News

2 November 2011

KCJV SILO TEAM RECORDS WORLD CLASS SAFETY RECORD

The Karrena Africa and Concor Civils Joint Venture (KCJV) silo team seconded to the Medupi project, including both the civil and slip forming teams, recently completed the last of nine silos slides with a world class safety record of 700 000 Lost Time Injury Free (LTIF) hours.

The team started sliding the first silo in July 2010, effectively completing the eight other silo slides over the following nine months.

"What makes this safety achievement so significant is that the same team recorded 1 100 000 LTIF hours at their previous contract for PPC Hercules, bringing their total LTIF hours to an inspiring 1.8 million," Pherdy le Roux, the silo site agent for KCJCV, says. "This safety record was accumulated over a 48 month period, going back to late 2007.

The slipforming for the 10 000 t coal stock silo at Medupi was completed with a world class safety record of 700 000 LTIF hours.

"The construction of the nine silos was an exacting task comprising major achievements, such as the erection and dismantling of 360 tons of sliding equipment, with the dismantling activity at heights exceeding 50 metres. "During the casting operation, the concrete bucket moved a total of 84 km around the silos and the slipform shutter for the silos slid a total of 395 metres between the nine silos. A total of 1 250 tons of reinforcing was fixed in the silos and if we had to connect it end to end, this reinforcing would span a distance of 580 km."

Le Roux says the safety achievement is a clear indication of the team's dedication and commitment to Zero Harm which is in line with Murray & Roberts' Stop.Think safety initiative. He adds that the team is determined to continue this unblemished record into and beyond its next project.

He attributes the achievement to sound safety engineering which involves actively seeking solutions to safeguard all employees within a safe working environment by eliminating as much risk as possible.

"This commitment to safety comes from the top," Le Roux says. "It begins with management and filters down from our foremen and engineers to the general workforce. We are proud to have developed a skilled workforce of individuals who take ownership and responsibility for their own safety and are willing to proactively guide any inexperienced local labour. Good communication is a big part of this achievement. Every morning the tool box talk utilised detailed DSTI and Risk Assessments taking into account all activities for the day ahead and the risks the workforce are likely to encounter."