Summit Education SA - Malnormags.co.za

safety
security
&
Dangerous asbestos guttering has been removed from the school’s courtyard
When it comes to our children, safety is
of paramount importance during the
maintenance of schools. The Western
Cape’s oldest Afrikaans-medium
primary school, Jan van Riebeeck
Primary School, established in
1921, recently commissioned
waterproofing, painting and construction company, Indawo,
to redecorate the external structures of the school.
The primary area of concern was the deterioration of
asbestos gutters and downpipes in the school’s courtyard.
Being close to play areas, these posed a risk to the health of
learners and educators. Asbestos has been associated with
numerous diseases affecting those exposed to its fibres.
Indawo managing director, Geoffrey Jäck, confirms.
The school’s exterior is being completely
redecorated
Children safety critical
when handling asbestos
Construction under way at the school
Protective clothing is critical and onsite inspectors
continuously look out for any safety risks. Trained
supervisors monitor the site to ensure compliance
with regulations determined by a Safety and Health file
(SHE file), drafted prior to commencement of the project.”
Legal compliance is a vital aspect on construction sites
and contractors need to ensure they place significant
emphasis on safety measures. The Department of Labour
does not compromise on compliance. Clients commissioning
contractors should request proof of compliance prior to the
awarding of contracts or they could also be in contravention
of the law.
Hartle says that no extra health and safety precautions need
to be considered because the site is a school.
“Guaranteed safety eliminates the risk of asbestos
exposure,” he says. “Asbestos is a dangerous substance
and we never compromise on safety when handling it.
Our project partner, Ingozi Health and Safety Consultants,
ensured that risks of contamination are eliminated before
work commences at the school and monitor site safety
throughout the project.”
Indawo advised against completing the repairs in phases,
as this would place additional financial burden on the
school in the long term. Opting to accept the advice, and
understanding an urgent need to remove the asbestos, the
governing body commissioned Indawo to redecorate the
exterior of the school and replace asbestos gutters and
downpipes with seamless aluminium, and three roofs.
It is critical that asbestos removal is done according to
guidelines determined by the Occupational Health and
Safety Act (OHS Act).
Graham Hartle, director of Ingozi, confirms this. “The OHS
Act is clear regarding the removal of dangerous substances.
Reports indicate that there are more than 24 000 schools
in South Africa placing educational infrastructure high on
the country’s maintenance agenda. Jäck says, “The state
of educational infrastructure is a key indicator of our
children’s future prosperity. Maintenance of school
buildings is crucial, not only for safety reasons, but for
educators to deliver high levels of service to learners. As
an industry roleplayer, we have to ensure we are legally
compliant prior to commencing any project and, during
construction, take all precautions to guarantee the safety
of the site.”
Our children rely on us to safeguard their future. School
governing bodies play more than just administrative roles;
they have a duty to ensure education takes place in a safe
environment. Without a structured maintenance plan,
exterior structures will systematically deteriorate and
place learners and educators at risk. Jan van Riebeeck’s
governing body has been able to identify risks early through
their own maintenance strategy, eliminating potential risks
to learners. l
30 November 2013 | Education Southern Africa