INDUSTRY NEWS: in brief
Industry news in brief
Scaw Metals achieves remarkable B-BBEE certificate on the amended codes The Scaw Metals Group, a leading steel and steel product manufacturer remain firm on retaining its Level 2 Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment( B-BBEE) rating with also maintaining previous statuses on the old codes.
Under a cloud of change, Scaw Metals sustained its positioning in the steel industry by continuing to commit to strengthening the sector amidst unstable local and global economic landscape.
Striving to support economic and social development initiatives, the Scaw Metals B-BBEE committee set itself high targets to preserve Scaw Metals position. Actively improving the B-BBEE score elements through identifying areas of development – equity ownership, management control, skills development, enterprise and supplier development, and socioeconomic development.
This year’ s State of the Nation address highlighted that economic transformation and black empowerment continue to be a vital part of all the economic programmes of the country. The steel sector plays a major role in its support of many industries, Scaw Metals is committed to mirroring government’ s ongoing agenda.
The B-BBEE codes have been a catalyst for achieving notable contributions, not only for the industry, but communities in which Scaw Metals has been actively involved in corporate social investment( CSI) initiatives.
In reflecting on the organisation’ s achievement, Scaw Metals Group CEO, Markus Hannemann says,“ The B-BBEE scorecard has encouraged our business to reach new levels of opportunity.”
Accidents in the construction industry According to the Federated Employer’ s Mutual Assurance Company( FEM), which provides cover to employers in the construction industry, 7 721 injuries occurred nationally amongst policy holders during 2015. This resulted in 61 fatalities, 603 permanently disabled persons and 34 385 lost man days.
Deon Bester, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at the Master Builders Association of the Western Cape( MBAWC), says,“ The rate of accidents in the construction industry still remain unacceptably high.”
In the Western Cape alone, the number of accidents that have taken place over the past five years has risen by an average of 12.00 % year on year. Between 2011 and 2015 there were 18 deaths and 202 permanent disabilities resulting from accidents. Furthermore, 29 671 man hours were lost and the average cost per accident stood at R17 532,20.
He continues,“ The Western Cape remains one of the provinces with the highest accident frequency rate. At a current rate of 3.7 %, versus the national average of 2.67 %, we are 28 % worse than the average. In other words, we have 28 % more accidents per 100 people employed in the construction industry. Whilst this is a very high variation, figures would indicate that we have less severe accidents based on the average cost of an accident. The current national average is R27 244 per accident whilst we are at R15 813 per accident – 42 % less.”
“ In 2015, the Western Cape only had one fatality in 2015 compared with 12 in Kwa- Zulu Natal, 29 in the Gauteng region, 11 in the Free State, 3 in the Eastern Cape and 5 in the Northern Boland. Undoubtedly, one fatality is one too many and we should be striving for zero fatalities and zero harm – a target we believe is achievable,” states the Occupational Health and Safety Manager.
To achieve this target, he suggests improving the skills of employees in the industry, providing proper training for employees and arranging adequate supervision. He also advises using the correct, quality tools for the job and utilising proper fall prevention equipment. In addition, Bester recommends regular drug screening and alcohol testing.“ These are just a few of the basic interventions required,” shares Bester.
“ The construction industry, from large corporates to small sub-contractors, needs to take ownership of health and safety. Good health and safety practices
ABOVE: Deon Bester, Occupational Health and Safety Manager at the Master Builders Association of the Western Cape.
in the workplace must be as important as ensuring turnover and providing a quality product and service on time to the end user. Only once health and safety carries the same weight as cost, quality and time will we see a reduction in accidents in the industry,” concludes Bester.
Update on tariff protection measures from the Department of Trade and Industry
By Sidwell Medupe, Departmental Spokesperson, The Department of Trade and Industry
Government is working closely with all the stakeholders in the steel sector to secure agreement on a comprehensive package of measures to support South Africa’ s primary steel production capabilities.
The steel crisis results from the fact that there is a global glut of steel arising from the effects of the global recession and excess installed capacity and supply. Following due process involving the International Trade Administration Council,( ITAC) the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, has assented to tariff increases for three steel products. Investigations into another eight product lines have been finalised and await government approval. A wide range of OECD and developed countries have already implemented similar tariff protection measures.
It is of course extremely important that tariff protection measures for primary steel
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