Inside this issue...

-    14 minimum requirements to apply an HSE specification correctly

Dear Reader,

So, you’ve compiled your safety file. Now you need to apply your health and safety specification. You need to satisfy an explicit set of requirements with material, a product or service. You’ll require the following 14 pieces of information as a minimum…

14 minimum requirements to apply an HSE specification

1. Compensation of Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act, Act No. 130 of 1993 (COIDA)

This is a letter of good standing you must have available on site for references purposes as proof of your good standing with Compensation Commissioner.

2. Occupational Health and Safety Policy

This isn’t a legal requirement under Section 7 of the OHSA, but once you’ve designed, developed and implemented it, it becomes legally binding! For the purpose of ISO and OHSAS you have to have such a policy.

3. Hazard identification risk assessment (HIRA)

Without identifying your hazards and risks, you won’t know what to do, where to start or how to prevent possible future incidents, injuries and production standstills. Your contract manager must ensure that the site agent (before you start ANY construction work) performs a hazard identification and risk assessment.

4. Health and safety representatives and committees

You should hold health and safety representative inspections as often as you believe necessary (but not less than once every three months). The industry norm is once a month. You should hold health and safety committee meetings at least once a month.

5. Health and safety training

The law says you should implement the following training:

-    Induction training
-    Health and safety representative training
-    HIRA training
-    Supervisor training
-    First aid training
-    Fire fighting training

6. General record keeping

Remember: Without any proof you have no chance to defend yourself in Court! Your site agent must ensure he keeps all the health and safety records the OHSA requires on site for reference purposes and auditing.

7. Internal audits

Your project engineer and appointed health and safety consultant should conduct internal audits a minimum of once a month.

8. Management review

9. Emergency procedures

Your site agent must make available to the project engineer a detailed emergency plan to tie into the evacuation plan already in place on the client’s premises.

10. Hazards and potentially hazardous situations

Your site agent must warn all other contractors of hazardous or potentially hazardous situations, which might prevent them from effectively performing their duties, which includes the placement of adequate warning signs.

11. You must provide personal protective equipment and clothing

Your company must comply with OHSA requirements to provide PPE.

12. Safety signage

Your site agent in conjunction with the appointed safety consultant shall assess the health and safety requirements in conjunction with the risk assessments you’ve conducted and will place the signage at strategic positions on site.

13. Permits

- You company shall ensure that access to site works is restricted to construction personnel
- All attempts must be made to restrict spectator access
- Access to the site shall be by the project engineers’ authorization on the necessary form
- You must apply for special permits for hot work and isolation permits to the project engineer prior to commencing any activity

14. Contractors and suppliers

The site agent must enter into an agreement with the mandatary, with all contractors appointed by the company (Section 37(2), OHSA).  

In the name of safety,

Christel FouchéEditor-in-Chief: Health and Safety Advisor