Professionals in the fields of health and safety were awarded during surface mining industry association, ASPASA’s, annual awards ceremony which was held online across the country recently to recognise exceptional efforts of individuals and companies.

Auditor, Marius van Deventer, said that 2020 had been an especially challenging year with lockdowns and new challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite this, more than 50% of the association’s members were audited and results were particularly heartening.

“It was a tough year in more than one sense, which COVID-19 and the National lockdown has been the worst of them all.  That is what makes these Awards even more special and the acknowledgement of these outstanding performances pays tribute to often unrecognised workers who put themselves on the frontline to protect others.

“The performances of ASPASA members remains among the best performances, if not the best, among all commodities mined in South Africa.  Although some of the awards single out individuals as award recipients we acknowledge that health and safety is a team effort and that these award winners would not be receiving awards if it were it not for their entire team’s assistance and contributions.”

The awards were made to:

Trophies

1. Top Performer

• Midmar Crushers

2. Consistency in achieving Showplace for 5 years or more:

• Afrimat Harrismith (8 Years Showplace)

3. Most Improved Operations:

• Afrimat Centurion

4. Health & Safety Management Awards for outstanding commitment:

• Mariska Robberts – Eskay Crushers
• Trudie Els – Afrimat Glen Douglas

5. Health & Safety Officer

• Laurencia Maphumulo – Midmar Crushers
• Carlton Mowana – Afrimat Centurion
• Ighardt van Lingen – Afrimat Marble Hall
• Lucretia van Rensburg – Afrisam Western Cape
• Sello Ferland – Afrisam Northern Region

6. Special Recognition Health & Safety

• Carlos Paulo – Afrimat Palmiet
• Eric Dangaca – Afrimat Brewelskloof
• John Mathebula – Afrisam Eikenhof

7. Health & Safety Service Provider Excellence:

• NOSHCON – Paul Chamen & Ronelle Affinand

Health and Safety Officers also received recognition for excelling in their services at their companies’ operations to ensure that their operations achieved some of the highest scores on the ISHE Audits for 2020.

• Laurencia Maphumulo – Midmar Crushers
• Carlton Mowana – Afrimat Lyttelton
• Ighardt van Lingen – Afrimat Marble Hall
• Lucretia van Rensburg – Afrisam Western Cape
• Sello Ferland – Afrisam Northern Region

A special Man of the Year award was made to Raymond Campling of Media Savvy for generating ongoing publicity in the fields of health and safety.