Modern Quarrying January-February 2015

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AROUND THE INDUSTRY
January - February 2015 MODERN QUARRYING 3
EDITOR’S COMMENT
The quarrying industry understands the need
to educate and train their people on an on-
going basis, with technical skills continuing
to be one of the most important requirements in
our industry.
On my visits to the quarries large and small,
we often discuss training and the loss of an experi-
enced older workforce, due to retirement. Many of
the larger operations have their own training acad-
emies which incorporate programmes designed to
pass on the right skills, knowledge and compe-
tencies to their employees. However, many don’t,
especially in the smaller operations.
Xtract Training Services headed up by industry
stalwarts Monty and Lynne Montgomery, is recog-
nised throughout the industry as being in a very
strong position to provide training in these areas.
The company has close ties with the MQA, which it
has been involved with since inception. It provides
training and skills development in line with MQA
requirements in close cooperation with the DMR.
Xtract Training Services has been a fully-accred-
ited training provider with the MQA since 2005,
providing quality training and skills development
throughout the country and further afield. This ISO
9001:2008 certified company, is compliant at Level
Two for B-BBEE.
Industry needs to understand the changing
dynamics of a younger workforce, ever-evolv-
ing legislative frameworks and changing union
dynamics, and clearly more emphasis needs to be
placed on training.
Monty and Lynne have their ears on the ground
as far as the industry is concerned; they have
always and continue to be involved in the heart
of this industry and are in very close contact with
our movers and shakers. Current courses include:
Examine &Make Safe/Comp A – Step 1 (Rockbreakers
Qualification); Blasting Assistant – Surface Mines/
Quarries – Step 2 (Rockbreaking Qualification); and
Basic Sampling & Testing of Construction Materials,
a course that takes place in early February in Cape
Town. Originally concentrating on surface min-
ing and quarrying, the company has extended its
scope to include rock engineering and strata con-
trol, as well as underground hard rock and under-
ground coal.
Another association that has its ear on the
ground is Aspasa, which for the last year in particu-
lar, has increased its focus on capturing the vital
role of developing people into the needs of com-
panies. It must be pointed out, however, that its
workshops are company-related and closely-linked
to its two audits and the challenges and problems
found by these audits.
At the time of writing, the Association had
already run two very successful workshops in
Johannesburg on Health and Safety, and Know
your EMP . Both workshops were extremely well
attended with people from the Transkei, Upington,
Komatipoort, Cape Town and Durban, and all from
different companies.
The Health & Safety Workshop presented by
Marius van Deventer, covered Section 54/55 issues,
machine guarding, lock-outs, internal inspections
and check lists, COPs, occupational health, what an
H&S policy should cover, problems identified dur-
ing the 2014 audits, and what is expected in the
2015 ISHE audit. The upgraded audit document
was also discussed.
Alan Cluett’s Know your EMP workshop, dealt
with the EMP’s legal setting, an overview of SA’s
environmental legislation, the MPRDA and its EMP-
related requirements, and other applicable legisla-
tion in this regard. It looked at the DMR guidelines
for the EMP in terms of its guidelines, objectives
and structure, and how to manage the EMP in
order to gain benefits. He discussed weather-
related information, fauna and flora, hydrological
studies, heritage sites, reporting requirements,
performance assessment, and employee training.
And finally, looking at the About Face 2015 audit,
Cluett outlined what is expected in this audit.
An important workshop being run in early
February at Tygerberg in the Western Cape is on
Grading & Related Issues, with participants includ-
ing Sanral, SAFCEC and the City of Cape Town, and
the Western Cape government. Aspasa has devel-
oped a sound relationship with these key bodies,
and aggregate specification will be a key point in
the discussions. Also problems experienced with
laboratories, and the COLTO standards which are
causing some consternation in the industry. Cost
implications in terms of sieve changing, and waste
implications are on the agenda.
Later this month, Alta Swanepoel will be run-
ning a Transport workshop, looking specifically at
AARTO and its latest legislation. The basic princi-
ples of AARTO will be discussed, the implications
of which will have a major impact on our industry
if not understood and followed.
I’ve only mentioned a few of these, which
will be repeated in the various provinces. Others
include the tax issues industry is experiencing in
terms of the Royalty Act and the diesel rebate saga.
Please visit the Aspasa website
for further details or telephone (011) 791 3327.
A man can seldom
– very, very seldom –
fight a winning fight
against his training;
the odds are too
heavy
(Mark Twain – 1835-1910)
The importance of training