Initiatives to improve in our SHEQ performance

Integrated SHE management system

As detailed earlier in this report, integrated management systems were successfully implemented and certified at most of the facilities within Omnia Fertilizer and BME, while surveillance audits were conducted according to schedule on all of the certified integrated management systems (IMS) of both operations.

The roll-out of the implementation of the IMS to all facilities within Protea Chemicals is still under way, and is scheduled to be completed within the current financial year. Protea Chemicals Inland was the first to successfully implement and obtain certification on all standards for its IMS. The total number of internal and external audits within the Omnia Group increased significantly due to the implementation and roll-out of the IMS facilities.

Audits

The number of external and internal SHE audits steadily increased over the reporting period – an indication of greater participation in the IMS implemented and our commitment to continual improvement. Divisions schedule their own internal or external audits, with assistance from internal SHE resources as well as Group SHE for second-party audits.

Other SHE initiatives during F2010 include:

	Routine medical surveillance tests continued according to schedule on all sites.
	A water spraying system has been installed on the bulk ammonia storage facility at our liquid fertilizer production plant at Wesselsbron.
	The construction of a new enclosed chlorine storage facility for the bulk storage of chlorine gas cylinders at Protea Chemicals Cape Killarney Gardens site has been completed. The commissioning of this facility will significantly reduce the risks associated with the storage of chlorine cylinders at the site.
	Upgrade of acid repacking areas has been initiated. A number of containment measures have been installed, for example, additional bunds/channels in solvents areas and warehouses.
	In terms of energy conservation, a co-generation project which involves the installation of a 1,920 kW Turbo- Generator was successfully commissioned at the Omnia Fertilizer factory in Sasolburg. The implementation of this project will result in a direct electricity saving of about 10% at the Sasolburg site.

Legal compliance

Several initiatives to improve compliance with safety, health and environmental legislation at all divisions of the Omnia Group have been introduced during the period under review. Important initiatives implemented to improve the legal compliance of all facilities within the Group can be summarised as follows:

	Omnia, through CAIA and Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), participated in various initiatives to assist with the formulation of:
	–	The National Waste Act
	–	Minimum emissions standards for point sources
	–	Contaminated land in terms of the National Waste Act
	–	A new national waste minimisation strategy
	–	The new National Transport Act
	–	NEMAQA-listed activities
	–	EIA processes in terms of the National Waste Act
	–	Air priority working groups
	–	SANS standards relating to MHI, electrical issues, tanks standards and pressure vessels.
	A project to evaluate legal compliance with the conditions of all applicable legal requirements, including authorisations and permits, was launched by the Group Engineering Projects and Services Department. Two audits in the Fertilizer division, four at the Protea Division, one at BME and three EIA environmental authorisations have been conducted.
	Legal compliance assessments at our international sites are in process. A project plan, which sees all our international sites being evaluated over a three-year period, has been approved. As part of these assessments, contract management will also be included and compliance to local depots and warehouses will be extended beyond the current assessments. As part of our international compliance assessment, the current legal register will be extended to key international sites and smaller local sites.

Public participation

Attendance of the following environmental forums is ongoing:

	Industry Forums
	–	CAIA and Responsible Care® workshops
	–	Sasolburg Inter-company Response Meeting
	–	NapCof
	–	Institute of Safety Management
	Environmental participation
	–	Vaal Triangle Priority Area Air Meeting
	–	Vaal Triangle Priority Area Air Technical Task Team
	–	Leeu-Taaibosch Forum (and Technical Task Team), with one of our employees voted as chairperson for the LTF Forum
	–	Sasolburg Rejuvenation Committee
	–	Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Officer Forum and Multi-stakeholder Reference Group
	Community Forums
	–	Sasolburg Community Working Group
	–	Local Security Forum