Welcome to the SafetyCloud Blog

When we leave school, although many of us think we know everything, this is usually not the case – especially when it comes to having a solid idea of where we see ourselves in terms of a lifelong career. In fact, it’s become very common for people to begin working in an industry for as long as a decade… before realising it isn’t really what they want to do, and they begin with something else late into their 30s. So the idea of a clear, mapped-out plan for what we want to do for the rest of our lives can be downright laughable.

But, unless you’re happy to move randomly from job to job, meaningful growth in your career has to start with a strategy. And this is where we come in. From current trends to the myriad job choices you can make, this guide will be your assistant to realising your full potential in your pursuit of a career in occupational health and safety management.

If you say something often enough, whether or not there is any truth in that statement, it somehow becomes fact. There is also always the risk of repeating something that may have once been true, but as a result of developments and research no longer actually applies. The best thing to do is investigate anything you aren’t sure of, accessing reputable sources for confirmation. Be sure to stay in touch with (or belong to) industry organisations that will help you stay current with goings on in your sector.

In our continued coverage of the recent release of King IV, we take a look at the benefits of adhering to it. To adhere to King IV is to adhere to the principles of sound corporate governance. Let’s take a look then of the benefits of adhering to corporate governance

Today we further unpack the differences between King IV and King III. So let’s dive in.

A quick recap

As discussed in What are the key features of King IV?, the application or adoption of the principles is assumed in King IV.

 The fundamental philosophy and concepts of King III won’t change, so companies will therefore continue following King III as it stands. King IV will also aim to be simpler, and easier to interpret and access. One of the ways to achieve this will be by clearly differentiating principles from practice recommendations. Principles will be stated as higher order objectives.

Why it’s essential to carry your HSE training outside of the workplace

We’ve said it before – training doesn’t stop at the boundary wall of where you work. Safety is an attitude, a way of life. This means that how you observe safety is constant, and just as important when you are at home prepping dinner for your family, or travelling on the road, as it is when you are, say, operating a forklift machine on the factory floor. Apart from anything else, constant and consistent observance means you’ll get into the habit of practising safety, and eventually it’ll be second nature, and not something you have to consciously work at.

It’s good to see that the law is standing firm when it comes to enforcing penalties – and punishment – for health and safety violations. This is certainly the case in Delaware in the United States, where former coal baron Donald Blankenship will stay in jail after an appeals court upheld his conviction for flouting mine-safety laws.

The self-named ‘political prisoner’ was unable to identify any reversible errors in his 2016 trial, where he was charged with ignoring safety rules at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch (UBB) mine.

On the 7^th of January, two people sustained injuries after parts of the roof collapsed at the Sandton City Mall. The patients were treated at the scene, before being taken to hospital for further care.

Reports are somewhat conflicted, with paramedics saying two roof tiles collapsed, while management for the centre released a statement that confirmed two wall tiles at McDonald’s inside the mall fell off a wall.

Last week the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) released its 2016 statistics for mine health and safety, which were met with a mixed reception. 

In a nutshell, here’s how things look…

On 1 November of this year, the King Committee published the King IV Report on Corporate Governance for South Africa 2016(King IV). This will be effective from 1 April 2017. Here are the main points you need to know.

King IV replaces King III in its entirety

This means that you will need not refer to anything in King III – King IV replaces it completely. Also, the approach of ‘apply or explain’ of King III is replaced with ‘apply and explain’.

You might say, ‘I’m just a safety officer – not a leader’. ALL safety professionals are leaders, as you are responsible for guiding your entire organisation when it comes to adopting, implementing and following sound safety practices.

And as a leader, the following nine qualities are key to fulfilling your role successfully.