THE ACTIVITIES AFTER THE ACTIVITIES AT HOTAZEL

What it meant to me
The experience built-up obtained through participating in the Hotazel project was more distilled by conducting co-training for Morden SHEQ Risk Management (MSRM) course with Wim Nortier.

The process of conducting an observation through sitting in the first Monday morning during which the course began prepared me for the days ahead; namely for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Amongst other tabs that I presented; I covered Legal liability exposure, Inspections and so forth. With the idea to maintain continuity as much as possible; I sat in to align my method of delivery in harmony with that of Wim Nortier’s.

His was a more practical sense based approach to concepts; which gave them life by making it easier for the candidate to familiarise with their application when candidates get back to the workplace. Remember, the idea behind conducting courses is more than just only informing candidates but most importunately of all is that they understand what they learn in order put concepts learned into practice day-in day out.

The facilitation team
Like I alluded before that Wim Nortier was the principal facilitator for the course, Gomotsegang Lekalakala and I had to co-present together with him in order to sharpen our presentation skills. Since lately business for training piles up; this calls for more trainers to facilitate courses to meet course demand with appropriate trainer supply. By the looks of the inclusion of PDP candidates in IRCA’s core functions; all roads lead to permanent placement with adequate assessments paving a way where each candidate best fits. However, personally I subscribe to the perception that training makes a core requirement since it underlies whatever work or unit one may eventually belong in at IRCA.

The time breakdown
The course began early in the morning around 08h30 or so on Monday; ended around 16h00 in the afternoons. Much it depended on the candidate’s quest for more knowledge to cover in preparation for their final assessment on Friday, hence they requested to meet earlier than the normal 08h30. They were a hard working bunch of men I had ever seen; demonstrated by their dedication to learn as much as they could about the subject material at hand.

Public-course offering
The training was a public course type offering; hence it was held at IRCA Global training facility situated at the Randburg head office. This is one of the three main ways courses can be offered by IRCA; with the other two being in-house and correspondence. MSRM is provided over a six month period through correspondence; while 5 days period for either in-house or public course offering.

The one also falling squarely into the latter way of course offering is the Risk Management Qualification, also known as Riskmaq. Primarily broken down into three parts, Certificate, Diploma as well as Degree through e-learning.

The method of presentation
The MSRM was rolled out using the MS PowerPoint slides containing summary points on relevant topics in-line with the candidate’s files, obviously comprising more detailed info. The facilitation covered explanation of key points in detail; coupled with illustrative examples and the rest was for future reference and personal enrichment.

The manner in which I presented the course indicated to me how practical experience plays a critical role during presentations. For it helps in transferring concepts from theory into practical application for candidates; by using plenty of necessary examples befitting their respective industries.

Objective of my participation
The purpose of participating in the course may have had other objectives from the perspective of my managers; alternatively it helped me personally to identify what I need in conducting high-end courses like MSRM in comparison to lower end courses i.e. Health and Safety Rep., etc.

With the feedback I obtained from the principal facilitator; I managed to budget my time and efforts accordingly to align my developmental goals in line with the needs identified. And I cannot wait to get another opportunity to grow in this great experience.

NEW ACTIVITIES

Sunday afternoon of the 28th June 2009 marked the departure for our PDP team, comprising of Mxolisi Sihlali aka “Zuluman”, Michael Muller and myself heading for a six hour trip to Hotazel Manganese Mines in Northern Cape. The purpose of our trip was to participate in a practical assignment regarding the Behaviour-Based Solutions (BBS) roll-out, taking place at Wessels and Mamatwan mines. This was a follow up on the training we had received from the Behaviour Intervention Technologies (BIT) department at IRCA Global through Pieter Grobler, one of the BIT practitioners.

Gomotsegang Lekalakala and Rayno Kretzschmar headed for Civcon construction project a week before our departure, due to the need to undergo for medicals examinations as a normal site requirement prior getting them onboard into the BBS roll-out process.

Wesley Longueira, Professional Development Programme (PDP) Co-ordinator welcomed all the PDP Candidates from practical sites with new activities for each one of us.

Mxolisi was assigned with Legal and General training, as well as legal compliance related activities.

Michael was responsible for General training, Marketing, Health & Safety Representative Skills Programme, Forum meeting and Health & Safety at IRCA head office.

Gomotsegang was designated to attend to MQA accreditation, Health & Safety Representative Skills Programme, Occulus, Marketing, General training and ISOM/OSHAP.

Rayno’s duties entailed General training, Marking RISKMAQ assignments, HQMS, Marketing, ISIT and Private Universities.

I have to attend to Marking RISKMAQ assignments, Internal Product Training, Marketing: Market Research, Health & Safety Representative Skills Programme and Layoff Scheme too.

All these activities are rendered by PDP Candidates within the Training and Education Department where we are currently placed.

The feeling I get of the duration on these new activities seem to span for September up until the end of the year; with a possibility to end sometime in the New Year if it needs be.

The ultimate aim for our involvement in rendering these tasks is to cultivate over and above practical experience from our previous learning the customisation of each PDP member into being one with IRCA’s business culture.

This will be possible by participating in day-to-day business activities which are at the centre of producing revenue for the company. Thus creating an opportunity of investing something of value back into the company. This brings about a great sense of appreciation.

UNDERGROUND SITE-VISIT @ WESSELS MINE

Early Thursday morning, on the 6th August 2009, Mxolisi, Michael, Pieter and I visited the Wessels underground mine as part of the Behaviour Based Solutions (BBS) activities. We were accompanied by the BBS Process Champion of BHP Billiton, Wynand Botes who assumed the role of a site-visit guide for the day.

After exchanging our normal clothes and the Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) we brought along with for the site appropriate ones; reflector-overalls, long socks and gumboots, ear plugs, reflector hard hats among others. We headed for the vertical shaft entrance of Wessels mine, where we signed the visitors and PPE log books.

The most important PPEs critical for working in underground mine areas, other than the ones mentioned earlier were the light is connected to the battery component by a black insulated electrical cable as well as the Siza Moya in a silver enclosed package. All these two PPEs had to be inserted on the waist belt tightly for ease of access during an emergency. The Siza Moya would come handy during shortness of breath; during instances where accidents like ground falling would take place with possible overexposure to dust, smoke or chemicals fumes. While the light and its battery helped in obviously operating in dark underground areas where there is little or no light at all. The black insulated cable that connects the light and the battery had a sound sensor with a red light; which helped in cases when one by mistake walked close to mobile machinery unawares. By this it would go off, making a loud warning sound while simultaneously switching on to warn the person in danger of the on-coming mobile equipment. For a better support of the insulated light connecting black cable; there is a cable holder designed for such purpose on the back of the hard hat.

Eventually we reached the underground operation situated 300 meters below the surface, which took the shaft approximately a minute to come to a stop. We arrived at the underground site and coming out of the shaft we were met by a new world ruled by mechanised electrically powered drill rigs and other underground mobile equipments. Front-end loaders, matched with 25 ton dump trucks, load and hauling off the ore from faces to satellite crushers underground.

The nature of the ore body mined at Wessels is obtained from the underground using a mechanised room and pillar mining method. Arriving at the Murray and Roberts’ site situated at the Central block between the East and West Blocks, we registered on the visitor’s log book. We began to observe their different work activities ranging from fixing wall cable-holders, marking faces with white lines and etcetera. The activity that captured my attention the most was drilling. It was taking place following white lines marked on the hanging wall; guiding the driller to drill holes horizontally into the face.

There is more to talk about underground Wessels site-visit. However, the most important is to talk about the lessons I learned from my observations. Chief of which is the accuracy of my understanding has on SHEQ Management Systems. The understanding was brought about by what I saw underground, that which befits elaborating in further detail. It made me aware why oftentimes SHEQ professionals feed inaccurate information into their safety systems that only help bring workers unpleasant, risky consequences quicker as sad outcome. High possible chance that incidents could take place seemingly becomes pretty much guaranteed as a result. Simply put, when safety systems fall short of being informed by accurate information; the achievement of their purpose becomes desperately impossible. Remember that safety systems are by design a well thought after; calculated efforts that seek to help workers prevent incidents in the general workplace. This also includes the time during which workers conduct their duties in various designated sections of the company like the underground area below surface. Failure by SHEQ professionals to regularly visit all these different areas of the company at given intervals; renders their efforts to positively contribute to the safety of their fellow workers useless.

My underground experience taught me that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Policies, etc that SHEQ professionals document for managing occupational risks in the workplace to be followed in the company, would be more meaningful if the SHEQ professionals knew first hand:

• what critical conditions the workers face in their different work areas;
• which sections within their work area is of high risk and which is not;
• which among many tasks should comprise of the steps that specifically aims at proactively preventing incidents from happening, due to the risk-inherent nature of those tasks;
• which critical behaviours can be advised to the team as highly important for their safety to help the team to assume responsibility at individual and team level;
• Which safety initiatives should be aligned with one another and how. In order to enable them to work as one single organised safety system. Therefore reducing the frustration workers go through when confronted with the task of complying with each initiative one at a time separately; and,
• And more.

Then, only then, will the services of the SHEQ professionals make a distinct positive impact often demonstrated by their good intended safety efforts. Saving the lives of so many workers who at a greater extent are dependant at the mercy of how accurate the info documented within SOPs, Policies, etc is reasonably practicable to their workplace situations. More so, during conducting work in high-risk profiled workplace conditions and carrying out inherently-dangerous activities like underground mining.

All the queries normally brought up by the workers will be understood from a practical sense by SHEQ professionals; as opposed to a superficial theoretical approach. For lacking the essential practical insight regarding the workplace situations at hand. Most important of all is that many of the problems the workers face would be anticipated with proactive solutions prior being raised at all or incidents could take place.

This by far is my Iine of thought about underground mining, what is yours?

BBS PROCESS FOR BHPBILLITON, HOTAZEL

Monday of the week before last I began with identifying Critical Conditions for work areas and sections obtained from computerised generated observation checklists of occupations and task procedures; which were previously documented and captured for Wessels mine. This activity took Mxolisi and me about two days to complete. Then we were to populate the five most critical conditions per corresponding work area on the BBS software. The main purpose for identifying the most critical conditions per section was to check for any irregularities that may have occurred during the first time population done on the BBS software. The BHP Billiton software also known as RAAS system was very resourceful, from which we expoted the previously observed data on critical tasks per occupation at Wessels Mine.

However, due to the employee teams’ training and PACT agreements that had to be completed before Friday; the work was left at the stage ready to be populated. A team made up of Phillip, Mxolisi and I took off for Mamatwan to give BBS training and to make team PACT agreements.
As a team we experienced a challenge during the Training presentations and PACT agreement formation due to language barrier. For some of the lower-level employees attending e.g. cleaners could not understand either English or Afrikaans, but only Setswana. It was later agreed that I should translate from both English and Afrikaans into Tswana for the Training presentations and PACT agreement formations .

This also led to later translating the perception survey questionnaire (though it was agreed among the team that it was important to run quality check on it by giving it to the Tswana speaking employees members to guarantee its effectiveness or lack thereof prior using it). For since feedback from perception surveys indicated a lack of understanding for some lower-level employees, this encouraged the translation further, by the situation presenting our initiative an opportunity to effectively solve the language barrier challenge we experienced. Though the Tswana language translation during presentations had slight differences from the local Tswana language; the employees appreciated the effort. Their faces got lit-up with brightness as a sign that eventually they understood the message from presentations.

The week ended on Friday, when we all from IRCA attended a training observation for Wessels’ Steering team which was presented by Luan Luus. It is always a marvel to see a senior member of the team demonstrating how best BBS presentations should be done. The manner in which he did his presentation caught my attention. From the introduction to the conclusion, one thing about steering team presentations that comes up clearly in my mind is the intrinsic motivational coaching made up of the following:

a) Corrective coaching, which applies to peer-to-peer correction when a team member knows the procedure for a critical task; yet however misses some important steps that completes it competently and successful. This is provided by the peer; a member of the team chosen to lead PACT agreement observations during the particular week as a coach and assisted by the rest of the team members.
b) Developmental coaching, which applies when a team member has no clue how each step of the procedure for the critical task s/he is doing fits into an orderly sequence to complete the task. Show and tell is the technique behind this kind of coaching.
c) Safe-behaviour reinforcement coaching, which applies when any team member is caught doing the right value enshrined within the team’s PACT agreement as an individual. This is provided by all team members in cooperation with their coach.

Once a week, normally in the mornings the PACT agreement is reinforced, reading it aloud by all members of the steering team; pledging their uncompromising commitment to its norms and values alike. Followed by a critical task procedure chosen for safe-behaviour modelling by a maximum of two members, to see if they do it correctly both of them. In cases where the difference is apparent, the coach for that week would go through the procedure each step at a time in order to bring all the other steering-team members to attentively identify the missing steps.

While Luan hammered his presentation home so hard, a picture of an employee was stuck in a toilet seat designed stand to scorn employees like her who makes mistakes in their work. For some reason, one person sneaked in to fetch the toilet seat, written these words, “******of the week”.

I think the visible felt leadership is a definitely one of BBS process tools to bring at-risk and non-caring behaviours into safe and caring ones. None other than the relevant supervisors and management team members are responsible to use all three or one of the coaching techniques as time presents an opportunity. The BBS process is a way to bring about intrinsic motivation through visible-felt leadership.

It is a journey through which both top-management and the employees are learning to travel together, in order to incorporate safe and caring behaviour in their day-to-day work activities.

As the week unfolded...

on Monday, came along an opportunity to present Health and Safety Representative course. I only had a day to prepare for a morning slot after Michael Muller completed a tab on communication. It was a mixed bag of feelings; somewhat nervous, somewhat excited to have my first break to convert my presentation skills into fruition with a real group of clients.

Two weeks or so before then, we had a one by the name of Reece Khan preparing us as far as presentations are concerned. We ran a couple of dry-runs which I believe put me at ease in terms of how I performed in the presentation of my tab, namely, Inspections.

With the presentations completed on Wednesday, Mining Qualification Authority assignment put a challenge to put-up a proposal for training of Health and Safety Representative tender. Off we ran forward with the task.

I can say with confidence that the assessments which came on later were helpful to reveal where-else do I need to add more muscle to my personal development within the programme. There are a lot of opportunities presented to us which I am excited to be part of; hopefully this coming Monday we'll be submitting a tender proposal regarding one of them.

I'll talk about that one next time...

The week after..the week before...

The previous week; beginning from Monday up until Friday was specifically marked for our co-presentation assessments. Pity though, we did not know when in one of those days of the week it would fall into. With Marina not well; it certainly put the whole exercise into almost absolute disarray, since even Wesley had so much filling his hands that he could not facilitate that.

But Mr Jo Enslin came to our rescue to assume the caretaking role and we all got to take turns in presenting a module of our choice. It is never so easy to present under surveillance; I guess you get the idea, more so when being assessed. Well, giving the credit where it is due; I believe Reece Khan is to blame for all our competent performance. For having us all each cruising through their presentation sessions because we were so optimistically ready let alone confident.

He prepared us the week before the actual presentation assessments took place. I am of the idea that there is still much to learn in this area; by espousing some more other presentation skills to add on what we have already acquired.

The next on my list to look forward to is the BIT project, in which we will be attending training for a week, relating to Hotazel site visit practicals. This will be preparing us to undertake practical exercises based on what we would have learned from the week-long BIT training.

WE'RE MEETING TOGETHER AGAIN...

It is interesting to learn from our past mistakes as a people; more than showing-off how much we know to others. This week alone, I sat under my peer's presentations under a very interactive atmosphere where we happened to critique each other's presentations too. I learned a lot from it though in addition to presetations we attended. I thus feel the more I used the opportunity to apply what I have learned in those meetings into refining those mistakes worked better for me.

This however does not mean we are the only world's all-there-is in presentations; yet we have for a fact accumulated what no-one can take away from us guaranteed. Hence we're ready to share it with the world; learning everytime when we meet together always...with each PDP member...feels like we're meeting for the very first time during presentations. The reason is simply because we learn a new thing about presenting ourselves better and other things within the programme on how to do those things better.

I would have not achieved an ounce of learning without my peers and Reece Khan; for this reason, this is for you guys: love you lots...the way Jan Loubser explained in the BBS presentations this week (not the other way around).

And I am saying this more specifically for you Wesley...no touching!

PDP Assignments

I've been writing procedures for the Gap analysis and templates for our health and safety management system. With that, I had to add up a lot of information in the form of checklists and also naming all the necessary forms. That included at a later stage that I should add to that with incident and accident report and documents and records management procedures also.

I was tasked with preparing a presentation regarding a proposal to Exco together with other PDP members to motivate for the continuation of a health and safety system once we the PDP members have established it officially. So all that, leads towards assessing how we would establish an efficient health and safety management system, pitch it at management level and market it by singing its benefits to management for its cost-effectiveness and easy of maintenance.

The thing is, I believe in the implementation approach the system has to take; more so I am only left with demonstrating such faith in the product to Exco.

More will I share on these and others after the presentation in order to recap on the outcome of these assessments.

Post Easter

My week prior easter holidays had plenty to do with presenting on IRCA's Health and Safety System I am involved in designing and development. Afterwhich all was left of it was to implement the system after being approved by management. It felt so great to be part of a meaningful exercise like this whereby I could contribute so much to the exercise. Prior joining IRCA, I used to cut news paper clips with requirements on SHEQ jobs. Seeing some of the requirements being designing, developing, and implementing safety systems; I thought to myself that it was quite a magic to get such systems in place. To begin with, I had no experience to relate my ability towards systems implementation, so after this go ahead by management, it got me inspired to look forward to the running of the system. When I knocked off on Thursday from work all I wanted to do was to enjoy my easter holidays...

During the holidays I had rest I owed my body for a long, long time most of the days. It was fun to enjoy my sleep and play with my little girl, Oratile. And my birthday on Saturday kind of pulled my pace a litte bit faster than I expected. I must say, holidays may be a nuisance at times from a business perspective (if it slows business down) but for guys like me; I would like them to stay on. I know for sure, my reason in this case is that this one really meant so much to me: for I managed to spend quality time with loved ones more than ever...though they think I am a risk practitioner for life.

The work one does around risk management goes beyond work hours, so managing risk will always be my second nature and that prepared me for a Tuesday morning for work...

Sweet and short

Last week I took a day off so that I may look for a car that I could buy. And I eventually found one, a Toyota Corolla in an immaculate condition. This is why I did not attend the obervations on Friday with the rest of the PDP on Riskmaq conducted by Carel Swart, but rather joined them on Monday afternoon due to the final paper work I had to attend to regarding my car registration.

Tuesday began with joining the observation team, which focused on training techniques by well-experienced mentors for the aim of learning how to present training courses in future. Learning how to put people at ease and facilitate a conducive learning environment is what appealed to my attention amongst the presentation skills I feel the need to develop. Though, often there was a lot to learn, I think developing a method to identify what I am likely to learn from a mix of different techniques the trainer may be using and are not explained to say the least.

Well, I am looking forward to us finishing the Occupational Health and Safety system which looks pretty much done. The structure seemed to trouble us a lot up until we agreed to disagree and look for the collective good to individual satisfaction.

I will be looking forward to preparations for copresenting after the system's structure is presented and accepted, hopefully by tommorrow Friday we will be finished.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Three points that needed to be covered:

The interviews with the mentors had its challenges over the approach on how to structure interview questions with respect to the level of the position we had to interview. The latest on this, was the amicable agreement to postpone for tommorrow morning with a plan to commence around 09h00; in order to briefly give feedback to Michael for him to catch-up. Reece was also given the background of the interview details and will be ready sometime next week, Wednesday. The interview was solely based on assignment on Tab 4 of Riskmaq.

Concerning the restructuring, we had them completed and ready for tommorrow's interviews with namely, Francois and Carel respectively.

The interview results obviously turned out differently from what we had earlier planned the outcome to be, since due to this it took us off the interview target we had in mind. With the idea to thoroughly implement the advice provided by the mentors in this regard, we then postponed and changed the interview approach.

I hope you are doing well in the conference, wishing you well!

Abram

RCAT 3 Days Course

Root Cause Analysis Technique (RCAT) is the name for the course I underwent this week, beginning on Monday up to Wednesday the 18th March 2009. The course content comprises of 50% material on theory and another 50% practical requirements for a successful pass. It focuses much on Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) outcomes for further investigating the immediate causes of incidents identified e.g. occupations, tasks and steps thereof. Then by conducting RCAT you make extra effort to interrogate the findings for reasons why incidents happened up until they confess: leading you to their root causes.

I found it very challenging to structure questions during interiviews for investigation purposes, when it regarded collecting data from people as a source of evidence. However, it was fun to learn what a difference it makes, especially towards me in person, the feeling that I would be saving lives by conducting incident investigations soothes my heart.

Remember, this course has positive references for being a comprehensive tool in addressing occupational incidents with necessary; yet direct measures to assist management enforce such measures to bring about long-lasting loss preventitive and corrective solutions globally. It is widely used by IRCA in different industries locally (South Africa) and world-wide due to its efficiency for addressing nonconformities or non-compliance related issues for SHEQ systems effectively.

You know what? I am going to use it to that effect too...that is the reason why I enrolled for the course; what about you?.

UMANYANO SAFECONEX AFRICA 2009

Thank you for the invitation to prepare PowerPoint presentations for participating in the above titled event scheduled for the 12 - 13 March 2009, at Indaba Hotel. The involvement of putting a lot of thought to the RISKMAQ (Risk Management Qualification) Part 1 course(s) module's details at service provider-client level, got me thinking differently about the professional development programme (PDP). This being possible because I being directly involved with studying the course modules currently myself, realise that I am the actual end-product after completing the degree by being a professional with a balanced-development in both SHEQ and Legal issues relating to risk management. And that is at the heart of the PDP aims and objectives.

I saw how the RISKMAQ could do more for me when I started explaining it to curious potential clients. Personally, I think IRCA and University of Free State should brace themselves; mainly for the positive response most people are going to give to this degree qualification in terms of dealing with high volume of enrolment numbers and capacity to handle them.

Predominantly, more senior people according to my observation will either enroll themselves or because of having a lot in their hands will make a way possible for their subordinates to attend. Other than that, most self-employed (consultants) people are showing keen interest and because of money related constraints, only a few will go for certificate-by-certificate root in order to obtain it.

In summary, the course looked too expensive to some; yet however the case when we compared the current costs versus academic quality the qualification worths for possible future returns, no one could argue that saving lives is more priceless than the initial expenses for the qualification.

Professional competence got a high rating from the previously disgruntled for course expenses, followed by those who want to be legally compliant as individuals pertaining to their duties in SHEQ day-to-day activities and lastly a few viewed their individual competence and compliance with the law will put their respective companies in the same friendly relations with the law and best practicing institutions.

Abram

Professional Development Programme (PDP) Employee

IRCA (Pty) Ltd

PRACTICAL SITE OBSERVATIONS

The lat week Friday had some delays which saw a lot of work put on hald as a result. We had a big place to compact which due to dampness could not allow for the paving to commence for need of more soil and rocks to fill the place. We had to watch what other people call the "rush and wait" phenomena affecting construction business take the entire production to ransom. It provided a learning that on-site practicalities are more real as compared to the idealistic nature of our learning in class.

We dealt with the lack of water in doing some of the activities; when the nearby river provided its services especially when it came to putting more water into the ground for compacting on drier parts of the ground.

The sun got us dancing for its music, trying to hide ourselves in an open space was no child's play. Eventually the fact that conducting SHEQ related activities got one outside into the mercies of the weather became apparently clear.

More on this later!

Abram

PRACTICAL SITE OBSERVATIONS

I found it quite different comparing training on a particular course with doing a practical task on the same concepts.

The difference it made was for instance when I had tried driving a bobcat at Strydom Park, where I often had to labour/and observe the health and safety programme, plans or systems are in place as well as practically doing some where possible. Ironically, the conducisive environment provided for practical learning did not fully extenguish hazardous activities from taking place, because I almost had an accident while in the process of learning how to operate a bobcat, which happened to be one of the mobile equipments used.

The fact that there is no absolute risk free environment is absolutely true for every industry regardless of the core business of the company. It looks so simple what other people are doing for instance people doing labour, yet come to do what they are doing you find it pretty interesting to find that we can learn from them too.

I had observed that people may learn a lot from those actively practicing SHEQ related activities if we were fully aware of the fact that leading by example is the best way to teach in demonstrating the concepts we talk about.

Boring sometimes as it may have been, there were also exciting moments when I saw the real essence of significantly contributing to the guy's safety. It happened when I chated with the guys on their safety on the site; being taken seriously by being listened to. Some guys would toil without personal protective equipment (PPE) and so forth.

At the end of the day I learned how to do the SHEQ related duties better; whilst on the other hand some people learned how to do their work better by aligning their duties with SHEQ requirements. Hopefully, there were no fatalities reported other than near-missess...in the process and I hope it stays that way all the time.

Chat again with you later!

Abram

The Journal

I had a mixed bag on how to go about getting around the presentation for which we had to present on Friday. The preps went massively well, exhausting ourselves on individual research when more time was lost on bringing feed back on our findings.

The presentation looked as if, though there was a lack of a common thread, all looked better to previous individual presentations since this was a collective one.

I learned a thing or two, more specifically on how to transfer an idea to management by way of practical plans on clarifying where their roles and responsibilities comes into play with the proposals raised by your presentations.

The trainer's trainer course is underway, where a meaty part will be preparing us to conduct the presentations on Tuesday with Jo Ensilin.

So, I am looking forward to learning a lot more better as far as presentations are concerned!


Abram

Presenting Basic Risk Assessment

The research got off with a passion; considering the quest to bring in a new element to the module I had to present for today, namely-Morden SHEQ Risk Management course tab 5. I searched the net for new ideas like a child who lost a piece of an important item.


Then followed the time to go for dry-runs. Boy, it was the most frightening part of the whole process, standing in front of the team you giggled with a minute before; now you had to present to them as new and total strangers to you.


The results were heartwarming though. Since we had to get to the feeling of knowing the sense of relating the material as the key towards imparting it to our students. The name(s) of other key stakeholders who were to take part in these assessments were introduced, only to find out that only Carel Swartz was the only familiar face to reckon with.


It never made the situation any better; it came out as the best learning experience from which I take had the mistakes which I underwent were not identified there and then, it could have been done an injustice to the whole exercise. Why? 'cause that was the purpose of the whole exercise if I had to develop my presentation skills.


I learned that you have to dress your presentation well, from heading to conclusion. For instance, your heading, contents as well as examples should head the ball home of whatever you want to say.


Saying that which you want say and what you need to say can make a whole difference in the transferring of knowledge from you to the students.


Last but not least, is to prepare thoughroughly; bearing in mind of anticipating troublesome students who happens to know too much than it is expected of them, ultimately defying the reason they are in the class in the first place.


I learned to present...and I am still learning...am going to do so continously...honestly, I loved it.



Abram Maema

Research on the Presentation

My methodology in researching for tab 5, has included the likes of the internal IRCA literature products; such as the brochures, the internet, MSRM file and anticipates to find more others as the week proceeds along.

The tab I am working on deals with Basic risk assessment; meaning I will have to beef up all the slides I collated for this presentation with some practical examples. Since risk assessment falls within day-to-day-activity and has to be more of a practical than a theoretical presentation.

Finally, among others one can never conduct basic risk assessment without shedding light on investigation management; for its contribution towards making basic risk assessment a success is phenomenally critical.

My task is to translate all the research data into slides with the latest information I have harvested from various sources I have mentioned before.

Tommorrow, I will be doing more of a consolidation on the work to put a final product together for a pre-presentation to you. I advice that you give me an opportunity to conduct a HIRA on your state of health, who knows, it may be that you will develop a corrective and preventive action plan towards avoiding the challenge you're faced with (Just kidding).

Praying for God's speed and your full recovery,

Abram

RISKMAQ Part 1

The week went on like wild fire. With the passion Mark Anderson has, the roof could not handle it; it went ka-boom.

The legal knowledge he has got filtered through all of the modules he covered with us on RISKMAQ Part 1; though without challenges like having the trainer's pet which full in his hands most of the time.

Practical info was shared to a more detail for my liking in a refreshing manner. Considering how MSRM assisted with laying the foundation; it was overlapping with crosspolinating module or two most of the presentation.

Neverthelles, the crunch time for exam visited, boy I was ready for the course. I hope to elaborate on how I did worked on this one next week Monday.

Wishing you the best of this week!

Regards,

Abram

A week well spent!

The feeling of getting right on track on any expedition makes me feel like I am getting almost there; I mean in the right direction to achieve my dreams.

Though one is not finally there; yet however, I almost feel on this step, what remains is practical work as far as MSRM is concerned since the examination is over now.

My concern is currently around the presentation I will be providing next week Friday (on some of the MSRM course modules), so actually if you understand what I am saying; the day is just around the corner.

For the little improvement that I have obtained so far prompts me to give my 100% best in achieving my PDP goals for this programme day-in-day-out.

This one is for you, "Oom Pieter, baie dankie vir all jou moite hoor?" To all my buddies in PDP, veels geluk for your achievements on MSRM; for the support you provided me during the MSRM course too: I love you guys and a girl! Wesley, I trust your faith in me is communicated so well all the time through the heartfelt concerns you raise in all my endeavours.

See you then, have a wonderful rejuvinating weekend.

Warm regards

Abram

MSRM Course update

I had a hands-on day with MSRM course activities today. This helped to get to the core understanding of the course material with assistance of applying MSRM principles in everyday life.

Somehow, Pieter our lecturer managed to provide the bigger picture to the concept in terms of illustrating the most significant points through videos and slide shows. Believe you me, it works wonders. Just to know that this course are meant to assist people from dangerous occupational calamities; makes me feel HOW important is for being part of the Proffessional Development Programme.

This other clip called Bophal; quite send the message home regarding the importance of legal framework at a national, industry and company level necessary to regulate issues of SHEQ in risk management.

The contribution of my colleagues was phenomenal.

I am certainly looking forward to saving lives by providing professional Risk Management expertise on of these days soon.

Regards,

Abram

From the horse's mouth!

Dear All,

The MSRM course is quite different in content, though having some overlapping principles within as the previous Health and Safety Representative course.

I understand the significance of the legal framework driving the RISK MANAGEMENT as far as inspections are concerned. Yet, the blast comes with the inspection causation model, how the model directs the inspections or reactive and preventative responses; more so to the near miss incidents.

The accurate application followed to the letter showed to require a continuous risk assessment would be the best in monitoring safety culture change.

Let me pause and say no more, until tomorrow...

Kind regards,

Abram

Listening twice than I write or speak!

Dear all,

The MSRM course test I wrote on Friday was setting up a precedence; for helping me understand the standard on which I would be assessed on timeously.

I passed it and learned more from answering questions; that it is a skill that will make a difference for my next test/examination.

A pre-test prior the lecturer was a barometer enough to get my attention; saying the least how I need to pay more close attention on what is said during the training course.

I trust the development on this matter is certain.

Warm regards,

Abram

I just got started!

Eventually!

I got started off with an 86% in Health and Safety Representative course. Guess what? Organised IRCA was ready to present me there and there with a certificate.

I have to confess, "I missed on a Cum Laude"; I am glad for my friend Mxolisi who did. If you are reading this; get it from me brother: Congradulations!, wishing you many more other Cum Laudes to come. I

To ya all, PDP team members, RCA seems to be having plenty for everyone of us, so there is a next time.


I enjoyed myself though Wesley, and thanks to Carel for an informed course.

Chaw! chaw!

Journal

Dear all,

The first day at IRCA got off with a warm welcome and an induction presentation; which later was followed by office tour. We met very interesting people in various departments, though some were still on vacation leave.

Calm, down-to-earth and yet very informed; is what I can explain our session.

Regards,

Abram