EVENTS
3M to the rescue
Amidst escalating health and safety concerns in the built
environment, global innovator 3M unpacked this pertinent topic
at its insightful Fall Protection Confined Space Workshop.
By Candace Sofianos King
W
www.saroofing.co.za
The safe route
ith confined spaces a feature of
most work sites across all
industrial sectors, the
challenges that come with ensuring safety
of employees show the need to provide
insight and training into the best processes
for arriving at the right solution for diverse
work environments.
This was addressed at a workshop on
confined space rescue hosted by 3M, the
international science company behind
several life changing innovations. Held at
3M’s Johannesburg offices, the session
delved into the hard facts surrounding
health and safety – 3M research into
confined spaces injuries and fatalities
revealed that between 2005 and 2009,
globally, 481 people, or 1.85 per week, died
while working within confined spaces.
“The statistics show the importance of
businesses paying increased attention to
health and safety within the sector. With
over 61% of these incidents having
occurred during construction, repairing and
/ or cleaning activities, we have turned our
attention to accident prevention, and in the
worst-case scenario, rescuing workers
safely, by using the right equipment for the
environment,” says emergency medical
specialist Rudi Menkveld.
Danger can arise when there is a lack of
oxygen or if workers are suddenly faced
with poisonous gas, fumes or vapours.
Breathing apparatus is essential if the air is
compromised. While the global tally does
not include serious injuries, it showcases
opportunities to improve these
work environments.
“The key to preventing accidents and, in
the worst case, rescuing workers, is the
right equipment,” notes Anderson Cilliers,
3M market segment lead – fall protection.
He argues that there is no one-size-fits-all
approach.
The right fall protection and retrieval
equipment is critical, which was highlighted by
3M during a workshop on confined space
rescue at its Johannesburg office.
“Confined spaces often have constrained
openings for entry and exit. Therefore, a
thorough investigation of each space’s unique
characteristics must be undertaken to ensure
that you fully understand not only how to access
and work within the space, but its surrounding
environment,” he explains.
“Once that is completed, one can then look at
what the right combination of equipment would
be for that particular job. Safety must be
paramount in all work environments, but
particularly in confined spaces which are
inherently risky and not designed with human
occupancy in mind.”
The process of choosing the right fall
protection and retrieval equipment
should be integrated into a company’s
risk management process, says Cilliers.
Aside from providing a range of the
requisite equipment, 3M consults with
clients to help them craft the most
appropriate strategy to ensure their
employees’ safety when working in
confined spaces. This includes safe
working within, and rescue from,
specific confined spaces that the
particular company’s employees
work in.
3M’s approach is to look at what the
applicable local and international
health and safety standards and
regulations are, as well the specific
company policy, and then develop a
strategy that takes these all into
account. This ensures compliance with
applicable legislation and policies, but
it often goes further than this. The
strategy will dictate the best
equipment to use both for normal and
rescue work.
Another key element covered at the
workshop is the need for optimal
communication. 3M’s Marc Husselman
covered the principles of choosing the
right communications equipment to
suit the conditions within specific
confined spaces.
“3M believes that to make sure you
have the right equipment for your site’s
confined spaces, it is vital to adopt a
holistic approach. Such an approach
encompasses the actual conditions of
each site, complies with all applicable
legislation and policies and, pre-
eminently, promotes the safety of
your personnel at all times,”
Cilliers concludes.
CLADDING // CONCRETE // INSULATION // STEEL // THATCH // TIMBER // TRANSLUCENT // WATERPROOFING // COMPONENTS
NOVEMBER 2018
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