Modern Quarrying July-August 2016

July - August 2016

MODERN QUARRYING

SPOTLIGHT ON

BRICKMAKING

REGULAR UPDATE

ASPASA

Aggregates – a vital commodity

South Africans need approximately 9,0 kg

of sand and stone per day in order to func-

tion and live unimpeded in modern soci-

ety. Quarrying statistics reveal that per

capita, we need this amount to continue

our daily lives with shelter and access to

public infrastructure. At about 3,0 t of

aggregates per person per annum, South

Africa ranks low compared with devel-

oped countries such as Canada (13,9 t),

Finland (14,9 t) and Australia (7,5 t). We

are on par with other developing coun-

tries such as Brazil (3,8 t) and Russia 3,9 t),

but lag behind China (11,1 t) by a consid-

erable margin.

These and other interesting facts

came to light at the recently held GAIN

meeting.

“Few people realise the important role

that aggregates play in our lives and even

bemoan the fact that quarries need to

operate anywhere near their neighbour-

hoods. Yet it was revealed that transport-

ing these civilisation-building materials

over distances longer than 50 km can have

an escalating effect that can drive con-

struction prices far beyond the variables,”

says Aspasa director Nico Pienaar.

Aggregates make up some three quar-

ters of the mass of any traditional con-

struction project including roads, bridges,

ports, railways, harbours, hospitals, public

and private buildings, as well as homes

and other essential infrastructure. “If we

stopped producing aggregates today, we

would revert back to a similar state as the

stone age, without buildings or many of

the other commodities that drive technol-

ogy and civilisation today,” he says.

“However, through organisations

like GAIN and regional associations like

Aspasa, we are striving to become respon-

sible citizens and continually working

towards becoming a completely sustain-

able industry – one that causes minimal

harm to the environment and enhances

the livelihoods of the communities within

our surroundings.

“South Africa has some of the tough-

est health, safety and environmental pro-

tection legislation worldwide, and Aspasa

members are audited annually to ensure

that they comply with these and our own

stringent requirements. That is why it is

so important that government, munici-

palities, construction company owners

and all those involved in the construc-

tion chain get involved and support the

part of the community that actually cares

about the wellbeing of communities and

the sustainability of the entire construc-

tion industry,” Pienaar urges.

ISHE audit

Presenting the Aspasa ISHE 2015 awards

at this year’s Institute of Quarrying/

Aspasa conference in April, Aspasa’s well

respected auditor Marius van Deventer

thanked members for their commitment

to the audit process. “Thank you for your

dedication and hard work and for your

commitment to health and safety. I think

you will all agree that 2015 has been a very

tough year with all the new legislation

and buzz words going around. Everybody

is running around trying to implement

these requirements and yet still made the

time to complete our audits.

“The national 2015 safety statistics

for all mining divisions was published

in January this year, and it was good to

see an overall improvement on recorded

fatalities of 8,0%,” he says. “We mourn

the 77 people who lost their lives in the

Interesting GAIN stats

Developing regions typically used 3,0-4,0 t/

capita, while developed regions with low eco-

nomic growth and flat terrain, use about 4,0-8,0 t.

Developed regions, with rugged terrain and high

to medium-growth, typically use 8,0-12 t/capita.

Developed regions with rich economies, rugged

terrain and severe climates typically use up to 16t/

capita.

Producer

Billion t (BNT)

Worldwide production 40

China

India

5,0

Americas

5,2

Europe

2,6

Africa

3,3

Oceania

1,7

Photographed at the IQSA conference and exhibition,

from left: Aspasa’s ISHE auditor Marius van Deventer

and Tom Bellamy, Lafarge’s safety specialist.

Top performer

AfriSam Newcastle

Top Independent performer

Umhlali Quarry

Consistency in achieving Showplace for five years running

AfriSam Newcastle

AfriSam Ladysmith

AfriSam Verulam

AfriSam Umlaas Road

Best improved operations

Lafarge Tongaat

Afrimat Harmony

Lafarge Qala Quarry

Infrasors Marble Hall

Safety manager awards for

outstanding commitment

Danny de Villiers, SPH Kundalila

Chris Pillay, AfriSam

Hendrik Moorhead, WGWearne

Mogamat Bailey, Afrimat

Safety practitioner awards for

excellent performance

Elton Goosen, Lafarge

Dineshree Pillay, Umhlali Quarry

Anashre Maharaj, PPC Mooiplaas

Anthea Sheldon, SPH Kundalila

Special award for outstanding quarry development

Salva Govinden, AfriSam Newcastle

Photographed at the recent GAIN meeting in

Cape Town. From left: Aspasa chairman Gert

Coffee, honorary president UPEG and GAIN

coordinator Jim O’Brien, and UPEG delegate

Martin Isles.