Saiosh Appoints new CEO

ROBIN JONES, president of the South African Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (Saiosh), welcomes Neels Nortjé as the Institute’s new CEO.

In the brief six years since being formed, Saiosh has grown continuously. We received recognition from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) as the Professional Body for Occupational Safety and Health in South Africa and have grown our numbers to over 5 800 individual members. In addition, we have more than 350 corporate companies that recognise and support the work of the Institute.

As the Saiosh has grown, so have the functions and responsibilities of its (voluntary) council, which, therefore, took the decision to create the position of a chief executive officer to manage the business of the Institute, with specific reference to membership matters and financial activities.

We are pleased to announce that Neels Nortjé has been appointed CEO. He has performed the function of registrar for Saiosh on a voluntary basis for six years, with a precise and clear “hands-on” approach to the tasks.

Nortjé brings 30 years’ experience in occupational health and safety, as well as 20 years’ experience in managing a membership organisation. He holds a National Diploma in Safety Management as well as a Mechanical and Electrical N6 qualification. He currently serves on the minister of labour’s Advisory Council for Health and Safety.

The Council wishes Nortjé well in the new position and looks forward to an even bigger Institute which advances our two simple objectives:

• We will do everything we can to educate, promote, mentor, guide and lobby for the occupational health and safety (OHS) profession as a whole;

• We will do exactly the same for the OHS professionals.

Registration of members in the construction industry

It is a requirement of OHS practitioners working in the construction industry to be registered with the South African Council for Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). This is as a result of the Department of Labour appointing the SACPCMP to regulate levels of competence for practitioners in the construction field.

Available statistics suggest there are over 7 000 practitioners waiting for their application for registration to be approved. At the current rate of processing applications, it will take more than ten years to complete the outstanding applications, never mind the new applications which will still be coming in.

Legally it means that both our individual and corporate members can’t find work without the required registration, nor tender for work without the official registration certificate. Saiosh is liaising with both parties to find a solution to this sad state of affairs.

OHS Conference at the A-OSH Exhibition at Gallagher Estate in May

We will be announcing the Top Student of the Year as well as the OHS Practitioner of the Year. Then a special prize will go to the lucky member who submitted his (or her) annual subscription payment by February 29. Details will be published in the next issue of SHEQ MANAGEMENT.

Remember you can register for the conference directly on line. If you do so, you will be joining the more than 150 delegates who have already booked. There are still some sponsorship packages available, which provide a great opportunity to market your health and safety-related products and services.

Health and safety regards,

Robin W Jones