Steel Construction Vol 40 No 2 - Tubular Steel Feature | Page 36

SAISC SUBSIDIARIES: POLASA

The following SHEQ and training challenges give a good idea of the
work to be done and the content of discussions:

• Providing input towards Method Statements in line with
Construction Regulations.

• Having to contract local labour that have no exposure to what
the industry is about and the need to be inserted into the high
risk industry and be operational within a short time span

• TRMSCAAC related issues.

• Lack of standards across industry for minimum requirements
applicable to all contractors.

These meetings cover a host of subjects such as SCOT resources
from Technology Division Centre of Excellence (COEs) and the
Operating Units within SCOT. Study Committees are effective in
developing optimal and efficient technical solutions as well as
transferring technical knowledge.

• Focus is only on mandatory training not other skills e.g. soft skills
• Majority of incidents involve local employees or sub-contractors.
• Supervisors sometimes of very low level of competency/literacy
but technically competent.
• Supervisors hesitant to transfer over skills to new young
employees.
• Registration to SACPCMP will shortly be requirement for
construction supervision.

• Training Centre Initiatives

Care is taken to ensure that the technology direction is influenced
by all affected parties and that standards are not developed in
isolation. The functionally responsible manager benefits from
engaging with other interested and affected parties within a SC.

• Pressure on finishing the project leaves little time for training.

Construction Care Group Structure / Work Groups:

• Community expects contractor to employ and upskill - so need
solutions that include them.

• WG 1: Cross Rope structures. (Now referred to as “Guyed
Structures”)

• Training is viewed as responsibility of training departments and
providers, yet line management also have a responsibility of
coaching and reinforcing.

• WG 2: Method Statements & Improved Construction
Methodologies.

• People with literacy problems are required to work with
complicated machinery / procedures.

• WG 3:TRMSCAAC Update, Contractor/Eskom Training & Steel
Manufacturing quality related issues.
• WG 4: EAL Training Centre Initiative.

• Line managers sometimes create a wrong perception of safety
officer “policing”.

• WG 5: Line Crossing Systems.

• Stringent tender requirements for SHEQ personnel competency
apply.

Some progress already made:

• Client SH Officers place unreasonable / inapplicable demands on
contractor.
• Application to OSH Act and Regulations “cumbersome”.
Design, engineering and SCOT (Steering Committee of
Technology) for line construction
This working group seeks best practices for Line Construction that
will benefit Eskom overhead Transmission & Distribution projects
and contractors in terms of:
• Safety during construction.
• Improved construction methodologies.
• Keeping track of new technologies and innovations (including
international practices).
34 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 2 2016

• Introduction of the Proposed EAL (Eskom Academy of Learning)
Training Facility - the intent is to make it a “world class training
facility”.
• Trainees will be equipped to develop safe work methods for line
construction and maintenance.
• To select the correct tools for the job.
• The facility will aim to develop a standardized approach for line
construction activities and ensure alignment with Construction
Regulations Practices.
Work is continuing on the other identified areas of common
interest and will be reported on progressively: Commercial
& Contracting, Designation of Components & LAP lists,
Project Execution and Influencing Stakeholders.