INSIGHT
By Cobus Coetzee
Operating in one of the most dangerous career choices available,
keeping updated with safety compliance and technologies within
construction cannot be overstated.
W
hile often used, the ‘safety compliance’
phrase in construction is sometimes not fully
comprehended.
True safety compliance can only be achieved when
companies implement an effective safety management
system as part of their daily operations and not a once-off drive
to comply with clients’ specifications to have their safety file
accepted, or to pass a safety audit successfully.
All companies have a moral obligation to ensure they
provide a safe and healthy work environment for staff as well
as the communities surrounding their operations, who can be
affected either positively or negatively.
Too often, compliance is seen as a tick-box exercise
— a document and a signature to prove that you have
communicated the document or that it was approved.
True safety compliance requires that the company
evaluates the specific requirements and then develops
effective processes and systems to meet the requirements.
Unfortunately, companies often fail to continually monitor
changes in legislation or standards, missing the opportunity to
evolve their company systems at a manageable rate. Instead,
systems and procedures are only updated when it becomes a
requirement that affects their ability to procure new projects or
contracts, often at great expense.
Sometimes, quick implementation of new requirements
or standards is not sustainable and can endanger the
company’s existence at times, resulting in lengthy policies
and procedures, in the hope that ‘more is better’ without
understanding the impact of the new requirements or
standards — and the ability of the company to comply with them.
It is my opinion that you need to follow the KIS-KIS (Keep
It Short, Keep It Simple) principle when developing systems
and documents and you need to understand the core
requirements of the new specifications or legislation and then
incorporate this into the safety management system.
Clear, timely, and effective communication to all interested
parties is key to ensuring compliance.
The parties can be either internal or external and the degree
of impact the changes will have will be based on the scope of
the relevant interested party. Continual review and analysis of
legislative, industry, and company requirements will allow the
company to identify possible changes in advance and decide
on actions to gradually implement them effectively.
40
OCTOBER 2018
SAFETY COMPLIANCE
IN CONSTRUCTION
True safety compliance comes when
companies implement an effective system.
The process for the review of South African legislation and
standards has set parameters that must be operated in to
ensure effective and inclusive legislation and standards. This
includes affording industry and the public 90 days to comment
and make recommendations to any draft legislation or
standard that has been gazetted.
However, there are some exceptions to this process as
the publication and distribution of the new Construction
Regulations 2014 construction work permit exemption notice
on 1 August 2018 clearly indicates.
Failure to fully understand the new construction work
permit requirements can result in companies applying for work
permits when not required, thereby flooding the system and
impacting on the ability of the legislative body to review and
approve relevant permit applications.
Technological developments that occur in the construction
industry are also sometimes overlooked. However, while new
developments can result in opportunities for company growth
and development — proceed with caution. Required and
proper analysis must be done to ensure that a perceived new
opportunity does not bring with it a threat that will outweigh
the benefits, increasing the company’s risk profile.
Any increase in risk profile will require other risk
management processes to be performed, including reviewing
current operational practices, possibly training requirements,
and risk assessments and procedures.
In conclusion, all companies need to establish an effective
and proactive monitoring and review process to assist them
in understanding the needs and requirements of their specific
industry and of the interested parties that can impact on their
ability to become fully safety compliant. ■
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cobus Coetzee is operational and compliance director
at SHEQprof, with vast experience in all aspects of
SHERQ, across different industries, including mining,
FMCG, mechanical and civil engineering, building, and
general construction. He serves on multiple committees
with government entities and industry leaders and is a
registered CHSM with SACPCMP, as well as a Technical
Member with SAIOSH.