Glass Brick Tiles and Concrete Industry

Induction training

All new employees need to undergo induction training before commencement of work. This is usually part of an overall orientation program and the requirements differ depending on the province and type of workplace setting. A record must be kept of this induction training (including attendance), with a copy attached to the employee’s file.
In addition to information and skills relating to the workplace and management, there are various aspects of health and safety that need to be addressed in the training. They include the following:



Going through the code of conduct for employees. Each workplace is expected to compile and apply these.

Knowledge of where they are allowed to park and if they have an allocated space. This also includes where they are not allowed to park their vehicle.

Understanding the employees rights and responsibilities when it comes to health and safety.

Detailed knowledge of the access points to the workplace (gates and doors), as well as all buildings (keys, codes, alarms, panic buttons, and evacuation routes).

Guidelines and procedures for receiving visitors to the premises.

Thorough understanding of emergency procedures.

In depth knowledge of fire and evacuation procedures.

Understanding of the basic occupational health and safety legal requirements.

Knowledge of the compensation laws around injuries and diseases.

An understanding of internal occupational health and safety rules and regulations.

Short-term visitors, such as contractors, must also be informed of risks, hazards and emergency procedures. For this purpose a formal short document can be drawn up which can be handed to the visitor and explained to them.

An organisation should, as far as reasonably practicable endeavour to safeguard all employees and the public against injury and disease, as well as risk to health and safety from all operations associated with the said organisation.

The organisation policy should be to strive for the highest possible standards of safety and occupational hygiene and health. The organisation should as far as reasonable assist al employees in maintaining and improving the standards of safety and health in their workplace and to ensure that the proper and effective health and safety procedures are followed by all employees and subcontractors working within the organisations jurisdiction.

Organisational objectives includes:
To promote a healthy and safe working environment
To achieve the highest practicable level of safety in the workplace
To ensure the highest compliance with the health and safety program requirements
The prevention of personal accidents through safe working conditions
The prevention of losses in respect of damage to employees, the employer and property
The elimination and prevention of any health hazards within the working environment
The promotion of safety consciousness amongst all employees, contractors and visitors on the premises
To achieve these objectives the organisation needs the assistance and commitment of all employees within the organisation.
Everyone is responsible for their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of those around them.

Personal Responsibilities:
You should take all reasonable care to ensure your own and your fellow workers safety.
Do nothing, which is liable to cause injury to your own or other persons on the premises.
Ensure that you at all times use your safety equipment in the correct manner. When in doubt ask for advice.
Before using machinery, ensure that it operates efficiently.
Adhere to all safety rules and instructions of the company.
Take care that no unsafe conditions arise out of the performance of your duties
Report any hazard or danger in any area to your immediate supervisor or health and safety representative.

Management responsibilities
Management will endeavour to ensure that all installations and machinery will be of a good and safe design as well as construction.
Safe working procedures for safe working operations will be provided.
Regular inspections of all inspections of all areas will be conducted to ensure the safety and health of workers at all times, as well as safe and healthy working conditions.
Good housekeeping shall be maintained at all times throughout the premises.
Safety consciousness and individual responsibility amongst all employees will be promoted and stimulated.
Management will ensure that all measures as may be necessary are enforced to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all employees within the organisation.
Supervisor responsibilities
Identify what hazards to the health and safety of persons are attached to any work, which is performed, any article or substance, which is produced, processed, used, handled, stored or transported, or any machinery which is used within the organisation. Liaise with your superior to ensure that the necessary precautionary measures are established with the respect of those dangers.
Any hazard noticed needs to be reported to a member of management immediately.
Take steps to ensure subordinates proper understanding of the dangers and precautionary measures to be observed with their specific tasks.
Supervise and monitor that employees measures adhere to the standards required.
Enforce such measures as may be necessary to ensure health and safety regulations are met.
Conduct on the job safety training with employees under your control.

Health and Safety Representative Responsibilities
Health and safety reps have been appointed for the organisation, in terms of current legislative requirements. Only full time employees with specific knowledge of the conditions and activities of the workplace shall be eligible for designation as health and safety representatives.
It is the duty of each employee to report any situation which is unsafe or unhealthy to his employer or health and safety representative.
All incidents which may affect an employee's health or safety or that of his fellow employees should be reported to a health and safety representative or the employer immediately.
Health and safety representatives are appointed to assist yourself in ensuring that your working environment is safe and health.
The health and safety reps will be conducting safety inspections on a regular basis to ensure a high safety and health standard on the premises.

Health and Safety Committee Responsibilities
The health and safety committee which has been formed in terms of the act is there for you. Please make use of your committee by bringing your suggestions, enquiries and complaints in relation to your safety, health and security to the notice of your health and safety representative whom will refer this matter to the health and safety committee.

Emergencies which include fire-, electricity-, evacuation-, chemicals- and first aid emergencies should be part of induction training.




Fire emergencies induction training:

No stacking shall be permitted in such a manner which obstructs any fire protection equipment on the premises.
Read and make sure that you understand the fire drill and emergency procedures and make sure that you know exactly what you have to do in case of a fire.
No person shall be permitted to use any of the fire fighting appliances except for putting out fires.
Do not attempt by yourself to extinguish a fire in the close proximity of electrical wiring or electrical machinery but call the fire fighter in your area.
In areas where no smoking is permitted do not smoke.
Do not use any solvent that can burn for instance petrol, methylated spirits, paraffin etc to clean yourself. Use proper hand cleaner or soaps.
If you smell smoke in any area on the premises notify your health and safety rep immediately. Remember a fire usually cases smoke.
In the instance of a fire on the premises stay away from the fire and the fire fighters. This will ensure that the firefighters will be able to extinguish the fire.
Under no circumstances run or panic if a fire breaks out.

Electricity emergencies induction training:
Under no circumstances use water on fires involving live electrical equipment. Call the shift electrician to isolate the electricity.
If any faulty equipment comes to your attention this must be reported to your supervisor immediately.
Frayed wires and damaged insulation are dangerous and must be reported to your health and safety rep.
Should a person be electrically shocked, attempt to switch off the power supply immediately. In the event of a person being connected to electrically live equipment attempt to separate the person from the electricity without making direct contact with the person.

Evacuation emergencies induction training:
Make sure that you know at last two safe evacuation routes from your workstation.
Familiarise yourself with the correct emergency procedure as implemented on the premises. This emergency procedure will indicate to you the areas where employees should meet in the event of an emergency.
In the case of an evacuation ensure that all the machinery with which you are busy with is completely switched off.
At all times adhere to the instructions of the evacuation marshals.

Chemical emergencies induction training:
No persons on the premises shall be permitted to store, distribute or handle any chemicals unless the containers of the chemicals in question are clearly marked stating the name and weather the chemical is poisonous, flammable, corrosive or dangerous.
All persons permitted to use chemicals on the premises shall ensure that they are acquainted with the correct use of the chemical and the precautionary measures pertaining to such chemicals.
At all times handle chemical containers carefully.
If you notice a chemical leakage or spillage, report this to your supervisor immediately. Do not attempt to clean up or wash away any spilled chemicals by yourself.
Any damaged oxy-acetylene cylinders must be reported to your supervisor immediately. Do not bring acetylene into contact with chlorine, bromine or iodine. Do not bring oxygen cylinders in contact with oil.
Nobody is permitted to repair any damaged pressure gauges or internal fittings on pressure vessels. Any damage of this equipment must be reported to your supervisor immediately.
If the chemical that you are using has a strong smell or emits fumes always use breathing apparatus or other protective equipment.
Should you spill any chemicals on yourself, wash the contaminated area with water and report to your first aider.

First Aid emergencies induction training:
The first aiders and equipment on the premises are there for your welfare.
Should you sustain an injury no matter how minor report this to your first aider immediately so that you can receive the correct medical attention.
If you are not aware as to whom the first aider is, contact your supervisor for this information.
Always remember that early first aid treatment may forestall any serious consequences.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Clothing induction training:
You shall be required at all times to use the safety equipment at the workplace or in the course of your employment or in connection with the use of machinery, which was provided to you by the company.
You shall be required to at all times wear the protective clothing issued to yourself whilst at the workplace.
Do not tamper with or misuse any safety equipment installed or provided to yourself, it’s a criminal offence.
Consult with your supervisor to ensure that you are in possession of the correct safety equipment required for the specific task.
Adhere to notices displaying which safety equipment is required in specific areas. Do not enter a work area if you are not in possession of the correct safety equipment.
Employees with long hair must confine their hair when working on or in the vicinity of moving machinery.
If you are of the opinion that you require extra safety equipment for a specific task do not hesitate to consult your supervisor.
Ensure that the safety equipment you use is at all times clean and in working order.
Greasy and oily clothing is a danger to your health and your safety. It is possible to contract occupational diseases by wearing unhygienic clothing or safety equipment.

Induction training ensures that employees, new and old understand the potential risks of their job and workplace. They will better understand the machinery they use and the tasks they will undertake.