the story so far€¦ · the story of Sunnypark’s facelift on its front page! Other clients...

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the story so far

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Since starting Gerbera Brand Management in late 2006 I’ve had the privilege of working on a range of exciting brands, both with and for some amazing people. The work has varied from radio

and television commercials, scripts and web copy, through to re-branding, strategies, media planning, PR, company magazines,

articles, campaigns and marketing material development.

2006

4

Over the years I have found myself working more and more on writing projects, to such an extent that since 2012 I have

stopped taking on projects that require more conventional brand management skills… this resulted in a rebrand of Gerbera, and has seen the ‘brand management’ part of the name fall away.

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working from anywhere, and for anyone,across the whole wide world

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Some of my favouriteclients include:

AUTOMOTIVE GAS OIL

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“You’re only as good as your last performance” and the knowledge that I will be judged on my latest material keeps me focused on doing my best on current and future projects.

A few of the highlights of each year are mentioned in the pages that follow, starting with 2007. If you are

interested in more recent work, please skip ahead! If you are interested in the pre-2007 ‘era’ please mail or call me

on +27 82 371 1005 or at [email protected].

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contents

2007: 102008: 142009: 182010: 242011: 262012: 322013: 362014: 402015: 44

9

10

… was a good first year! At the beginning of the year I was part of the organising committee of the South African paragliding

nationals in Thabazimbi, where Mitsubishi (Hatfield & Midrand) came on board as main sponsors. They sponsored prizes and two vehicles to ferry pilots to the launch and retrieve them at the end of the day. In addition, they bought and branded a paragliding tandem, which has put smiles on the faces of a great many spirited people - both in South Africa and at the annual Ghana Paragliding Festival two years running.

2007

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In 2007 I produced my first two company magazines - two issues of the in-house publication “The Mixer” for

construction company Stocks Limited, who merged with Stefanutti & Bressan the following year to form Stefanutti

Stocks. We also revamped their website, together with their web developers, Syncrony, who are based in Johannesburg.

During 2007 and 2008 two landmark Pretoria shopping centres, Sunnypark and Jakaranda, underwent major renovations. Property developers and centre owners

Zenprop, hired me to work on PR campaigns for both - a highlight during this time was the Pretoria News running

the story of Sunnypark’s facelift on its front page!

Other clients included The Arthritis Network, Jennifer Blenkinsop, Image Communications and Shopping-4-U.

Thank you for trusting me when I was still a ‘seedling’.

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In 2008 I started focusing on writing. I wrote a selection of scripts, radio ads and marketing copy for a variety of sectors including manufacturing, transport, law, skin care, retail and construction. Clients included Masslift, Eyeworx, Wertheim

Becker, Placecol, SkinPhD and Stocks Limited. I finalised the PR launches of the revamped Sunnypark and Jacaranda Centre

Centres, including the development of a Sunnypark Centre newsletter and the creation of a cartoon strip “Dazzle & Diezle”.

I assisted with a business plan for new cosmeceutical market entrant SkinPhD and undertook a rebranding

campaign for the Cross Border Road Transport Agency.

2008

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16

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In late August I was presented with one of the biggest challenges of my career to date. Stefanutti Stocks tasked me

with researching, writing and project managing a 138 page, case bound coffee table book about the companies that constitute

the Stefanutti Stocks group…in three months: “In the pages of this book we have captured the essence of the rich heritage and history that have formed the bedrock of our success, from the year of inception to the merger and subsequent name change in September 2008. It provides a snapshot of our respective

journeys, at times challenging but always rewarding”.

The journey I embarked on when writing the book was challenging indeed - but ultimately incredibly worthwhile. You are welcome to browse through “A Solid Foundation”.

An era of success and the journey forward here.

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In 2009 I continued undertaking various marketing and branding projects for multidisciplinary construction group Stefanutti Stocks, including the first two issues of the “Benchmark”, the group’s publication covering

news on its projects, capabilities and people.

A rebranding campaign for Pretoria-based consulting engineers ARQ kicked off, which included revamping their logo, stationery and all their marketing material,

including banners, brochures and the website.

2009

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ITS Abacus briefed in their requirement for a marketing plan and campaign for its innovative timetabling software product o! Post approval of the marketing plan and key

messaging, we developed a new and dynamic visual concept that would communicate the benefits of o!

software to its specific target markets at universities.

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ITS Business Solutions, also part of the ITS group, required an 80-slide presentation and later in the year some work on targeted messaging for a marketing leaflet aimed at

municipalities aspiring to a clean audit by 2014.

In 2009 I undertook a variety of copywriting projects for dynamic Pretoria-based brand consultants Dieselbrook. The projects I worked on for Dieselbrook were great fun,

challenging and often within very tight deadlines, and our relationship continued until they hired an in-house copywriter in 2012. I also started working with Annarie Paterson, who went on to open her own agency in 2014, and continues to

fulfill a large part of my design and layout requirements.

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On the work front I undertook numerous writing projects - including assignments for website content and concept development; magazine articles on a

variety of topics; a construction safety campaign with a difference; brand development and copywriting for dynamic young company Service Assure and Volume

3 and 4 of Stefanutti Stocks’ “Benchmark”.

2010

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2011

Stefanutti Stocks, Dieselbrook and new clients Airlock (based in Switzerland), The Energy Company, Ferry Express and the

DCD group kept me challenged and busy during 2011. In addition to two more Benchmark’s and various other projects

for the business units within the group, Stefanutti Stocks briefed me to work on an awareness campaign for the group. Our remit included media planning, writing supporting advertorials and an exciting campaign creative developed together with my client, with Annarie driving the creative. We also compiled a recipe

book for the Roads, Pipelines and Mining Services business unit.

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Dieselbrook included me in some very exciting projects including writing a television commercial for KYOCERA ‘Infinite potential’,

which first aired in South Africa in July 2011. The ‘Just Plain Breakfast’ television advert was another advert with a fun

twist. Other tasks for Dieselbrook included writing assignments for brands from a broad spectrum of industries - including

hotels, casinos, conferencing, logistics, legal and healthcare.

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KYOCERAInfi nate Potential

Jacaranda FMJust Plain Breakfast

To view these videos, please click on the preview image.

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Annarie and I successfully rebranded The Energy Company, which included a beautiful brochure complimented by stunning photography by Dalton Dinglestad of Dingelstad photography,

and an impressive audiovisual presentation, animated and put together by Bruce Knoetze of The Machine Room.

My work for the DCD group was the beginning of a spell of corporate DVDs which saw me writing content and

numerous scripts on heavy engineering related topics ranging from nuclear energy to renewable energy, from seamless forging to specialist mine support products. I supplied

copy and content, and The Machine Room produced the videos, from filming through to editing and animation.

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2012 delivered a lot of hard work, satisfying projects and alsosaw me travel for work in South Africa more than ever before.

Highlights included: in collaboration with The Machine Room, a five minute corporate DVD for the Stefanutti Stocks group; a trade DVD for KYOCERA and one of my all-time favourites

– an ‘open’ brief to write the script for the conference welcome audiovisual for SAPICS, the latter two being writing assignments for Dieselbrook, with both DVDs edited by Bruce.

2012

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SAPICSWelcome Audiovisual

Stefanutti StocksCorporate DVD

To view these videos, please click on the preview image.

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On the print side we completed a capabilities brochure for Stefanutti Stocks and Benchmark Volume 8 was distributed in November 2012.

We also finished a style guide for epic South African brand Black Like Me; some calendars for various clients and some

funky competition branding projects for xccomps.net.

2012 closed with a few exciting projects lined up for the new year...

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oh -so-gorgeous

STYLE GUIDE

BLM_Style Guide_180mmx180mm.indd 1 2012/11/12 9:33 AM

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1| Stefanutti Stocks: Capabilities |

Stefanutti Stocksmultidisciplinary construction group

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January 2013 started with a bang and Bruce and I finalised two more DVDs for the Mining Services and the Roads & Earthworks divisions within the Stefanutti Stocks group.

Together with freelance illustrator Roelof Venter we created some fun yet meaningful illustrations and leaflets that convey the

progression of eight career paths for new client DB Schenker.

Other projects included a company profile for Black Like Me (the holding company); a website for an NGO “Tshepong”, a founding statement for a new children’s foundation in

South Africa; web copy for an industrial drying and heating specialist and Volume 9 of the Stefanutti Stocks Benchmark.

2013

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IN PackPick

Ef�cient

Smooth

Competitive AdvantageEBIT Cash

Margins

ROCE Productivity

11%

32%

12%

27%

18%

Cum laude

with merit

Competent

IN

38

I undertook quite a few projects that came via referrals and really started enjoying the diversity of my client base that

included two Swiss clients in the IT and management consulting business respectively. I especially enjoyed the different stories

I was beginning to be able to tell through my writing.

I think this is the year I really discovered my passion for telling other peoples stories and towards the end of the year I ghost wrote a book for a South African woman who wanted to give

her husband of 25-years a special anniversary gift. It was such a privilege to be ‘invited in’ by Anne and to put her thoughts,

words, experiences and character on the pages of “The Story of Us”. At this stage, to spread my design and layout workload I

also started working with designer Sumine Marx who managed to lay the book out, including photographs in absolute record time.

3939

Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks

Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid

• Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti

S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks

• S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark •

Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited •

S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks

& S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan •

Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks

Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie

• S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom •

Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa •

S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre

• Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper •

Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building

Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet

• Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks •










NIFTY NINE 2000

Cape Town • South Africa

2012

Casper • Johan • Lue • Piet • Willie

S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks





























The tale begins in the year 2000, when a senior management team, nicknamed the “Nifty Nine”, acquired the 52-year-old Stocks & Stocks building company. Why and how is a story to be told over a glass of good red wine…or perhaps you knew or know one of them and have heard their rendition.

On 7 February 2000, the renamed Stocks Building Africa was launched, led by the nine, who although full of trepidation at the challenge were optimistic about the future!

Seven successful years followed, and in 2008 the company name was changed to Stocks Limited to reflect its diverse capabilities as well as its broad geographical footprint.

Hot on the heels of this development Stocks was courted by the listed Stefanutti & Bressan. A merger soon followed and so began the new era of Stefanutti Stocks.

Today, 5 of the 9 remain. Casper Steenkamp. Johan Brink. Luc Jacobs. Piet Postema. Willie Erasmus. And whether on site, in the boardroom, or on a wine farm… they are still as passionate about their story as they are about their wine.

WINE OF ORIGIN CROYDON30% Pinotage, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon,

5% Shiraz, 5% Merlot, 5% Malbec

750ml 14,5%



Willie (18 years)

Casper (23 years)Casper (23 years)

Johan (27 years)

Casper (23 years)

Luc (23 years)



Piet (29 years)

As years tend to do, this one also passed like a fl ash, and before I knew it, November’s Volume 10 of Stefanutti Stocks’

Benchmark had been printed and distributed, and it was time to close shop and head to the hills for a few weeks.















S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks

Cape Town • South AfricaTom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building

Cape Town • South AfricaTom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building

Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet Cape Town • South Africa


Casper • Johan • Lue • Piet • WillieAfrica • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet

Casper • Johan • Lue • Piet • WillieAfrica • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet

• Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Johan • Lue • Piet • Willie• Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks •

Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • Lue • Farid • Piet • Andre • Willie • S tocks & S tocks • S tocks Casper • Johan • Lue • Piet • Willie


• S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark • • S tocks Building Africa • S tocks Limited • S tefanutti S tocks • Casper • Tom • Johan • Mark •

the Story of Usas told by Anne Grace

40

I remember starting this year off writing a testimonial for a South African businessman working in the mining industry. I

also remember thinking to myself as I sat across from him, how I was surrounded by so many incredible people, just waiting

for someone to ask the right questions that would release that little bit of magic that I could then weave into a beautiful tale.

In July I started researching what would eventually become an autobiography for Gino Stefanutti, the founder and retired

chairman of a listed South African construction group. After fi ve odd months and countless interviews with his friends, colleagues

and family, I knew that for Gino’s story to be authentic it would have to be told in the fi rst person. Writing from a fi rst person perspective defi nitely made this task a little harder, but fortunately Gino was generous with his time and input.

2014

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BINVIC’s project management service is enhanced through:• A strong focus on organisational reputation.• Alliances and partnerships with industry leaders.• Emphasis on teamwork.• The ability to integrate teams into already established organisations.• Encouraging moral and disciplined conduct in work forces.• On time, within budget delivery.• Non-compromising approach to safety.• Unwavering commitment to quality.

Objectives

VALU

E

TEAMWORK

Collaboration

RESO

UR

CES

BINVIC’s project management approach integrates people, systems, structures and practices to support a collaborative approach that harnesses the talent and insights of all participants; optimises project results; increases owner value; reduces waste and maximises efficiency.

RECRUITMENT, EVALUATION & TRAINING

SAPCONETeffectivelysourcesandevaluatesqualityresources.Itsresourcedevelopmentmodelreliesheavilyonfacilitatedtraining;itis therefore a natural progression to offer these services to clients. The evaluation and training aspects extend beyond software development and support.

DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT

SAPCONETs primary offering comprises SAP software development and support services across the entire spectrum of SAP development topics. Further value is added through its strong systems integration and interface specialty. In particular, the group has highly developed skills in SCM & logistics with a strong track record of creating and maintaining complex suites of integration applications in this area. SAPCONET offers capability in C# .NET development, Java, VB, C++, Jscript and VBScript scripting.

MANAGEMENT

SAPCONET offers project management and team leadership services with expertise in SAP software development projects. The SAPCONET management team includes a team leader and a project manager who have been involved in several upgrade projects since SAP release 3.1 up to the latest technical upgrades in Netweaver 7.x, ECC 6 & SCM 5.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

RapidadvancesinSAPsoftwaredemandthatconsultinggroupscontinually update their software knowledge and awareness in order to remain informed and develop capacity. SAPCONET has made research and development part of its daily function. This discovery, mapping, exploration, prototyping, demonstration, evaluation and tracking of technologies can be provided as a service in partnership.

SAPCONETservices

SAPCONET has adopted a holistic approachtowardskillsacquisitionand development that strives to deliver the highest possible standard acrossaformidablebouquetofsoftware technologies and functions with supporting generic technical and soft skills. The principle is to develop technical, functional and soft skills in parallel, with a view to producing top-levelconsultantsefficiently.

3

offers project management and team leadership services with expertise in SAP software development projects.

management team includes a team leader and a project manager who have been involved in several upgrade projects since SAP release 3.1 up to the latest technical upgrades

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

RapidadvancesinSAPsoftwaredemandthatconsultinggroupscontinually update their software knowledge and awareness in order to remain informed and develop capacity. SAPCONEThas made research and development part of its daily function. This discovery, mapping, exploration, prototyping, demonstration, evaluation and tracking of technologies can be provided as a

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42

I juggled researching and writing this book with another of this year’s publication highlights… The first issue of the Sizimisele,

a sustainability report for the Stefanutti Stocks Structures business unit, was compiled over a three-month period, during which I met, interviewed and wrote about a broad selection of the business unit’s sustainable development initiatives. The

experience was again an absolute eye-opener for me, exposing me to many South African narratives that I took great pleasure

in retelling on the pages of the magazine. The stories were really brought to life by photographs taken by Dalton Dingelstad – who is, in my mind, one of South Africa’s true photographic gems.

By the end of 2014 I’d completed my twelfth Benchmark - with Annarie and I having worked together since Benchmark number two! Each time I ‘tackle’ one of these publications,

it feels like I’m getting back together with an old friend!

43

A| Benchmark Volume 11 | May 2014 |

A Stefanutti Stocks Publication

Continuous pursuit of higher levels of performance

VOLUME 11 | MAY 2014

BenchmKusile reaches milestone of 6-million LTI-free hours.........................................................Concrete rehabilitation experts think out-of-the-box.........................................................Stefanutti Stocks sets operator training in motion.........................................................Catalyst Reactor refurbishment for Sasol.........................................................Graduate Academy and SLDP programme enter fourth year.........................................................All terrain water pipeline construction

A| Benchmark Volume 12 | November 2014 |

Stefanutti Stocks' committed to sustainable development.........................................................Material Handling division operates co-disposal facilities for major mining houses.........................................................Marine experts to protect Port foreshore.........................................................Civils KZN undertakes multiple water & waste water contracts.........................................................Iconic building construction in Africa.........................................................Shondoni pre-cast coal bunker completed



VOLUME 12 | NOVEMBER 2014

Benchm

44

Enter January 2015 and my ninth year as a freelancer begins. I disappear to the bush in an absolute panic, as I’m not making the headway I had hoped to on Gino’s book. In the bush I discard the book’s working title and christen it: “Conversations, with and about Gino Stefanutti”. The book

goes through various drafts, and reiterations, and really starts to take shape! Thanks to Gino’s willingness to input,

by mid-year we have something tangible in our hands!

During this year I have continued working for my established client-base including Stefanutti Stocks, The Energy Company, Terra Strata, Makarios Geotechnical, Ilifa

Engineering and DB Schenker, as well as a few new clients including Hakito, Ecosphere, Burg Design and BinVic.

2015

45

46

To be honest, the year has been mainly consumed by writing – samples of some of my smaller writing projects

can be found on my website, and then there are of course “Conversations, with and about Gino Stefanutti”, two volumes

of the Benchmark, and a 60-page Sizimisele Volume 2.

This year has also seen the development of a second brand, ChrissiMaria that is purely based on writing. I’m really hoping

to take my writing to another level going forward and am currently busy with my next book “Conversations with South

Africans” which I’m hoping to get done by April 2015...

47

4 | Benchmark Volume 14 | November 2015 |

Power

Kusile Civil Works Joint Venture achieves10-million lost time Inju-ry-free man-hours mile-stone

Kusile Power Station is set to be the fourth largest coal-fi red power station in the world, and the largest in the southern hemisphere. The power station and its facilities span a 1,355 hectare footprint and once completed each of its six units will have the capacity to deliver up to 800MW of power.

Constructing a facility of this magnitude requires an incredible amount of planning, manpower, machine capacity, co-ordination and co-operation. With all of its manpower and machine muscle working in close proximity to one another, total immersion into a culture of safety and regulatory compliance is required.

Since construction started in 2009 the main civil works contract (undertaken by a joint venture between Basil Read, Group Five, Stefanutti Stocks and WBHO) has generated some impressive safety statistics including having over 4 500 people working for the joint venture on site at peak, with a safety department of 29 overseeing all safety aspects.

In September 2015 this number currently sits at a KCW workforce of just under 1 500 and a safety department of 13. Two months ago, on 24 July 2015, and over a period of 16-months, the site achieved the incredible safety milestone of 10-million man-hours worked without a lost time injury (LTI). “Reaching a 1-million milestone on any construction site is a great achievement,” says Mark Stannard, project director of the Kusile Civil Works Joint Venture (KCW). “Achieving the 10-million mark on one of the biggest construction sites in the southern hemisphere, is simply outstanding and a milestone that can only be reached through total buy-in - on the part of the entire workforce, site management, subcontractors, visitors to site, consultants and client.”

Compliance, Campaigns and Cardinal RulesKCW’s safety reporting system, which has evolved over six

years, has been instrumental in quickly identifying high-risk areas.

5| Benchmark Volume 14 | November 2015 |

Power

The safety statistics gathered on a daily basis have red-fl agged potential problem areas, enabling remedial action to be taken immediately. KCW safety manager Johannes de Coning explains that it is important to be honest in reporting all incidents and near-misses. “Our reporting helped us to identify patterns and trends, leading indicators, and high risk areas or times, and enabled us to address areas of concern without delay,” says De Coning.

To keep people focused various campaigns are implemented during the course of the year, some in response to trends, some to drive awareness, and others run along the lines of rewards for exemplary safety behaviour. An incredibly successful hand awareness campaign saw a direct reduction in hand-related injuries and incidents. As part of this campaign, those who had sustained injuries to their hands participated by speaking to others about their experience and how their injuries could have been prevented. “We also have one-on-one sessions with our foremen, and include many safety topics in our toolbox talks. Our subcontractors are also included in all of our initiatives.”

Three subcontracting companies also achieved safety milestones whilst working for the KCW joint venture. These include Stefanutti Stocks Roads & Earthworks currently on 1,5-million LTIF man-hours; BRAD JV Reinforcing, that achieved a total of 3-million LTIF man-hours; and Bidvest Protea Coin Security that achieved 1-million LTIF man-hours on 25 July 2015, just one day after KCW achieved its 10-million milestone.

Safety management methods have metamorphosed over the past decade to the point where the ultimate goal is to get people’s buy in, rather than bullying them into submitting to safety requirements they may not understand the benefi t of. “Our safety campaigns target a change in thinking and aim to instill a positive mindset towards safety,” continues De Coning. “We work in an environment where many of our employees have not had access to education, and we have to ensure that everybody gains a clear understanding of safety requirements. Understanding potential consequences (for the person, the team and the project) of non-compliance often result in voluntary compliance and commitment to safe operations.”

Eskom has a number of cardinal rules, which if broken, result in stern disciplinary action. These are:• Open, isolate, test, earth, bond, and/or insulate before touch;• Hook up at height;• Buckle up;• Be sober;• Ensure you have a permit to work; and • No reversing without a spotter.

“There are safety aspects on site that are absolutely non-negotiable,” explains De Coning. “Everyone who comes to site, whether consultant, subcontractor, worker, visitor or client is fully briefed on adherence to Kusile’s cardinal rules and there are literally no excuses to break one of them.”

Hands, Heights and NightsWhen asked what keeps the KCW safety department awake at

night, the main responses are “working at heights” and “the nightshift”. Historically the main injuries treated on site have been to hands (47 per cent), which in the worst-case scenarios can result in Lost Time Injuries.

With so much of the power station structure consisting of high concrete columns (the 120 Air-Cooled Condenser columns each stand 50-metres high), working at heights becomes a key concern for safety personnel. “We went through a stage where we were having fi ve worker violations a day, sometimes all fi ve in just one area,” says senior safety offi cer Faizal Slamadien. Being hooked up at heights is one of the site’s cardinal rules and any violation was met with disciplinary action and retraining.

Faizal Slamadien, senior safety offi cer“Prior to joining Kusile in 2012 I had worked on a variety of

projects in civil construction. A normal project size may be a R100-million project with about 400-500 people on site - here with 4 500 working on site at peak, I defi nitely got more than I expected!

“Over the past three and a half years of working here I’ve had a number of career highlights, including in 2013, when the joint venture slid the Coal Conveyor columns. It was a unique slide that saw a world-class methodology being implemented which required a special platform and formwork to cap the 50-metre high concrete columns, of which there are 12. This process involved a custom-made lifting mechanism, that had to be approved by the Department of Labour, and there was no benchmark to measure it against! It took me three months, but we got it passed and implemented!”

Every safety offi cer fears that something serious will happen on their watch, especially on the night shift. Production at KCW used to run 24/7, and some night shifts saw concrete being fl oated at 48-metre level. “Human error represents the greatest threat when you are exposed and working at heights, especially at night as the working environment is very diff erent,” says Slamadien. “Complacency or an attitude of ‘it won’t happen to me’ is met with tough love here, whether you are the most experienced civil engineer, or a relatively new labourer on site.”

Danica van Heerden, senior safety offi cer“My experience prior to joining Kusile in 2011 was mainly

on building sites. There have been so many unique aspects about working on this site, many of which I doubt I will see again elsewhere.

“A career highlight for me has to be when the joint venture undertook the concrete pour for the dewatering building base. I was the safety offi cer on the pour, which was a continuous pour, over 72 hours using 3 636m3 of concrete. The building base is 1 300m2, 4,5 metres deep and access was through the top mat and then via walkways. KCW was totally over prepared but I planned for worst-case scenario, including how I would be able to fi sh one of my colleagues out of the centre of the base in the middle of the night - if it came to that. That night it even started to snow slightly, and I remember this amazing sense of community as we all stayed on in solidarity with the production team.”

The next 1-millionIt’s impossible to downplay the size of the task of constructing

this mega-facility, and the coordination of the large number of people deployed across the 1,355 hectare construction footprint. As with all civil contracts, the pressure to perform is ever present - this project is no diff erent to others in that way, except that operations at Kusile are obviously on a much larger scale. The joint ventures staff contingent may have reduced, but the site still remains very congested with up to 16 500 workers and staff on site daily representing various other contractors and subcontractors. “At this stage of the contract we are having to work amidst, under, and over other people at work, and it is important to stay focused to ensure that we remain incident free,” says Stannard. “Having said that, I am sure that the achievement of the 10-million LTIF man-hours represents a career milestone for everyone and has planted the seed of ambition to continue contributing to the eff ort to achieving a few million more."

The safety statistics gathered on a daily basis have red-fl agged potential problem areas, enabling remedial action to be taken immediately. KCW safety manager Johannes de Coning explains that it is important to be honest in reporting all incidents and near-misses. “Our reporting helped us to identify patterns and trends, leading indicators, and high risk areas or times, and enabled us to address areas of concern without delay,” says De Coning.

To keep people focused various campaigns are implemented during the course of the year, some in response to trends, some to drive the course of the year, some in response to trends, some to drive awareness, and others run along the lines of rewards for exemplary awareness, and others run along the lines of rewards for exemplary safety behaviour. An incredibly successful hand awareness campaign safety behaviour. An incredibly successful hand awareness campaign

joint venture slid the Coal Conveyor columns. It was a unique slide that saw a world-class methodology being implemented which required a special platform and formwork to cap the

A| Benchmark Volume 13 | May 2015 |

Stefanutti Stocks Swaziland builds United Nations House...........................................................Al Tayer Stocks completes high profile projects in Middle East...........................................................Housing division undertakes housing projects for government...........................................................Geotechnical division provides lateral support to Namibian Prime Minister's office...........................................................Various Stefanutti Stocks divisions at work on Sasol projects...........................................................Marine division remobilises in Sierra Leone



VOLUME 13 | MAY 2015

Benchm

5| Benchmark Volume 14 | November 2015 |

which required a special platform and formwork to cap the 50-metre high concrete columns, of which there are 12. This process involved a custom-made lifting mechanism, that had to be approved by the Department of Labour, and there was no benchmark to measure it against! It took me three months, but we got it passed and implemented!”

Every safety offi cer fears that something serious will happen on their watch, especially on the night shift. Production at KCW used to run 24/7, and some night shifts saw concrete being fl oated at 48-metre level. “Human error represents the greatest threat when you are exposed and working at heights, especially at night as the working environment is very diff erent,” says Slamadien. “Complacency or an attitude of ‘it won’t happen to me’ is met with tough love here, whether you are the most experienced civil engineer, or a relatively new labourer on site.”

Danica van Heerden, senior safety offi cer“My experience prior to joining Kusile in 2011 was mainly

on building sites. There have been so many unique aspects about working on this site, many of which I doubt I will see again elsewhere.

A career highlight for me has to be when the joint venture undertook the concrete pour for the dewatering building base. I was the safety offi cer on the pour, which was a continuous pour, over 72 hours using 3 636m3 of concrete. The building base is 1 300m2, 4,5 metres deep and access was through the top mat and then via walkways. KCW was totally over

d but I planned for worst-case scenario, including how I would be able to fi sh one of my colleagues out of the centre of the base in the middle of the night - if it came to that. That night it even started to snow slightly, and I remember this amazing sense of community as we all stayed on in solidarity with the production team.”

The next 1-millionIt’s impossible to downplay the size of the task of constructing

this mega-facility, and the coordination of the large number of people deployed across the 1,355 hectare construction footprint. As with all civil contracts, the pressure to perform is ever present - this project is no diff erent to others in that way, except that operations at Kusile are obviously on a much larger scale. The joint ventures staff contingent may have reduced, but the site still remains very congested with up to 16 500 workers and staff on site daily representing various other contractors and subcontractors. “At this stage of the contract we are having to work amidst, under, and over other people at work, and it is important to stay focused to ensure that we remain incident free,” says Stannard. “Having said that, I am sure that the achievement of the 10-million LTIF man-hours represents a career milestone for everyone and has planted the seed of ambition to continue contributing to the eff ort to achieving a few million more."

joint venture slid the Coal Conveyor columns. It was a unique slide that saw a world-class methodology being implemented which required a special platform and formwork to cap the

48

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