Construction World September 2016

>

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

KERBS AND PAVERS FOR MEDICAL FACILITY In June 2015 the construction of the new 200 bed Modderfontein Private Hospital began. This new development estimated at a cost of R200- million will included a sports clinic and a 100 bed sub-acute facility with a parking area suitable to accommodate the vast number of visitors and emergency vehicles expected at the hospital. >

Technicrete ISGwas contracted to supply the precast concrete kerbs and interlocking pavers for the project by Rhino Civils. “While price was a pressing consideration when sourcing kerbing and pavers for the Modderfontein Private Hospital, it was not the only one. Service and especially reliable delivery are other key elements that we consider before choosing a supplier for projects we are subcontracting to,” says Grant Oberem, contract’s director for Rhino Civils. “Technicrete met all of our required criteria; in addition, their prod- ucts offered a very high quality and aesthetically pleasing finish, which is important to the surrounds of a healthcare facility. We at Rhino Civils have earthworks, kerb laying and paving teams with 15-20 years of experience between them. The fact that our kerb and paving teams can install between 100 m of kerbing and approximately 800 – 1 000 m 2 of paving per day makes the partnership one of natural synergy: the superior Technicrete products installed professionally by the Rhino Civils team resulting in an outstanding finish,” says Oberem. ZS Coetzee, Technicrete ISG’s sales manager for Gauteng adds, “Rhino Civils sourced Figure 3 barrier kerbs and Figure 7 semi mountable kerbs in addition to Double Zig Zag (DZZ) 60 mm and 80 mm grey pavers. Our products speak for themselves. They have been chosen for many major projects over the years and are highly regarded within the industry and end-users for their durability and quality. The kerbs can be used as edge restraints in the construction of roads, kerbs and gutter systems while the DZZ interlocking pavers form a continuous and hard wearing surface that is ideally suited for commercial parking areas as well as heavy-duty industrial areas, roadways and depots, making the DZZ extremely application versatile,” says Coetzee. The Modder- fontein Private Hospital project was completed in April 2016.

CONTRACTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY Many industrial organisations make use of contractors to fulfil certain aspects of their operations. The contractor sends their employees to report to the client’s site to fulfil their duties, yet these employees are not part of the industrial organisation. >

employees to perform their jobs more effectively. It is vital for contractors to invest in reliable breathalysers that can test quickly and efficiently so they can test as many people as possible. It is important to purchase business equipment as an investment, rather than buying the cheapest model, as a less costly model may malfunction or break more often, costing time and money in repairs. Cheaper models may also stop working after around five hundred tests, requiring them to be recalibrated, whereas a quality model may perform at least ten thousand tests before it needs recalibration. The breathalyser should also be SABS approved and use an electro-chemical fuel cell sensor, as it provides the most reliable readings and is favoured by the Commission for Concili- ation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and the labour courts when there are disputes.

58

drugs to enter into the workplace. As the site owner is liable for any accidents or incidents that occur on its premises, it is vital for contractors who work with them to conduct alcohol and drug testing on all their own staff. The benefits Performing regular alcohol and drug testing on employees can help a company lower its acci- dent rates and reduce financial losses associated with these accidents. It also lowers absenteeism rates and reduces alcohol abuse in the workplace, leading

Many companies have now made it the responsibility of the contractor to test their own employees prior to arriving on site. Subcontractors’ employees who test positive for alcohol and drugs on industrial sites are typically blacklisted from the site for up to five years and after a number of strikes the company themselves may be blacklisted. The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides that employers should not allow any person who is under the influence, or who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or

CONSTRUCTION WORLD SEPTEMBER 2016