NEWS
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Other safety considerations include using gas containing
an odour-causing substance (to be detectable in the
event of any leaks); installing gas detectors in all highrisk areas; and having dedicated personnel trained in
disaster management procedures and practices. Local
emergency services by-laws stipulate that complete
evacuation drills should be conducted at least twice a
year.
Homeowners or businesses
cannot store more than
100kg of LP gas without an
appropriate certificate.
“We advise any business involved with gas welding
and cutting processes to implement a hot work permit
system,” Van Niekerk says. “This permit should form part
of that business’s broader health and safety programme,
as it requires a safety checklist to be completed by a
competent person in the event of any such hot work
taking place. If you do not have this in place, a reputable
risk management consultancy, for instance ASP Fire, can
assist with identifying and implementing such a process
for all types of businesses.” PA
DPI Plastics backs marine
waste conference
DPI Plastics, as a manufacturer of PVC and HDPE water reticulation and
drainage pipe and fitting systems, is a key supporter of African Marine Waste
Network (AMWN) activities that are related to reducing marine waste and
debris threatening South Africa’s coastlines and marine life.
The AMWN was launched in July this year by
the Sustainable Seas Trust, Plastics SA, and
other partners in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
The network is the first dedicated approach to
addressing marine waste at a pan-African level.
a multilayer pipe has been replaced with a recycled
inner. “Ultrapipe is a more material-, resource-,
and energy-efficient product when compared to its
SANS 1601 predecessor.”
Plastics SA, of which DPI Plastics is a key member,
represents all sectors of the South African plastics
industry, including polymer producers and importers,
converters, machine suppliers, fabricators, and
recyclers. It plays an active role in growing the industry
and addressing all plastics-related issues.
DPI Plastics produces more than
40 000t of product a year for the
plumbing, building, civil construction,
mining, and irrigation sectors. It is a
member of the Southern African Plastic
Pipe Manufacturers Association and the
Southern African Vinyls Association.
“Further to our conservation efforts, we are also
looking internally at our products and how to reduce,
reuse and recycle wherever possible,” says DPI
Plastics marketing manager, Martine Goodchild.
This resulted in the manufacturer’s latest product
innovation, Ultrapipe, in which the virgin inner core of
“We are committed to best practice
in terms of PVC use with responsible
recycling programmes and the increased
use of organic materials, in terms of
which stringent targets are set and
audited annually,” Goodchild says. PA
www.plumbingafrica.co.za
Ultrapipe with recycled
PVC inner.
November 2016 Volume 22 I Number 9