Before the topic for discussion is tackled, one point must be emphasised. Each and every company or enterprise that is in business is unique when aspects of Occupational Safety, Health and the Environment are taken into consideration. What does this mean? One would pose that question, and the answer is simple.....for each company involved in the market place, a site specific plan has to be drawn up, evaluated, implemented, monitored and controlled. For this to happen effectively, certain appointments need to be made. These appointments identify certain staff members, and link certain duties and responsibilities to these members. These appointments are required in terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85/1993), and once drawn up are legal and binding.
There are also certain appointments which are to be drawn up in conformance with specific standards as set down in the company policies, and are also legal and binding. There are certain appointments which do not refer to ALL companies, and one sector of the market which is to be kept in mind is the construction industry, where appointments to be made are not found anywhere else.
The first appointment which is to be made is that of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and this appointment is made in terms of Section 16.1 of the OHS Act (Act 85/1993). Once this appointment has been made, the CEO will then appoint the other members required. The generic list of appointments is as follows: (in alphabetical order):
Accredited person (electrician) Appointment of CEO (S 16.1), as discussed
Assistant Supervisor of Construction Work Assistant Supervisor of Machinery
Assistant to CEO (s16.2) Chairman, Occupational SHE Committee
Confined Space Inspector Contractor Health and Safety Officer (Construction)
Contractor of Construction Work Emergency Co-ordinator
Environmental Programme Co-ordinator Excavation Inspector
Explosive Powered Tools Inspector (Construction) Fire Equipment Inspector
Fire Team Members First Aider
First Aid Team Members Gas Welding and Cutting Equipment Inspector
Goods Hoist Inspector HCS Co-ordinator
Incident Investigator/s Ladder Inspector
Lifting Machinery, Tackle and Forklift Inspector Lifts, Escalators, Passenger Conveyors Inspector
Master Electrician/Flameproof Inspector Motor Transport Officer/Inspector
Occupational SHE Committee Member/s Occupational Health Practitioner
Pollution Prevention Officer/Inspector Principal Contractor (Construction)
Risk Management Programme Co-ordinator Safe Work Permit Issuing Officer
Sanitation, Plant Hygiene Facilities Inspector Scaffold Inspector
Security Co-ordinator SHE Co-ordinator
SHE Representatives SHE Training Co-ordinator
Shiftsman Site Risk Assessor (Construction)
Stacking/Storage Inspector Supervisor of Construction Work
Supervisor of Demolition Work Supervisor of Machinery.
