Leading specialist Jet Demolition is an early adopter of the latest technology in the industry, resulting in it prioritising safety in all its operations. “Technological advances play an extremely important role in risk mitigation, not only in high-hazard environments, but also in our day-to-day operations,” comments Marthinus Botha, SHE Manager.
For example, the OilQuick system adopted by Jet Demolition allows it to change attachment types rapidly, without the need for personnel to remove and reinstall pins. Remote-controlled applications, for instance, allow high-risk structures to be toppled without human intervention at the demolition face. “This is a major advancement in the interest of safety that cannot be paralleled via any other conventional demolition applications,” says Botha.
The company regards it as a business imperative to put safety at the forefront of its operations. This means mechanising wherever practically possible, and further supplementing mechanisation efforts with modern, advanced technological tools. “We are early adopters of these systems in South Africa, which not only greatly improves the safety profile of the works, but also vastly improves efficiency.”
Within the demolition and broader construction industry, safety is the driving force of change, as it continually evolves and adapts in the pursuit of safer practices. “It is both the cornerstone of our operations, as well as the ultimate objective – we are tasked with finding ways and approaches to improve safety,” stresses Botha.
A project cannot truly commence until a fundamental understanding of the work results in the most appropriate approach. This method and approach must withstand analysis and be robust enough to provide a significant degree of certainty in respect of safety during execution. Project planning is vital in not only ensuring the safety of Jet Demolition’s own teams, but also of the public, the client, or with interface with project stakeholders.
However, Botha adds it would be irresponsible to assess safety from the perspective of protocol alone. “Safety is ingrained within ways of working and can only really be achieved with the right attitude, relevant experience, and respect for rules and processes designed to keep you and your team safe.”
Therefore, Jet Demolition develops and maintains strict protocols based on experience, industry standards, best practices, and lessons learnt, but more importantly, it subscribes to an underlying emphasis on ensuring that safety is at the core of all its operations.
“We are fortunate that we have good working relationships with our clients and industry peers, many of which are multinational organisations that share common safety goals and principles. We are thus often challenged to improve our systems, processes, and procedures to align with evolving best practices. On a more granular level, we invite our team members to actively participate in safety matters in the workplace, ensuring that the processes we put in place are practical, relevant, and achievable,” notes Botha.
While team members undergo regular refresher training, true appreciation for safety is gained on-site. Experience is hard earned, and sensitisation to demolition risks is more important than formal training. Every Jet Demolition site is also supplemented with full-time on-site production and safety-management personnel, who help ensure that all possible risks are identified, suitably mitigated, and understood by all.
“Our team members have a deep understanding and appreciation for demolition and are involved with on-site continuous risk management. In unforeseen circumstances, our teams understand that the best approach is oftentimes to stop and reassess. Although projects oftentimes present with unforeseen challenges, it is discipline and responsibility which ensures that risks are appropriately reassessed and fully mitigated,” adds Botha.
Safety is a matter of not only compliance, but personal responsibility. It is thus the ‘human factor’ that is the most challenging aspect of safety within any workplace. “I believe that cultivating and fostering a sense of responsibility and respect for safety practices is the single biggest challenge to be overcome, and can only be achieved via leading by example, discipline, and challenging the norm,” concludes Botha.
