Kendal Site Leadership and Operational Excellence

Project Overview:
During my tenure at Kendal power plant in Mpumalanga, South Africa, I had the privilege of leading and managing large teams of highly skilled artisans and migrant workers to execute complex construction and maintenance projects. These projects involved a wide range of physical work, including construction of new facilities, maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure, and installation and maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems.
 

One of the highlights of my role was overseeing shutdown or maintenance periods, where our teams worked tirelessly around the clock to carry out critical tasks within limited timeframes. This involved coordinating and managing large teams of artisans and migrant workers to perform tasks such as boiler maintenance, turbine repairs, equipment cleaning, and inspection of critical systems. The scale and complexity of these projects required meticulous planning, coordination, and execution to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations and adherence to strict timelines.
 

Working with diverse teams of artisans and migrant workers, I ensured that all work was carried out in accordance with industry best practices and regulatory requirements. This included managing the interface between subcontractors and our company, and ensuring that all teams complied with our safety and quality requirements. Despite the inherent risks associated with working in a coal-fired power plant environment, our teams successfully completed projects in a timely and efficient manner, with a strong focus on safety and compliance.
 

Through my leadership and management of these large teams of artisans and migrant workers, we achieved impressive results, including successful completion of critical construction and maintenance projects, and ensuring the safety and compliance of all work carried out. 

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 I was instrumental in designing, implementing, and auditing the company's ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 systems, which are internationally recognized standards for environmental management and occupational health and safety. This involved developing comprehensive policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices. My efforts in this regard were recognized with national and international awards, highlighting the outstanding results achieved through effective implementation of these management systems.
 

In addition to my contributions to the ISO systems, I also designed a reporting program that was adopted and implemented across over 20 sites and used by the head office. This program provided easy-to-understand and navigable dashboard reports, which enabled the company to access and analyze large volumes of information efficiently. This reporting program streamlined data collection, analysis, and reporting processes, leading to improved decision-making, performance tracking, and reporting accuracy.
 

Furthermore, I designed a proactive incident prediction program based on the company's historical data, which enabled us to identify potential incidents before they occurred and implement proactive interventions. This resulted in a significant reduction in the company's Days Incident and Injury Free (DIIR) rates, reaching unprecedented low levels. This program was recognized as a best practice within the company and contributed to a culture of safety excellence, further enhancing the company's overall safety performance.
 

Overall, my contributions to Kendal power plant encompassed a wide range of responsibilities, including designing and implementing ISO management systems, developing reporting programs, and designing proactive intervention programs based on historical data. These efforts resulted in national and international awards, as well as significant improvements in the company's safety performance, positioning it as a leader in the industry.

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Key Project Contributions:
ISO 14001 & ISO 45001 Implementation:
Designed, implemented, and audited ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 management systems.
Received national and international awards for outstanding results achieved.
 

Reporting Program Development:
Designed a comprehensive reporting program used on over 20 sites and by head office.
Provided easy-to-understand and navigable dashboard reports for large volumes of information.
 

Incident Prediction Program:
Designed a proactive incident prediction program based on historical data.
Implemented proactive interventions to reduce company's Days Incident and Injury Free (DIIR) rates to unprecedented low levels.
 

Large-Scale Subcontractor Management:
Appointed and managed large and small subcontractors for specialized work.
Ensured compliance with company's health and safety requirements, mitigating risk factors.
 

Shutdown Maintenance Work:
Led large teams of artisans and migrant workers in shutdown maintenance work at a coal-fired power plant.
Coordinated complex tasks, adhered to strict deadlines, and managed risk factors associated with high-pressure work environments.
 

ISO System Auditing:
Conducted regular audits to ensure compliance with ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
Identified areas for improvement and implemented corrective actions to maintain compliance.
 

Award-Winning Safety Performance:
Received national and international awards for outstanding safety performance.
Recognized for contributions to developing and maintaining a culture of safety excellence.
 

Environmental Policy & Risk Assessment:
Developed and implemented company's environmental policy and risk assessments.
Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
 

Dashboard Reporting & Performance Tracking:
Streamlined data collection, analysis, and reporting processes through dashboard reporting.
Improved decision-making, performance tracking, and reporting accuracy across multiple sites.
 

Proactive Interventions for Incident Prevention:
Designed and implemented proactive interventions based on company's historical data.
Identified potential incidents before they occurred and implemented measures to prevent them.
 

Safety File Management:
Oversaw the compilation and maintenance of safety files as required by South African construction law.
Ensured all documentation and records were up-to-date, accurate, and compliant with regulations.
 

Training and Competency Development:
Designed and implemented training programs for OHS practitioners and teams.
Enhanced competency levels, knowledge, and skills of OHS personnel to improve safety outcomes.
 

Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action:
Conducted root cause analysis for incidents and accidents, identifying underlying causes.
Implemented corrective actions to address root causes and prevent recurrence.
 

Emergency Preparedness and Response:
Developed and implemented emergency preparedness and response plans.
Conducted drills and exercises to ensure readiness for emergency situations.
 

Incident Investigation and Reporting:
Led incident investigations to determine causes, contributing factors, and lessons learned.
Prepared comprehensive incident reports and recommendations for improvement.
 

Compliance Monitoring and Reporting:
Monitored and reported on compliance with OHS regulations, company policies, and industry standards.
Implemented corrective actions to address non-compliance issues.
 

Risk Assessments and Hazard Identification:
Conducted risk assessments and hazard identification activities to identify potential risks and hazards.
Implemented control measures to mitigate risks and hazards in the workplace.
 

Health and Safety Policy Development:
Developed and implemented company-wide health and safety policies and procedures.
Ensured alignment with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.
 

Stakeholder Engagement and Communication:
Engaged with internal and external stakeholders to communicate health and safety policies, procedures, and performance.
Fostered positive relationships with stakeholders and promoted a culture of safety excellence.

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Leading Safety Culture Transformation:
Led efforts to create and maintain a positive safety culture across the organization.
Implemented initiatives to promote employee engagement, ownership, and accountability for safety.
Conducted regular safety culture assessments and implemented improvements based on feedback.