Winning of the visit , B & E International was also in the process of building an on-site training facility within the workshop to facilitate technical and mechanical training .
Environmental management
The permit , mining rights , water use licence , and environmental authorisation applications for Howards Quarry were handled by Greenmined Environmental . Sonette Smit , director and senior environmental consultant at Greenmined Environmental , started the company in 2012 and has over 12 years ’ experience in environmental management . As a former Department of Water and Sanitation ( DWS ) employee , Smit has a good understanding of departmental structures , mechanisms , and procedures , as well as significant experience in water use applications , data collation , and monitoring . She puts this knowledge to good use , helping mines navigate the legislative and regulatory maze governing the industry .
“ For Howards Quarry , we handled the applications for the mining permits , environmental authorisation , and mining right . We are also responsible for conducting their monthly environmental audits , their dust monitoring , and their water sampling . Unlike the Kusile Quarry , which was located next to a wetland and thus required monthly water sampling , Howards Quarry doesn ’ t require regular water sampling , so we do this on an ad hoc basis .”
“ We spend a lot of time on safety , because it is such an important area .”
B & E has been involved in the quarrying industry for many decades , with a focus on contract-specific quarry operations .
Greenmined also developed an alien clearing plan for Howards Quarry , which had a huge issue with weeds , and is assisting with the rezoning of the land from agricultural to mining — a requirement that arose from the mining right application .
“ We will also take over their mine administration , including their Social and Labour Plan . Basically , we decided to expand our services to cover mine administration so that we can assist the mines with legal compliance reporting requirements and so on , and leave them to their core business of mining and crushing ,” she adds .
Focus on the future
Safety is a huge concern for quarry operators , and those at Howards Quarry are no different . “ We spend a lot of time on safety , because it is such an important area ,” says Kamfer . “ We have had only one losttime injury since starting work on this site — when I was bitten by a dog !” In addition to the quarterly safety audits , Howards Quarry offers on-site training for its staff in safetyrelated matters , only sending them off site when specialised training requires it .
The quarry employs a staff of 46 , including two women , with a large complement having worked at Kusile Quarry prior to coming across to Howards . “ A lot of our guys came over from the Kusile Quarry when operations finished there , and so we have a lot of experienced staff working here on site ,” says Kamfer . “ It ’ s a tough business , and the delays in projects can make it difficult . But we are perfectly positioned to supply contractors in this area as projects get going , and I am confident that our high-quality product , flexible plant design , and large dolerite deposit will ensure our success in this area for many years to come .” n
QUARRY SA | SEPTEMBER 2017 _ 23