Executive Summary Newsletter 79

Welcome to SAFEX’ s latest Newsletter, I hope you will enjoy and find much learning in it. The year is speeding to an end with the world in a much changed position since it started. The turmoil in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine impacts on all and we hope for a quick resolution as far as the tragic hostilities are concerned. These changes are part of our ongoing evolution as individuals and companies on this earth. It should motivate to embrace change and equip us to play a major part in developing a safer explosives industry. The quote by JF Kennedy is very appropriate:

“Change is the law of life and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future."

The SAFEX Governors has been very busy this year with a very successful Congress in Salzburg and Webinar 5 on MOC planned for the 27th of November chaired by Thierry Rousse and hosted by EPC. Planning for Congress XXI has also started, and it will be held in Lisbon, Portugal hosted by Orica.

SAFEX also welcomes the following two new company members and look forward to their active participation in our activities:

We start of as per usual with a safety message from a CEO in our community, in this case Ralf Heyneke from BME in South Africa.

SAAMI from the USA and DBEL from South Africa have joined SAFEX as Corporate Associate Members. To introduce SAAMI, I have taken the liberty to insert an introduction from their website. DBEL is involved with the development of protective technologies for people and infrastructure, and to support astute procurement of defense and security operational requirements. In addition, the facility provides services and technical consulting for industry and mining partners, and their research facilities are used to offer world-class explosives training for a variety of government and private groups. An article outlining their services to the industry is included.

ABIMEX a long-standing Corporate Associate in Brazil submitted an article on their activities. I had the honour of presenting at their conference a few years ago.

NIXT in South Africa held their first very successful webinar on safety incidents learning. Two very interesting presentations are included to benefit learning in the industry : Incident Learnings- NIXT 5.pdf and NIXT Presentation 6.pdf.

Following on from Newsletter 78, Andy Begg submits the final episode of the PETN Workshop held at Austin Powder including the last two presentations.

The BoS Training Event at the SAFEX Congress was very successful and as a follow up the XX SAFEX Congress BOS Application Training Group submitted and article on how to keep BoS alive within your own organization.

As the result of a Burning Ground Incident (IN23-04) reported recently and the regular occurrence of these around the globe, Dr Martin Held publishes an article as a reminder of SAFEX GPG 04. Special care should be taken in destruction of explosives waste and the Argyle eLearning Module mentioned earlier will deal in detail with this hazardous materials handling issue.

Ken Price, a valuable member of the Expert Panel presents article asking the question:” What is the purpose of an explosives magazine? Safety or security?”. What is your view about this issue ?

Diane Ginanne from Incitec Pivot alerts our members to the use of the SafeTEAMS programme within their group of companies. The Dyno / Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) global behavioral based safety program provides a common language and common tools to take their safety culture to the next level. Their SafeTEAMS culture shows up through their language, beliefs, and actions. I hope you as a reader will be able implement these learnings in your organization.

The second International Explosives Conference will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland from 18 till 20 June 2024. A flyer is included for more information or visit www.iec-2024.com .

For me it only remains to wish you a safe last few months of 2023 and for you and your families to enjoy the upcoming Festive Season. Your continued support in 2024 will remain appreciated and I wish you and your Companies a prosperous time going forward.

SAFEX Newsletter

The SAFEX Newsletter was initiated for all members and other interested parties:

To inform the SAFEX Community of what is happening in SAFEX.

To provide a forum for readers to learn from the published articles and opinions expressed.

To encourage networking among members of the SAFEX Community.

To ensure SHE practices stay current and is shared.

Incident Notification

Members can now notify SAFEX of incidents online by completing the Notification of Incident form after accessing the restricted pages (Intranet) with their access codes.

If your Company is a SAFEX Member and you don't have your individual access codes, please request them using the Member Nomination Form. Please do NOT use anyone else's access codes

Newsletter 79

Safex Newsletter No.79 October 2023

Innovating for safety and sustainability - By Ralf Hennecke, Managing Director BME

For BME, the prerogative of safety is non-negotiable. The safety of our employees, our customers, and the communities in which we operate always comes first and informs every decision we make in conducting our business.

A large number of initiatives have also been started with completion planned for end of 2024.
These initiatives are steered by the SAFEX Board of Governors and the subjects covered are those requested by our global members and covers eLearning as well as GPGs.
ANE transport is a critical one requested by members as a relt of several road incidents.

The Short History of SAAMI: Setting the Industry Standards for Nearly a Century

The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute traces its roots to 1913 and the Society of American Manufacturers of Small Arms and Ammunition (SAMSAA).

ABIMEX - By Odair Jose Santos

The Brazilian Association of Explosive Materials – ABIMEX – was founded in 2017 with the objective of operating in the area of controlled products by the Brazilian Army, aiming to bring together companies and institutions involved in the development, production, and use of explosives

NIXT

NIXT South Africa held their first very successful webinar on safety incidents learning. Two very interesting presentations are included to benefit learning in the industry: Incident Learnings- NIXT 5.pdf and NIXT Presentation 6.pdf

Austin Powder Red Diamond PETN Workshop February 2023 - continued - By Andy Begg

In this issue of the Newsletter, we recall another 2 presentations from the PETN workshop.

How to keep BOS alive ? - By XX SAFEX Congress BOS Application Training Group

Often, if we don’t pay enough attention and act, organizations tend to lose their corporate memories. Just like choosing paths blindfolded or trying to win a race when you're stuck in the mud, losing your company's memory will result in losing all the advantages you've built over time to make better decisions...

Burning ground incidents: safe disposal of explosives - By Dr Martin Held

The recently reported burning ground incident that also caused fatalities is a stark reminder that the explosive industry continues to repeat those incidents. Looking at the SAFEX incident database, we observe an average of one burning ground incident per annum for the past decade. Looking at categories, burning ground incidents are one if not the major contributor to incident statistics.

What’s a magazine ? And why ? - By Ken Price

What is the purpose of an explosives magazine ? Safety or security ?
Australia is currently reviewing its requirements as written in Australian Standard 2187, for the storage of explosives, particularly the construction requirements for magazines. We have a variety of confusing terms and descriptors for magazines that have evolved from the days when there were two basic types: a fixed permanent construction, usually a wood lined corrugated iron shed, or a smaller portable steel box.

SafeTEAMS - by Diana Ginnane

SafeTEAMS is the Dyno / Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) global behavioural based safety program which provides a common language and common tools to take our safety culture to the next level. Our SafeTEAMS culture shows up through our language, beliefs, and actions.The program is building the mindsets and skillsets needed to strengthen our Zero Harm culture (broader than just safety).

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2nd International Explosives Conference

The Second International Explosives Conference will be held in Edinburg, Scotland from 18 till 20 June 2024. Download the flyer for more information or cvisit www.iec-2024.com

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CSIR DETONICS, BALLISTICS AND EXPLOSIVES LABORATORY - By Tshepo Setlai

The CSIR’s Detonics, Ballistics and Explosives Laboratory is a uniquely equipped, multi-million-rand facility that is used in the development of protective technologies for people and infrastructure, and to support astute procurement of defence and security operational requirements.