairs within 60 days of the date of promulgation. Copies of the Notice and an explanatory document regarding the NWMS will be available on the SAFCEC website. Should any problems be experienced to obtain a copy of the document please feel free to contact me for a copy.

Health and Safety Statistics
We need your statistics as this will assist us wih comparing the Health and Safety performance of SAFCEC members against the industry norm as well as the other industries.  Please download the attached Statistics Submission and return to us.