applicable), and what has been done
to address these in the interim, as well
as how changes and improvements
have been tracked and what has been
done to ensure that they will not recur.
In addition, he checks paperwork
for legal appointments, as well as
paperwork that relates to training and
certification to ensure that all staff
are properly prepared for the work
they are expected to do, and that
all training is provided by suitably
qualified people and/or registered
organisations.
Although the areas covered by
the audit are too extensive to list in
full, in addition to those mentioned
above, van Deventer also checks the
quarry’s waste management, spillage
procedures, emergency preparedness
(including the dates of service or
inspection on fire equipment), fire
and emergency drills (including
checking how often they are run and
what was covered by each drill for
the preceding 12 months), testing
certificates, thermographic reports
and a multitude of pre-start, daily,
weekly and monthly checklists.
Finally, once all the documentation
has been checked, van Deventer
provides the mine manager with
separate scores for the operational and
documentation control sections of the
audit, as well as the site’s final overall
score. A copy of the completed audit
document is also provided.
The entire process can take
upwards of nine hours, and I came
away from the experience with a new
understanding of – and respect for
– both the auditor and the jobs and
responsibilities of the mine manager
and the various personnel involved
in ensuring high health and safety
standards are maintained. ■
WINNING
As part of the operational audit everything,
including first aid kits, is checked.