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PREVENTING ‘ACCIDENTS’ IN CONSTRUCTION

Professor John Smallwood, PhD (Construction Management) Pr CM PrCHSA FCIOB MACHASM MACPM MESSA MICOH MIOSH MIoSM MSAIOSH
Department of Construction Management, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University

Introduction
Fatalities, injuries, and disease continue to occur in South African construction and the recent Tongaat Mall collapse resulted in a frenzy of media attention, only to dissipate similar to a spent firecracker. Needless to say various stakeholders are interested in the causes, and the Department of Labour has investigated and will continue to investigate the „accident‟. The question is: „What will the findings be?‟

Fatalities, injuries, disease, and inadequate H&S, non-compliance included, will continue to occur till such time that the following are a feature of, and / or optimised in the South African construction industry.

'Failure of management' versus 'Accident'
There is no such thing as an „accident‟ (Myth)! Traditional definitions include, among other: „An unplanned event‟. Are „accidents‟ unplanned? Absolutely not! Any review will indicate that they are meticulously planned by default i.e. through actions and or omissions. Consequently, given that the five functions of management work are planning, organising, leading, controlling, and coordinating, then unplanned events such as „accidents‟ = „failure of management‟ (Reality). Effectively, the aforementioned is a philosophy and constitutes a state of mind. However, the term management must not be construed to apply solely to contractors, as there is a management echelon in all built environment stakeholder organisations, including client, project manager, designer, and quantity surveyor.

Is there a gap between graduate competencies and the expectations of the built environment industry in South Africa?

The construction of the Gautrain, the revamping of transport infrastructure and erection of nine stadia for the FIFA 2010 World Cup between 2006 and 2010 are glimpse of what South Africa can achieve when the State and the private sector seamlessly align planning and construction. However, rolling countrywide service delivery protests are a reminder that not all is well. The Presidency, in the National Development Plan admitted in 2011 that South Africa did not appear to have the capacity to deliver on its policies and programmes.

MANAGER: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Applications are invited for the newly created position of Manager: Regional Development with the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. The primary purpose of this job is to sustainably expand non-South African membership of the SAIMM by establishing and supporting National Branches in neighbouring countries. Secondary activities are related to representation of the SAIMM on appropriate industry-level forums that support membership growth and Institute sustainability.

MQA gives Wits University over R20 million

17 March 2014 - Johannesburg: The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) handed over a cheque for more than R20 million to Wits University on Friday, 14 March 2014. The money will go towards support for seven lecturers in mining engineering and bursaries for 236 students in the following disciplines: analytical, chemical, electrical, industrial, mechanical, metallurgical, and mining engineering, and geology.

Book Review - Digging Deep

Jade Davenport, the author of Digging Deep, has written a very readable book on the historic contribution that mining has made in developing South Africa into a modern industrial state. It is not necessarily a must-read for people in the mining industry, but the book is well written and should be seen as a South African mining biography.

The SAIMM Library

The library has been indexed and sorted. Although it is not as big as we would like it to be, we have a fair number of reference books and a certain amount of resource material.

Access to the library and the control of the borrowing process is in the hands of Kea Shumba.

The titles are available on the website at the following link: http://www.saimm.co.za/saimmlibrary?task=showCategory&catid=32

Sam Moolla, Manager: SAIMM Secretariat

Five Ways To Achieve Success - by Dr J Molete

 J Molete  Five ways to achieve success

A presentation to the Young Professionals of the Minerals Industry 2014 Conference _ organised by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)

by Dr Joe Molete | 14 March 2014

 

I was honoured as the keynote speaker for the Young Professionals of the Minerals Industry 2014 Conference, which took place from 11-­‐13 March 2014 at Monte Casino on Johannesburg, South Africa. organised by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM). I spoke immediately after internationally renowned scenario strategist, facilitator, best-­‐selling business author, lecturer and speaker, Chantell IIbury from the Mind of a fox who presented about the scenario planning approach. She captivated me as she narrated tactics of a fox versus that of hedgehog as well as the global and local scenarios. While she was busy delivering her address I looked around the room filled with young professionals and wondered if they knew how privileged they are to be exposed to such a world-­‐renowned scenario planner at this early stage in their careers.

I also enjoyed presentations by young professionals who shared the research they are working on in contribution to the mining industry. I was very impressed especially given that some of them were presenting for the very fist time. I wish more students could have such an opportunity to present, network and be exposed to expert knowledge.
In my keynote address I shared the following five key principles for personal success with the young professionals:

1. Have a clear definitiveness of purpose
Napoleon Hill in his classical book, "Think and grow rich", tells us that the first and most important thing for anyone striving to achieve success is to have a clear definitiveness of purpose. This is about having a strong burning desire to solve a problem much bigger than oneself. The  definitiveness of purpose must be a guiding principle around which most of one's life activities are focused. The definitiveness of purpose may slightly change overtime but it is very important that one can be able to articulate it clearly. I used my obsession with beneficiating our biodiversity as an example of my definitiveness of purpose at some given point. A quotation that hits home for me is by Benjamin Disraeli where he says: "I have brought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment".

2. Focus on continuous development
Jim Rohn reminds us that success is something one attracts by the person one becomes. The one way to become successful is to focus on ones personal development. There are various ways to learn besides getting certificates. Certificates are good in that they give us credibility but they do not guarantee one a job. Other ways to learn include learning from parents, role models, through reading in line with our passions, through journaling and most importantly through trying and failing. For one to be able to learn one must remember to continuously unlearn especially most of the limiting beliefs that hold us hostage. I gave examples about the fact that I spent 14 years in tertiary institutions learning and despite family pressure to go work so as to help my other siblings I became selfish and now I am able to help them much better.

3. Align and integrate your portfolio of passions
The principle here is that some people are not able to focus on just one thing as they become easily bored. They fall into the scatter-­‐brains category like me and they get excited by juggling more than one ball. A portfolio of passions should be manageable and controllable and it is different from just starting many projects and not completing them. The portfolio should consist of demonstrable passions that are being practised and have been around for a very long time. I illustrated this concept using my own portfolio of passions which consists of science, leadership, music as well as entrepreneurship. It is amazing that always after my talks most of the professionals who come talk to be are themselves scatter-­‐brains who are trying to balance their portfolio of passions. Most of the time they just want to be validated as they spent most of the times feeling frustrated by the fact that they cannot just focus on doing research only. I always encourage them to make their studies a priority and make sure they complete least they get distracted by other passions.

4. Understand and balance your motivational trigger
One wise man once said that knowing and not doing is like not knowing. Most people know exactly what they should do but they are not doing it. For example, we all know that we need to exercise to live longer but there are still people who don't exercise. We also know that we need to write our goals down if we want to be successful yet most people are not doing that. On the other hand, there are people who seem naturally motivated. The motivated ones understand their motivational triggers and know how to align their values with what is important. Most people have to be really disgusted before they can take action while others will wait until they are on a burning platform before they act. Working on increasing one's level of self-­‐awareness is always a worthwhile investment. It is also important for one to balance one's extrinsic and extrinsic motivations so that the focus is not only on achieving money and big titles but to live a meaning life. More importantly, it is also beneficial to know which problems to hand over to GOD and which battles are yours to fight. Otherwise one may end up just depressed and solving problems that they are not meant to solve.

5. Write goals as well as share your story
This is an old time principle that does not need further emphasis. It's the one principle that you either or you don't. Once one makes it a habit, one will realise the benefit. I shared with young professionals the importance of writing and planning in the seven areas of life. I also shared the importance of sharing one's message with others. Steven R Covey reminds us in his book, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness, that our role as leaders is to strengthen our voice and then help others strengthen theirs. Going to your old high school and sharing career advice with young students are some of the examples of helping others strengthen their voice.

I hope and pray that you will be able to apply some of these principles.

Adeus...

Dr Joe Molete is the founder of Dr Joe High Performance Academy, a platform that accelerates professional to positions of leadership, scientific excellence and wealth. This platform supports people to become high performing individuals who drive sustainable organizations. Dr Molete is available for speaking and training. He's on Twitter @drjoemolete.

Obituary - Hugh Scott-Russell

Hugh Scott-Russell passed away in Johannesburg on 20 November 2013. He is survived by his wife Barbara, their four children, and eight grandchildren. Hugh was born in Randfontein on 13 February 1935. He attended junior sch ool in Randfontein and went on to Pretoria Boys High School to complete matric. Hugh joined the Land Bank after school, and two years later he enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand to study for a BA in preparation for a career in teaching. However, due to a lack of funds he decided to join the mining industry as a geological assistant at Randfontein Estates Gold Mine. This was the start of what was to be a long and distinguished career with Johannesburg Consolidated Investments Ltd (JCI).

Professor Emeritus status conferred on Wits Mining Professor Huw Phillips

6 November 2013 - Johannesburg. After 27 years as a full professor at the School of Mining Engineering at the University of the Witwatersrand, Huw Phillips has been honoured with the status of Professor Emeritus for his outstanding contribution to the University.

He was also recently named as the 2013 winner of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s prestigious Brigadier Stokes Memorial Award for his unique input to the industry over many years.

CSMI boosts research plans for 2014

3 December 2013 – Johannesburg. South Africa needs to keep an eye on whether policy, laws, and practice are supporting its aim of sustainable development in mining and industry – and this is going to need more applied research across disciplines. Such research is already underway at the Centre for Sustainability in Mining and Industry (CSMI), part of the School of Mining Engineering at Wits University, and is being expanded as part of its new research focus in 2014.

SAIMM on twitter

Other mining news

Mining Weekly | Africa

29 March 2024

The latest mining world news and project information from Africa. providing updates on the progress of future, new and existing projects. Developments in mining legislation, policies, investments and infrastructure will be highlighted
  • Hummingbird warns of delay in achieving commercial production at Kouroussa
    Aim-listed Hummingbird Resources has informed shareholders that commercial production at its Kouroussa gold mine, in Guinea, will be delayed beyond the targeted first quarter of this year owing to reduced mining activity. In the meantime, the supporting mining contractor continues to operate, with the processing plant processing this ore, together with stockpiled material.
  • Bell posts 66% rise in full-year profit
    JSE-listed heavy machinery manufacturer Bell Equipment has posted a 66% increase in profit for the year ended December 31, 2023, to R793-million. Following unprecedented global demand for equipment in most markets, the company generated basic earnings per share (EPS) of 799c, which is a 67% increase on the prior year’s EPS of 47c.
  • Rainbow reiterates potential of South Africa, Brazil projects
    Rainbow Rare Earths is bullish about the potential of its Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa, as it is expected to be the highest margin rare earth elements (REEs) project in development owing to its different capital and operating cost profile compared to traditional projects, CEO George Bennet says in an unaudited results statement for the six months ended December 31. “Phalaborwa is a unique project in the rare earths space. Due to the fact that it is focused on the reprocessing of phosphogypsum stacks to recover rare earths, it has a fundamentally different cost profile to traditional mining projects, and it is therefore expected to be the highest margin rare earth project in development today,” he comments.