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Consulting Services

CONSULTING

PEOPLE, EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS YOU CAN TRUST

ABOUT OUR CONSULTING SERVICES

Alute consulting services cover the same disciplines as the training offered and include further skills requirements that can often be confusing or difficult to implement, and most likely cost more in time and labour to keep it in-house as opposed to contracting out to specialists:

OUR CONSULTING SERVICES

What is a Legal Compliance Assessment? (LCA)

LCA is an assessment of the degree to which a business does or does not comply with various applicable laws. In terms of the LCA that Alute SA offers, we will assess your business or any part thereof in terms of compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHAS Act) and it’s Regulations, and assist you in achieving compliance.

 

Step 1

We establish which sections of the Act and the Regulations we need to cover in terms of the assessment which is relevant and applicable to your specific operation.

 

Step 2

The assessment is carried out with you, and we us a number of various methods of assessment, including Job Observation, Accident Statistics, Interviews, Documentation and Systems, Appointments and Training.

 

Step 3

The assessment results are compared with the legal requirements and any shortfalls are noted in terms of non-compliance.

Step 4

Remedial action is recommended by Alute SA to improve levels of compliance to ensure minimum compliance against the Act and applicable Regulations.

 

Step 5

Reassessment of remedied areas of non-compliance to measure the success of such action, and take additional steps where necessary.

 
 
 

Why is conducting a Legal Compliance Assessment Important?

If your business does not comply with the legal requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and something goes wrong, you could be fined or imprisoned, or both – depending on the incident and result thereof. Non-compliance can also cause the Department of Labour to fine you or even shut down your entire operation until such time as you do comply.

Without having conducted an assessment and compiling a compliance register/report, you cannot know what is non-compliant and you therefore cannot address such issues, and thus you may fall foul of the law and not even know it.

Once non-compliance aspects have been identified and listed, they can be addressed in order of priority. This priority list will show the business’ intention to comply with legal requirements and will go a long way to proving that you, or the company CEO takes legal compliance seriously and are carrying out your duties as prescribed.

Note:  In terms of the Act, the CEO is always responsible and accountable for compliance. Alute SA can assist in structuring assistants to the CEO by way of section 16.2 and 8.2i of the Act, but this will never relieve the CEO of his obligations.

 

What must a business comply with in terms of the Act?

LCA is an assessment of the degree to which a business does or does not comply with various applicable laws. In terms of the LCA that Alute SA offers, we will assess your business or any part thereof in terms of compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHAS Act) and it’s Regulations, and assist you in achieving compliance.

The compliance requirements of the OHAS Act are vast. The entire Act and all the attached Regulations will cover every aspect of your business. Although the Act is not entirely prescriptive and allows each business to achieve compliance according to their own risks, methodology and business principals, there are many compulsory aspects which usually have a generic compliance system/method, which we can implement with you in a time and cost effective manner so you don’t have to “re-invent the wheel”.

  Some compulsory requirements in terms of legal compliance with the OHAS Act and attached regulations that we specialise in, include:  
 

Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA)

An assessment whereby we identify hazards and risks that your operation exposes people to which can lead to injury or illness, and assist you in mitigating or eliminating these as required by the Act.

 

Emergency and Evacuation Planning (E Plan)

Includes a plan of action documenting planned responses to a variety of emergencies, as well as evacuation out of the area to safe assembly points, together with floor plans and mock drills.

 

Safety Files

Most commonly for contractors working on a client’s premises where the client requires that contractor to ensure they are legally compliant in terms of the OHAS Act. This is generally highly enforced in the construction industry (but does apply to all industries).

Fire Equipment

SABS Approved installation, maintenance, repair and recharge of firefighting equipment (extinguishers, hose reels and hydrants), fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems.

 

Training

Legislated training in the disciplines of - 1st Aid, firefighting, health and safety, as well as business requirements in terms of security, management and supervisory, as well as customised course development in many areas, including Soft Skills (people related) and Hard Skills (Job Related Competencies).

 
 
 

What is the cost for Alute SA to carry out a Legal Compliance Assessment?

The cost of the assessment will depend on your operation itself and how many aspects of the Act and regulations need to be assessed.

For example, your business may not require assessment in terms of some of these regulations and thus there is no cost involved for these items:

 

Health related regulations

Asbestos Regulations, 2001

Hazardous Biological Agent Regulations, 2001

Hazardous Chemical Substances Regulations, 1995

Lead Regulations, 2001

Noise Induced Hearing Loss Regulation, 2003

General regulations

Environmental Regulations for Workplaces, 1987

Facilities Regulations, 1990

General Administrative Regulations, 2003

General Health and Safety Regulations, 1986

Electrical regulations

Electrical Installation Regulations, 2009

Electrical Machinery Regulations, 1988

 

Machinery regulations

Driven Machinery Regulations, , 1988

General Machinery Regulations, 1988

Lift, Escalator and Passenger Conveyor Regulations, 1994

Pressure Equipment Regulations, 2009

Specific regulations

Regulations concerning the Certificate of Competency, 1990

Construction Regulations, 2014

Diving Regulations, 2001

Explosives Regulations, 2003

Major Hazard Installation Regulations, 1993

Regulations on Hazardous Work by Children in SA, 2010

What is a Risk Assessment?

Risk assessment is the term used to describe the overall process or method that we:

    •  Identify hazards and risk factors that have the potential to cause harm (hazard identification).

    •  Analyze and evaluate the risk associated with that hazard (risk assessment).

    •  Determine appropriate ways to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk when the hazard cannot be eliminated (risk control).

When we conduct a risk assessment we take a thorough look at your workplace to identify those things, situations, processes, etc. that may cause harm, particularly to people. The assessment is not only a physical look, but includes a variety of information gathering methods, including statistics, reports, interviews, SHE Rep and Committee minutes and more. After identification is made, we analyze and evaluate how likely it is that an injury or incident will happen, and how severe the risk is. Once this determination is made, Alute, together with your team will decide what measures should be put in place to effectively eliminate or control the harm from happening.

 

Why is Risk Assessment Important?

Risk assessments are very important as they form an integral part of an occupational health and safety management plan.

The risk assessment will:

    •  Create awareness of hazards and risk.

    •  Identify who may be at risk (e.g., employees, cleaners, visitors, contractors, the public, etc.).

    •  Determine whether a control program is required for a particular hazard.

    •  Determine if existing control measures are adequate or if more should be done.

    •  Prevent injuries or illnesses, especially when done at the design or planning stage.

    •  Prioritize hazards and control measures.

    •  Meet legal requirements.

 

When should a Risk Assessment be done?

The Act says you must conduct a risk assessment:

    •  Immediately if it has never been done before,

    •  before new processes or activities are introduced,

    •  before changes are introduced to existing processes or activities, including when products, machinery, tools, equipment change or new          
     information concerning harm becomes available, or

    •  when hazards are identified.

How we carry out Risk Assessments.

Assessments are done by a competent person or team of individuals who have a good working knowledge of the situation being studied. Alute SA works together with your delegates, as an intimate knowledge of your operation is essential when conducting the assessment. Your team may include at times, the supervisors and workers who work with the processes under review as these individuals are the most familiar with the operation.

In general, to do an assessment, we:
 
 

 

    •  Identify hazards.

    •  Determine the likelihood of harm, such as an injury or illness occurring, and its severity.

    •  Consider normal operational situations as well as non-standard events such as maintenance, shutdowns, power outages, emergencies,         extreme weather, etc.

    •  Review all available health and safety information about the hazard such as Safety Data Sheet (SDS), manufacturers literature, information from         reputable organizations, results of testing, workplace inspection reports, records of workplace incidents (accidents), including information         about the type and frequency of the occurrence, illnesses, injuries, near misses, etc.

    •  Understand the minimum legislated requirements.

    •  Identify actions necessary to eliminate the hazard, or control the risk using the hierarchy of risk control methods.

    •  Evaluate to confirm if the hazard has been eliminated or if the risk is appropriately controlled.

    •  Monitor to make sure the control continues to be effective.

    •  Keep any documents or records that may be necessary. Documentation may include detailing the process used to assess the risk, outlining any         evaluations, or detailing how conclusions were made, which is what Alute SA will provide together with the reports.

When doing an assessment, we also take into account:
 
 

    •  The methods and procedures used in the processing, use, handling or storage of the substance, etc.

    •  The actual and the potential exposure of workers (e.g., how many workers may be exposed, what that exposure is/will be, and how often they         will be exposed).

    •  The measures and procedures necessary to control such exposure by means of engineering controls, work practices, and hygiene practices and         facilities.

    •  The duration and frequency of the task (how long and how often a task is done).

    •  The location where the task is done.

    •  The machinery, tools, materials, etc. that are used in the operation and how they are used (e.g., the physical state of a chemical, or lifting heavy         loads for a distance).

    •  Any possible interactions with other activities in the area and if the task could affect others (e.g., cleaners, visitors, etc.).

    •  The lifecycle of the product, process or service (e.g., design, construction, uses, decommissioning).

    •  The education and training the workers have received.

    •  How a person would react in a particular situation (e.g., what would be the most common reaction by a person if the machine failed or         malfunctioned).

It is important to remember that the assessment takes into account not only the current state of the workplace but any potential situations as well.

By determining the level of risk associated with the hazard, the employer, and the health and safety committee (where appropriate), can decide whether a control program is required and to what level.

 
 

What is the cost for Alute SA to carry out a risk assessment?

Assessments can vary in terms of something as simple as using a photocopier, to assessing an entire manufacturing plant. The depth of a risk assessment should not vary, however the amount of involvement you may require from Alute may vary. We offer risk assessment at various stages, from advice, to overseeing the assessment, to conducting the assessment and this depends on your company’s time and ability to carry out some or all of the requirements.

We also present a risk assessment training course which is ideally suited for your health and safety representatives to carry out further and continuous risk assessments in support of the original assessment with regards any changes to your operation, systems, legislation or people.

 

We are ready to help you protect lives, property & the environment.

We have years of experience in developing Emergency Action Plans (EAP). An EAP is not only the floor plans with evacuation routes and assembly areas, but also must include who does what in the time of an emergency. A good emergency plan consists of a documented plan detailing all relevant information, and then extracts from this comprehensive plan are trained to the responders and coordinators who will ensure the plan is activated and runs properly in the event of an emergency.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Do you and your staff know what to do in an emergency and how to get out alive?

 

What is an Emergency Action Plan?

An EAP is a plan of action for you, your staff, visitors, contractors and other building occupants in case of an emergency, detailing what to do and where to go for the best possible opportunity to reduce injury to people, damage to property and impacts on the environment.

Do you have to have a Plan?

Yes, the CEO (or 16.1 in terms of the Act), must be able to prove he did everything a reasonable person would/could have done to prevent people from being injured at work whilst under his employ. To prove this, it will be expected from any reasonable person to identify possible emergencies, plan a response to these emergencies, train staff in their duties and responses, post evacuation routes and assembly areas for all occupants to follow and then practice this plan regularly to ensure it works.

How can Alute SA help you?

 

To ensure you have done everything reasonably possible for all staff, visitors and contractors (all building occupants) that fall under your care at the time of an emergency, an emergency plan must be developed, documented, communicated to all, trained to key personnel, and practice drills conducted with the entire staff. This emergency plan must include all possible identified emergencies and responses and must be a documented plan that all staff have access to as and when required.

To carry out the requirements of the Fire and Emergency plan, we offer the following:

Training

 

During an emergency, there must be trained persons available to attend to this emergency (over and above the persons who will co-ordinate the evacuation). These trained people are also prescribed in terms of a number of sections of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The table hereunder lists our recommendations.

Physical Premises

 

During the planning stages, a walkabout is required. During this phase, a number of items will become evident, some of which may not be in contravention of the Act, but will need to be addressed as a concern for the safety of the people and property on the premises.

The CEO of any business is always responsible to ensure the health and safety of employees, contractors, visitors and others who may be affected by the operations of the business. This includes working at your own premises or on site.

Legislation and standards are written and enforced to ensure that the CEO of any business ensures compliance with Fire and Emergency Requirements so that:

• the occupants or people using the building will be protected – including persons with disabilities;

• the spread and intensity of any fire within buildings, and the spread to any other buildings, will be minimized;

• sufficient stability will be retained to ensure that such building will not endanger any other building;

• the generation and spread of smoke will be minimized or controlled to the greatest extent possible;

• adequate means of access, and equipment for detecting, fighting, controlling and extinguishing fires.

Following an Emergency on your premises, can you answer “yes” to each of these questions? In case of an enquiry, you will have to prove you did everything a reasonable person in the same situation would have done – the Occupational Health and Safety Act prescribes what you must do to ensure you acted responsibly.

Structured learnerships with financial and BEE benefits

There are so many benefits to implementing learnerships (if it’s done correctly) that any business that is not currently engaged in this, must consider starting immediately - and it’s not too late as Learnership Legislation has very recently been amended and will remain in force for a few years. The type of learnership structuring that we specialise in, can be rolled out to any size business as long as there are staff employed and on the payroll of that business. The benefits are even more effective for those businesses who are actively growing and employing new staff on a regular basis. Learnerships have been one of the methods of upskilling the South African workforce for many years and despite the unimaginable amounts of money already pumped into this method of education, the Government, SETA’s and the private sector continue to fund and subsidise the cost of learnerships that businesses embark on with their employees as well as unemployed people. When taking advantage of both funding/allowances, and learnership structuring, not only can a business receive funding to train their staff, but in fact also make money tax free, and this is all legal.

• Alute will help Design, deliver, train, set-up of an SANS approved Quality Management System specifically for the organisation

• Alute will Design and drafting of floor plans of a) workstations, b) process flows, c) emergency evacuation routes and d) workshop layout

• In terms of SANS 1475, there is a specific list of tools required as a minimum which Alute will supply

• Alute will supply a Pressure Test Station including hand pump, hoses, valves, gauges, master gauge, quick release couplings, bonnet (excludes safety cage)

• Alute will supply a Pressurising Station including regulator, hoses and fittings

• Powder Filling room is required by the client. Alute will supply a powder filtration system, and necessary equipment

• A Scale will be supplied by Alute

• Alute will, test, commission, handover, train and certify systems (client to provide staff for labour to assemble and install as instructed)

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