Emergency Services SA / Occupational Risk - latest Issue

The rescue teams from around the world were commendable in their efforts to help the people of Japan after the devastation wreaked by the earthquake and consequent tsunami - all of this in temperatures that had dropped below freezing point, amidst the constant threat of a nuclear meltdown.

The irony of safety and health in South Africa is that those employed to maintain the safety and health of the public are vulnerable to attacks on their own safety and health. A local reporter recently caught up with two female paramedics, one who had been raped and the other, her partner, who was a witness to the attack in Durban Deep last year. At the time, the two paramedics were performing emergency life support on a baby who had been severely burned.

Last year, in October, I promised to come back to you with more information on ISO/TC 223 Societal Security. I provide this information here and hope it will assist you in deciding whether or not to participate.

From a government-funded NGO to a globally renowned enterprise providing a comprehensive range of risk management services and products, NOSA has changed the face of occupational risk management. Turning 60 this year, the company has keen insights into this specialist sector.

The CoCT's fire and rescue services opened its accredited training facility - the Epping Training Academy - last year. ESSA spoke to Clinton Manuel, divisional commander: Training and Development, about the institute's extrication teaching programme.

In this article, we consider the often controversial adoption by the legislature of the standard of reasonable practicability.

Disasters or major incidents are entirely unpredictable. But this unpredictability provides the perfect opportunity to prepare for the eventuality of such occurrences and their impact on surrounding communities.

Countless stories honour the life-preserving virtues of PPE, but sadly, as many relate fatal endings, where its impracticality or discomfort caused it to be discarded. The importance of ergonomic design in PPE cannot be underestimated.

When a story about PPE is reported in the media, the focus is usually on non-compliance or product failures. This month, Occupational Risk invited readers to share their feel-good PPE stories instead.

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) currently in use for TB testing may take up to three months to deliver results. But a new NAAT test promises results in 100 minutes.

As 3S MEDIA celebrates 50 years in business, and MD Elizabeth Shorten marks a decade at the helm, we look back at the colourful history of the company and its founder, and forward to the fast-changing future.

The March court ruling, in which a former mineworker was able to claim damages for an occupational disease even though he qualified for certain state benefits, has significant repercussions for businesses throughout SA.

As SHEQ management becomes an increasingly important part of corporate risk management, various courses abound. Exactly which of these are proving popular is an indication of current market dynamics.

As the largest private sector employer in South Africa, Anglo American has faced the disastrous effects of HIV head-on.

SafeQuip has launched a new fire extinguisher that caters for fat fires. Fat fires often occur in food processing companies, industrial kitchens, hotels and restaurants - just about anywhere where food is prepared.

Elixir gets new lease on life

Goscor Compressed Air Systems has acquired KLG Compressed Air Services in a move that will now offer turnkey compressed air solutions to the mining, industrial, construction and hospital markets.