What are the opening hours?

Monday 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday 08:00 - 17:00 Friday 08:00 - 15:00

SHEQ LINK, Hofmeyr Street, Mossel Bay (2026)

15/10/2026

⚠️ CONFINED SPACE SAFETY: NEVER RISK A LIFE FOR A ROUTINE TASK!

A confined space can become a death trap in seconds. Cleaning tanks, entering storage vessels, working in pits, sewers, silos or enclosed industrial areas can expose workers to hazards that are not always visible.

Recent confined-space incidents are a sobering reminder that one unsafe entry can cost multiple lives — including those of colleagues who attempt an unplanned rescue.

🛑 WHAT MAKES CONFINED SPACES DANGEROUS?

Potential hazards include:
🔹 Oxygen deficiency or oxygen enrichment.
🔹 Toxic gases and chemical vapours.
🔹 Flammable or explosive atmospheres.
🔹 Engulfment by liquids, grain or other materials.
🔹 Mechanical equipment starting unexpectedly.
🔹 Heat stress, restricted movement and difficult emergency evacuation.

✅ ESSENTIAL CONFINED SPACE SAFETY MEASURES

Before anyone enters a confined space, ensure that:

✔️ Risk assessment: Identify hazards and implement appropriate controls before work begins.

✔️ Permit to work: Where required by the risk assessment and applicable procedures, issue and authorise a confined-space entry permit.

✔️ Atmospheric testing: Test the atmosphere using suitable, calibrated equipment. Assess oxygen levels, toxic contaminants and flammable gases before entry, and continue monitoring where necessary.

✔️ Isolation and lockout: Isolate hazardous energy sources, machinery, pipelines and chemical feeds. Prevent unexpected start-up or the release of hazardous substances.

✔️ Ventilation: Provide effective ventilation where necessary, without introducing additional hazards.

✔️ Competent personnel: Ensure workers are trained, authorised and medically fit where required for the task.

✔️ Standby attendant: Maintain a designated attendant outside the space, with reliable communication and no conflicting duties that compromise monitoring.

✔️ Emergency and rescue plan: Establish a site-specific rescue plan, ensure trained rescuers and suitable equipment are available, and verify that emergency arrangements will work before entry begins.

🚨 THE GOLDEN RULE: NEVER ENTER TO RESCUE WITHOUT PROPER PREPARATION!

A worker who collapses inside a confined space may be overcome by the same atmosphere that caused the initial emergency. Unplanned rescue attempts can turn one casualty into several.

Raise the alarm, activate the rescue plan and use trained rescuers with appropriate equipment. Do not enter impulsively.

📋 LEGAL & MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

In South Africa, confined-space work must be assessed and controlled in accordance with applicable occupational health and safety legislation and regulations, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and relevant provisions of the General Safety Regulations. Additional requirements may apply depending on the workplace, industry and specific hazards.

ISO 45001:2018 supports a systematic approach through hazard identification, risk assessment, operational controls, worker competence, emergency preparedness and continual improvement. ISO 45001 does not replace South African legal requirements.

At SHEQLINK, we believe that no deadline, production target or routine maintenance task is worth a human life.

💬 Does your workplace have a documented confined-space procedure and a tested emergency rescue plan? Review them before the next entry — not after an incident.

🔗 Share this post to help raise awareness and protect lives.

14/10/2026

⚠️ SAFETY ALERT 08-26 | Confined Space Entry.

3 dead. 12 injured. 1 routine tank clean.

📍 What happened:

Workers were cleaning a large chemical storage tank on a farm north of Herold's Bay, near George. The tank held a mixture of chemicals, including phosphoric acid. The workers were overcome by the atmosphere inside the tank, and co-workers who went in to help were overcome too.

Three people died. Twelve were treated on site or taken to nearby hospitals. Fire services had to decontaminate the area before the bodies could be recovered, and spread absorbents to contain the spilled liquid. The clean-up took more than a day. SAPS has opened an inquest docket and the cause is still under investigation.

It happened close to home, during a routine job. It could happen at any workplace with tanks, pits, silos or vessels.

☠️ Why it turns deadly:
The danger is the air, which you can't see, can't reliably smell, and may not feel until it's too late.

• Oxygen deficiency: rust and corrosion use up oxygen. Below 10%, one breath can cause collapse.
• Toxic gas from mixed chemicals: acid plus chlorine cleaners (bleach, HTH) makes chlorine gas. Acid plus sulphides or rotting material makes hydrogen sulphide (H₂S).
• Hydrogen: acid reacting with steel can cause fire or explosion from a single spark.
• Residue and sludge: disturbed during cleaning, they release trapped gas while people are already inside.

More than half of confined space deaths are would-be rescuers. One worker collapses, a colleague rushes in, then another.

🕳️ What counts as a confined space?
Any space big enough for a person to enter, with limited ways in and out, that isn't designed for continuous work. Even putting your head through the opening counts as entering. Think chemical and fertiliser tanks, water tanks, silos, effluent pits, septic tanks, sumps, manholes, w**e tanks, boilers and pump stations.

✅ Before anyone enters: no tick, no entry.

• Avoid entry if possible. Clean from outside with lances or long-handled tools.
• Do a risk assessment covering what the tank held and the cleaning agents to be used.
• Check chemical compatibility against the SDS. Never mix acids with chlorine or other cleaners.
• Drain, flush and neutralise the tank.
• Isolate pipes and lock out pumps and agitators.
• Ventilate with forced fresh air. Never use pure oxygen.
• Test the atmosphere (top, middle and bottom) with a calibrated gas detector. Oxygen must be at least 20%, with no flammable or toxic gas.
• Have a signed written entry permit for this job and this shift only.
• Wear the correct PPE and breathing apparatus.
• Use a harness and lifeline, with a trained standby person at the opening. The standby person never enters.
• Have the rescue plan and equipment ready.

🚨 If someone collapses inside: DO NOT GO IN

1. Stop. Shout for help and keep everyone out.
2. Call 10177, or 112 from a cell phone.
For hazmat in the Garden Route, call the GRDM Emergency Call Centre on 044 805 5071.
3. Pull them out with the lifeline from outside and increase ventilation.
4. Only trained rescuers wearing breathing apparatus may enter.
5. Secure the scene and don't disturb it. The incident must be reported.

⚖️ Your legal duties:
• OHS Act 85 of 1993, Sections 8 and 13: provide a safe workplace and train workers on the hazards.
• General Safety Regulation 5: no entry until the space is isolated, purged and certified safe by a competent person.
• Hazardous Chemical Agents Regulations, 2021: risk assessment, SDS, exposure control and training.
• OHS Act Section 24 and GAR 8 and 9: report deaths and serious injuries to the Department of Employment and Labour.
• OHS Act Section 37: employers remain liable for the acts of workers and contractors unless reasonable steps were taken.
This applies to farms too. You cannot hand the risk to a contractor and walk away.

🛠️ Quality: do it right, every time:

Routine jobs are where shortcuts creep in. Follow the written procedure, use the right permit or checklist every time, stop and ask when something is different (a new chemical, tank or contractor), report near misses, and check contractors' work before sign-off. A procedure followed correctly, a permit filled in properly and a contractor checked properly could have sent three workers home safely.

🌍 Environment: every tank clean-out is also an environmental incident. Washwater, sludge and residue are hazardous waste, even when diluted.

• Store chemicals in a bund that holds 110% of the largest container (or 25% of the total volume, whichever is greater).
• Keep acids apart from chlorine products, alkalis and fertilisers.
• Collect all washwater and never let it reach the ground or stormwater drains.
• Dispose of waste through a registered hazardous waste contractor and keep the manifest and disposal certificate.
• In a spill: STOP – CONTAIN – REPORT. Never hose it away.

🔑 Remember:
• Tanks, pits and silos can kill in seconds, even when the air looks and smells normal.
• No test, no permit, no entry.
• Never mix chemicals when cleaning. Check the SDS first.
• Never rush in to rescue. Raise the alarm and use the lifeline.

Enter only when you know it is safe. Your safety is also your responsibility.

💬 Talk it over with your team:

Which routine jobs have drifted from the written procedure? Is tank cleaning in your risk assessments and emergency plan? How do you check contractors before they start and before you sign off their work?

Need help with confined space procedures, permits or risk assessments? Contact SHEQLink: [email protected] | www.sheqlink.co.za

13/10/2026

🚛 SHEQ SPOTLIGHT | ROAD TANKER SAFETY & HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE MANAGEMENT

📍 Mossel Bay & the Garden Route

Road tankers transporting fuel and other hazardous substances require careful planning, controlled access and strict safety procedures — not only on public roads, but also when entering and moving around industrial premises.

This photograph highlights an important SHEQ consideration: Are our site access points and vehicle movements adequately controlled to prevent incidents?

⚠️ What should a safe tanker operation include?

✅ Controlled site access: Ensure that entry and exit points are suitable for large vehicles, with sufficient clearance and adequate visibility.

✅ Traffic management: Establish designated vehicle routes, clear signage and a traffic management plan to prevent collisions between tankers, other vehicles and pedestrians.

✅ Safe manoeuvring: Use a competent banksman or trained vehicle marshal where necessary, particularly when reversing or navigating restricted spaces.

✅ Hazard identification: Conduct a risk assessment before deliveries, considering vehicle size, blind spots, pedestrian movement, overhead obstructions and nearby operations.

✅ Emergency preparedness: Ensure that spill response procedures, suitable emergency equipment, trained personnel and emergency contact details are available where required.

✅ Safe loading and offloading: Follow the applicable procedures for the substance being transferred, including securing the vehicle, preventing unauthorised access, controlling ignition sources where relevant, and managing spill risks.

✅ Environmental protection: Implement appropriate measures to prevent fuel or chemical spills from contaminating stormwater drains, soil and surrounding areas.

📋 Relevant standards and legislation

• ISO 45001:2018 — Occupational health and safety risk identification, operational control and emergency preparedness.

• ISO 14001:2015 — Environmental aspects, pollution prevention and emergency response.

• ISO 31000:2018 — Risk management principles and guidelines.

• Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and applicable regulations, including the Hazardous Chemical Agents Regulations, where relevant.

• Applicable dangerous-goods transport requirements and the National Road Traffic Act and regulations, as applicable to the operation.

🔎 A question for site managers and SHEQ practitioners:

Is your site ready to receive a fuel tanker safely — from the moment it approaches the entrance until the delivery vehicle leaves?

Remember: a safe delivery is not simply about getting the product to its destination. It is about protecting workers, road users, property and the environment throughout the entire operation.

SHEQLINK | Connecting Safety, Health, Environment & Quality.

12/10/2026

🚧 SHEQ AWARENESS | Roadside WORK SAFETY: PROTECTING WORKERS AND THE PUBLIC 🚧

📍 Mossel Bay, Western Cape

Whether it’s road maintenance, cleaning, painting, repairs or municipal work, working next to a busy road presents serious safety risks. Moving vehicles, limited visibility and inadequate traffic control can expose workers and the public to preventable accidents.

A high-visibility vest alone is not enough. A safe work area starts with proper planning!

✅ Essential safety procedures for roadside work

🔹 1. Conduct a risk assessment
Identify hazards such as moving vehicles, blind spots, reversing traffic, pedestrians and restricted working space. Determine the appropriate control measures before work begins.

🔹 2. Implement a traffic management plan
Establish a safe work zone with suitable advance warning signs, cones, barriers and traffic-control measures. Where necessary, use trained flag personnel or an approved temporary traffic-control arrangement.

🔹 3. Wear the correct PPE
Workers must wear suitable high-visibility clothing and task-specific protective equipment, including safety footwear, gloves and eye protection where required. PPE must be appropriate for the risk and working conditions.

🔹 4. Separate workers from traffic
Maintain a safe distance from moving vehicles wherever possible. Use physical barriers or other suitable controls when required. Never assume that motorists have seen the work crew.

🔹 5. Protect pedestrians and road users
Keep walkways and access points safe, visible and unobstructed. Provide a safe alternative route whenever pedestrian access is affected.

🔹 6. Ensure safe equipment and vehicle positioning
Park work vehicles in a safe, visible position, use warning lights where appropriate and prevent tools, materials or equipment from creating additional hazards.

🔹 7. Communicate and supervise
Brief workers on the task, hazards, emergency procedures and individual responsibilities. Appoint a competent person to monitor the work area and changing traffic conditions.

🔹 8. Prepare for emergencies
Ensure workers know how to raise the alarm, contact emergency services and respond to an incident. Emergency arrangements must be suitable for the location and accessible throughout the task.

🔹 9. Inspect and maintain the work zone
Check signs, barriers, PPE and traffic-control arrangements regularly. Stop work and reassess if conditions change or the area becomes unsafe.

📘 Relevant standards and legislation

• ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management, including hazard identification, risk assessment, operational control, competence and emergency preparedness.

• ISO 31000:2018 – Risk management principles and guidance.

• South African Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 – General duties to protect employees and other persons affected by work activities.

• Applicable South African road traffic legislation, road authority requirements and approved temporary traffic accommodation guidelines must also be followed.

⚠️ Important: The exact traffic-control requirements depend on the road, speed limit, traffic conditions, work activity and responsible road authority. A risk assessment and site-specific traffic management plan must determine the appropriate controls.

👷 Remember: Roadside safety is not just about protecting the people doing the work. It is about ensuring that every worker, motorist and pedestrian can get home safely.

Plan the work. Control the traffic. Protect every life.

10/10/2026

🚨 SHEQ ESSENTIALS: RESCUE PLANS — ARE YOU PREPARED BEFORE AN EMERGENCY HAPPENS?

In construction, manufacturing and other high-risk workplaces, an emergency can develop in seconds. Having an emergency number on a noticeboard is not enough. Your team needs a clear, site-specific rescue plan that can be implemented immediately when someone’s life is at risk.

A well-prepared rescue plan can save lives, prevent further injuries and ensure that everyone understands their role during an emergency.

📋 HOW DO YOU DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE RESCUE PLAN?

1️⃣ Identify the risks.

Conduct a task-specific risk assessment and identify credible emergency scenarios, including:
• Falls from height and suspended workers.
• Confined-space emergencies, including hazardous atmospheres.
• Machinery entrapment and crushing incidents.
• Electrical incidents, fires and chemical spills.
• Excavation collapses and structural failures.
• Water-related emergencies, where relevant.

2️⃣ Establish clear rescue procedures.

Your plan must explain exactly how a person will be rescued, who will initiate the response, what equipment will be used and how emergency medical assistance will be obtained.

Consider access restrictions, environmental conditions, communication failures and the possibility that normal access routes may be blocked.

3️⃣ Assign competent personnel.

Identify the responsible supervisor, trained rescuers, first aiders and emergency coordinators. Confirm that the people assigned to these roles are competent, available and familiar with the procedure.

4️⃣ Provide suitable rescue equipment.

Depending on the risks, this may include rescue harnesses, retrieval systems, ropes, lowering devices, first aid equipment, breathing apparatus and other specialist equipment.

Equipment must be appropriate for the task, readily accessible, inspected and maintained. Merely having equipment on site does not guarantee that a rescue can be performed safely.

5️⃣ Communicate and practise the plan.

All affected workers must understand how to raise the alarm, summon assistance and follow their assigned responsibilities. Conduct realistic drills appropriate to the identified risks, evaluate the results and correct any shortcomings.

📚 WHAT DO ISO STANDARDS REQUIRE?

✅ ISO 45001:2018 — Clause 8.2: Emergency preparedness and response

This clause requires organisations to establish, implement and maintain processes to prepare for and respond to potential emergency situations. This includes planning responses, providing relevant training, testing planned responses where practicable, reviewing performance and updating the processes where necessary.

Importantly, ISO 45001 does not prescribe one universal rescue-plan template. The procedures must be appropriate to the organisation’s hazards, risks and operational context.

✅ ISO 14001:2015 — Clause 8.2: Emergency preparedness and response

For organisations operating an environmental management system, this clause addresses preparedness for and response to potential environmental emergencies. Consider scenarios such as chemical spills, fuel leaks, contaminated runoff and other incidents that could harm the environment.

🇿🇦 SOUTH AFRICAN LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Construction Regulations, 2014, Regulation 10 specifically requires a fall protection plan where applicable. This must include a rescue plan detailing the necessary procedures, personnel and suitable equipment to rescue a person after a fall, with the rescue procedure implemented immediately.

Other applicable requirements may apply to confined spaces, machinery, electrical work and specific high-risk activities. Always verify the legislation and regulations applicable to your particular operation.

🔧 HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE RESCUE PLAN?

✔ Review it when site conditions, work methods, equipment or risk assessments change.

✔ Inspect and maintain rescue equipment according to manufacturer requirements and applicable procedures.

✔ Keep training, competency, equipment inspection and drill records.

✔ Test communication systems and verify emergency contact details.

✔ Conduct drills, record findings and close out corrective actions.

✔ Make the latest approved version accessible to relevant workers and supervisors.

✔ Review the plan after an incident, near miss, drill failure or other indication that improvements are needed.

⚠️ A CRITICAL SAFETY REMINDER

Never allow an untrained person to enter a confined space or attempt a dangerous rescue without appropriate protection. A rushed, unplanned rescue can create additional casualties. Activate the emergency procedure and use competent, appropriately equipped rescuers.

Remember: A rescue plan is only effective if it works in practice — not just on paper.

📍 For construction sites and businesses in Mossel Bay, Hartenbos and the wider Garden Route, emergency preparedness should be part of everyday SHEQ management.

💬 SHEQ QUESTION: When was your site’s rescue plan last tested, reviewed and communicated to your workforce?

09/10/2026

🚧 SHEQLINK SAFETY SPOTLIGHT | MOSSEL BAY 🚧 SPOT THE RISKS BEFORE AN INCIDENT HAPPENS!

👷‍♂️ Working at height is one of the most hazardous activities in the construction and building industry. A seemingly routine task can become a life-threatening emergency when proper safety precautions are overlooked.

This site photo highlights several important risks that deserve attention:

🔴 WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS?
▪️ Workers operating at height without clearly visible fall-protection measures.
▪️ Vehicles parked within the potential falling-object zone beneath the elevated work platform.
▪️ An inadequately demarcated exclusion zone around the work area.
▪️ The potential for serious injury caused by falling persons, tools, equipment or materials.

✅ HOW CAN THESE RISKS BE CONTROLLED?
✔️ Conduct a task-specific risk assessment before work begins.
✔️ Ensure the correct use of suitable fall-protection equipment and secure anchor points wherever required.
✔️ Inspect and operate elevated work platforms in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable safety requirements.
✔️ Establish and enforce a clearly marked exclusion zone beneath overhead work.
✔️ Keep vehicles, pedestrians and unauthorised personnel clear of the danger zone.
✔️ Ensure workers are competent, appropriately trained and familiar with emergency procedures.

🆘 EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS: HAVE A RESCUE PLAN!

A fall-arrest system alone is not enough. If a worker falls and remains suspended in a harness, a prompt, planned rescue is essential.

An effective site-specific rescue plan should include:

1️⃣ STOP WORK: Secure the area and eliminate further danger where possible.
2️⃣ RAISE THE ALARM: Contact the designated emergency responders and emergency medical services.
3️⃣ ACT ACCORDING TO THE RESCUE PLAN: Use trained rescuers and suitable rescue equipment. Never improvise an unsafe rescue.
4️⃣ PROVIDE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE: Arrange prompt assessment and treatment for the affected worker.
5️⃣ REPORT AND REVIEW: Record the incident, investigate its causes and implement corrective actions before work resumes.

📋 RELEVANT STANDARDS AND LEGISLATION

▪️ ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management, including operational control (Clause 8.1), emergency preparedness and response (Clause 8.2), and hazard identification and risk assessment.

▪️ ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental management, including operational control (Clause 8.1) and emergency preparedness and response (Clause 8.2), where environmental emergencies are relevant.

▪️ South African Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and the applicable Construction Regulations, including requirements relevant to risk assessment, work at height and emergency arrangements.

Remember: ISO certification does not replace compliance with South African legislation or the need for effective, site-specific safety procedures.

🏗️ THE SHEQLINK MESSAGE

Safety is not simply about identifying what is wrong. It is about taking action before someone gets hurt.

Whether you’re managing a construction site, operating equipment or working at height in Mossel Bay, every hazard identified is an opportunity to prevent an incident.

👀 See it. Report it. Prevent it.

💬 What would be your first corrective action at this site? Share your thoughts below.

08/10/2026

🚛 TRUCK LOADING & UNLOADING: DON’T TURN A DELIVERY INTO A ROAD HAZARD

This photograph, taken in Mossel Bay, highlights an important safety issue when heavy vehicles are loaded or unloaded in an active roadway.

The concern is not simply that a truck is stopped — it is how the loading/unloading activity is controlled.

⚠️ What is concerning in this situation?

• The truck is positioned within the roadway, creating an obstruction and a potential vehicle–vehicle conflict.
• There is no clearly visible exclusion zone, cones or barriers separating the unloading activity from passing traffic.
• There is no clearly visible controlled pedestrian/vehicle separation around the operation.
• Other vehicles are required to pass in close proximity to the heavy vehicle and its operating area.
• Where unloading involves workers moving between the truck and the roadside/building, they may be exposed to struck-by, reversing and moving-vehicle hazards.
• A designated loading/unloading area should be used wherever reasonably practicable, rather than allowing the delivery operation to encroach on an active traffic route.

🇿🇦 South African legal requirements

The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993, together with the Construction Regulations, requires construction vehicles and mobile plant to be properly organised and controlled, with adequate signalling/control arrangements where necessary. Construction sites must also be organised so that pedestrians and vehicles can move safely and without risks to health.

The Construction Regulations further require suitable traffic routes and appropriate signs where necessary.

ISO 45001:2018

From an ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management System perspective, this falls under Clause 8 – Operation, particularly 8.1 Operational Planning and Control and 8.1.4 Procurement/contractor controls.

Delivery and unloading activities should be planned, hazards identified and appropriate operational controls implemented. Where contractors or external transport providers are involved, their activities must also be controlled within the organisation’s OH&S management system. ISO’s own technical committee specifically identifies loading and transportation as activities that can create OH&S risks requiring control.

✅ A safer approach:

PLAN → ASSESS → SEPARATE → CONTROL

✔ Use a designated loading/unloading area wherever possible
✔ Keep the vehicle out of the active traffic route
✔ Establish a clearly marked exclusion zone
✔ Use cones, barriers and warning signage where appropriate
✔ Separate pedestrians from vehicle movements
✔ Apply a suitable traffic-management plan
✔ Use a trained banksman/spotter where reversing or restricted visibility creates a risk
✔ Ensure the driver and unloading crew understand the site rules before work begins
✔ Stop the operation if safe separation cannot be maintained

A delivery should never create a new hazard simply because the work needs to be done quickly.

🦺 See the hazard. Control the hazard. Protect the people.

07/10/2026

🦺 LADDER SAFETY: A FEW METRES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

A ladder is simple equipment — but using it incorrectly can turn a routine task into a serious fall hazard.

This photograph, taken at 14:50 at the Hartenbos Seefront Centre, provides a useful real-world reminder of why ladder safety and working-at-height controls matter.

From what is visibly apparent in the photograph, several aspects warrant attention:

⚠️ Ladder stability and securing
Portable ladders must be stable and secured against slipping, sliding or overturning. South Africa’s General Safety Regulations require suitable non-slip devices and/or that ladders are lashed, held or otherwise secured during use.

⚠️ Working at height over a public access area
The work is taking place directly above an area where members of the public may potentially pass. Where there is a risk of falling objects, the area below and around the work should be effectively controlled and protected—not simply relied upon on the basis of warning tape or cones. The regulations specifically address protection where work is performed above entrances, passageways or areas where people may be present.

⚠️ Falling objects
People working from ladders at height must take precautions to prevent tools, materials and other objects from falling. Tools should be appropriately secured or carried in suitable receptacles rather than creating an additional falling-object hazard.

⚠️ Correct equipment for the task
A ladder should not automatically be the first choice simply because it reaches the required height. Working-at-height guidance recommends considering whether the work can be performed from the ground and, where appropriate, using safer access systems such as properly erected scaffolding or suitable work platforms.

⚠️ Three points of contact & avoiding overreach
Workers should maintain three points of contact while climbing and working from a ladder, remain centred between the stiles and avoid leaning or overreaching.

⚠️ PPE and competent supervision
Appropriate PPE, training, supervision and a task-specific risk assessment should form part of the overall working-at-height control system. The Department of Employment and Labour identifies risk assessment as a fundamental part of preventing construction-related incidents.

📋 ISO 45001 CONNECTION

Under ISO 45001:2018, ladder work should be approached through the same fundamental process:

IDENTIFY → ASSESS → CONTROL → MONITOR

The hierarchy of controls means we should first look at eliminating or reducing the hazard, followed by engineering and administrative controls, with PPE supporting—not replacing—those controls.

✅ BEFORE USING A LADDER, ASK:

✔ Is this the safest equipment for the job?
✔ Has the ladder been inspected and found fit for use?
✔ Is it positioned on a firm, level and suitable surface?
✔ Is it properly secured against movement?
✔ Is the angle appropriate?
✔ Can the worker maintain three points of contact?
✔ Is the work area below adequately barricaded and controlled?
✔ Could tools or materials fall onto people below?
✔ Is the worker trained and competent for the task?
✔ Has the task-specific risk assessment been completed?

A ladder is not a substitute for proper planning.

In construction and maintenance, “it will only take a few minutes” is never a sufficient safety control.

📍 Hartenbos | Mossel Bay | Western Cape
📸 Photograph: Anri Stenden | 14:50

This post is intended as a safety-awareness observation based on what is visibly apparent in the photograph. A formal compliance determination would require a site inspection, risk assessment and review of the work method and equipment.

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