Twenty-one Denel PMP (Pretoria Metal Pressings) personnel now boast added expertise to deal unexpected explosions at the company’s Pretoria West facility.
An internal Denel newsletter has it the decision to present the explosive munitions short course came in the wake of “several incidents recorded in explosive areas on our (Denel PMP) premises”.
The course, as per the Infogram newsletter, was presented by the SA National Defence Force (SANDF), in collaboration with the Department of Defence (DoD) which has responsibility for ammunition depots nationally as well as the School of Munitions in the Northern Cape province. Overall, the DoD ammunition tasking is to educate and train personnel in ammunition related roles, including demolition, storage, transportation as well as safe handling and maintenance of ammunition.
The course is a recognised, accredited one allowing certificate holders to be appointed as explosives supervisors. The appointments will provide support to explosives managers and increase the “line of sight supervision” of work at the Denel PMP plant. The course meets requirements set down in the explosive regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA).
With the first – pilot – project deemed a success, the newsletter notes further development and training by way of future courses will happen.
The course focused on critical aspects of ammunition and explosives handling and transportation, with the aim of enhancing safety and operational standards.
