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SPOTLIGHT ON
BRICKMAKING
REGULAR UPDATE
ASPASA
Manufacturing, stating that we are not mining. Then
in terms of the commission looking into all mining
legislation, again we submitted an opinion and
explained the situation. All of these submissions
have cost Aspasa a great amount of money, but it
seems as if we have made progress.”
At the time of writing, SARS was holding meet-
ings in various centres to share its proposed log-
book system, with emphasis placed on storage and
usage logbooks. The follow up to these meetings
will be available on the website.
There are also several best practice papers on
the Aspasa website, including one on contractor
safety in quarries. “Aspasa members are commit-
ted to giving contractor safety equal priority to
that of employee safety,” Pienaar says. “While our
contractors are always responsible for their own
safety, we now commit to setting an example for
the safety management through our own activi-
ties and contractor management. We believe that
this can be achieved by implementing these best
practice guidelines, which will help reduce fatalities
through a greater emphasis on safety on contract
management.”
The primary focus of the document relates to
large-scale quarry operations; however Pienaar
says the same basic best practice principals apply
to small-scale contracts in readymix, aggregates,
asphalt roadbuilding or other activities, with an
implementation scope proportionate to the lower
degree of risk involved in these latter cases. “The
best practice should appropriately applied to all
types of contracts,” he says.
Another guideline on the website is the work-
place inspection and hazard identification checklist,
which assists in identifying workplace hazards and
in preventing injuries and incidents. This invaluable
document includes a 60-page prompt list which
enables easy hazard identification and actions
taken.
While Aspasa deals with the ‘softer’ issues in
terms of caring for the environment and the social
responsibility of its members, it is a tough cam-
paigner for the rights of its members.“While it is our
role to unite the industry, it is also our responsibility
to guard against collusion and discourage compet-
itive behavior,” Pienaar says, adding that Aspasa’s
aim is for its members to be honest and upstanding
operators.
Report and photographs by Dale Kelly,
unless otherwise accredited.