Surface mining association, ASPASA, will on Wednesday 13 April hold its annual health and safety (ISHE) award ceremony, where top performers in the 2021 ISHE audit will be recognised for their efforts, Quarrying Africa reports.
Despite the documented operational challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, director Nico Pienaar tells Quarrying Africa that ASPASA members have once again exhibited high levels of health and safety compliance.
ASPASA ISHE auditor Marius van Deventer adds that members audited in the 2021 ISHE Audit demonstrated total commitment to the industry’s quest for zero harm, in the face of difficult operating conditions.
Van Deventer says there was a notable increase in the number of operations audited in 2021 than in 2020. A total of 69 operations participated in the audit, compared with 48 the previous year.
“Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the majority of ASPASA members agreed to participate in the ISHE Audit for 2021, with strict COVID-19 protocols followed throughout the process. In the end, we tackled the audit with a positive attitude under strenuous circumstances, driven by the commitment to add value to the industry,” says Van Deventer.
