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| promoting improved safety performance (continued) |
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| Managing occupational health risks |
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Our principal occupational health risks relate to handling chemicals, exposure to hydrocarbons,
exposure to dust in our mining operations and noise-induced hearing loss. As part of our
occupational health programme, all potential health risks in the workplace are identified
and assessed. Where the risks cannot be entirely eliminated, employees are provided with
necessary personal protective equipment and appropriate training. All of our operational
staff - comprising about 90% of our workforce - are subject to regular medical evaluations.
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| As from the 2007 reporting period, and in line with recent US OHSA legislation, we have
revised the measuring and reporting of our recordable case rate (RCR) to include occupational
illnesses. This includes illness categories such as skin diseases and disorders, respiratory
conditions, noise-induced hearing loss and poisoning. We have also adopted a risk-based
approach to ensure the standardisation of personal protective equipment throughout
the group. |
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| Targeting fewer incidents |
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Ensuring the effective reduction of the risk of fires, explosions and releases (FERs) is critical
to our business. We achieved further progress in implementing the recently approved process
safety management system (PSM) throughout our operations, with the aim of minimising
the risks of FERs.
We reported 21 significant FERs, as compared with 15 in 2006 and 25 in 2005. (For the
purposes of reporting, a FER is registered "significant" when it: involves a fatality or lost
workday case; results in damage to property or equipment of more than US$25 000; or
causes a release of chemicals in excess of a defined threshold for relevant listed substances.)
This increase in the number of incidents is a source of concern. Our PSM drive is aimed at
reducing these incidents towards our performance targets of achieving not more than three
significant FERs per quarter by July 2011, and a 50% reduction in minor FERs, on the 2006
baseline, by July 2011.
Regrettably we have also seen an increase in the rate of logistics incidents. We believe that
this is due, at least in part, to improved and more accurate reporting systems. There were
52 significant incidents, compared with 35 such incidents in the 2006 financial year, and
31 in 2005. The predominant cause of incidents remains collisions with other vehicles. We
are targeting to reduce the number of significant logistics incidents per 100 000 tonnes of
product transported by 50%, on the 2004 baseline, by July 2009. |
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| To meet this target, Sasol has a multi-pronged approach for mitigating the risk of logistics
incidents. This includes: |
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a Safety and Quality Assessment System (SQAS) aimed at improving the safety, quality
and environmental performance of all logistical service providers involved in transporting,
handling and storing Sasol products; |
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identifying, assessing and selecting appropriate transportation routes; |
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ensuring the availability and readiness of effective emergency response
services; and |
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implementing structured measures for incident root-cause analysis
and follow-up. |
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The SQAS initiative is based on the European chemical industry's programme with additional
components to provide for South African conditions. It includes 20 different categories of assessment covering SH&E management systems, preventative maintenance systems,
operations, security and site inspection. To achieve approved supplier status, prospective
road transporters, tanker cleaning stations and bulk liquid storage terminals need to comply
with SQAS requirements, as audited by independent accredited auditors.
We have continued to focus on improving emergency readiness activities, with the aim of
minimising the impacts of any off-site transportation incidents involving Sasol products.
To ensure an acceptable level of emergency preparedness we have assessed the emergency
response and disaster management preparedness of local authorities and provided training
to assist them to improve their performance, approved private emergency response service
providers and the Sasol emergency response centres on the basis of comprehensive emergency
response audits, and held regular emergency response exercises to test the effectiveness of
Sasol and local authority emergency protocols and procedures.
To manage responses to incidents involving the transportation of our products internationally,
we have established a global call-centre that provides access to expertise on all our products in
relevant languages. |
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