Saied Solomons

1
Introduction to the Southern African Bitumen
Association
Saied Solomons
2
Who we are

• Non profit organisation
• Started in 1979
• Cost-effective solutions
• Members comprise private companies
• Bitumen producers and marketers
• Manufacturers and applicators of bituminous
  products
• Consulting engineers

3
Membership growth
4
Communications

• Asphalt News (3)
• Digest (post CAPSA)
• Electronic members council bulletin
• www.sabita.co.za
• publications
• HSE materials
• Members Only section

5
Governance Structures

• Sabita Ltd (the Company)
• Governed by a board
• 5 sponsor members
• 2 ordinary members
• Sabita Council (the Association)
• 5 sponsor members
• 6 ordinary members (elected)
• 2 associate members (elected)
• Code of Conduct

6
What do we do?

• Promote excellence in the use of bitumen
  materials through
• Development of best practice technology
• Promoting sustainable practices for construction
  and maintenance of roads
• Education and training of practitioners
• Engaging all shareholders to promote the
  efficient provision of road delivery
• Promote understanding of the bitumen supply chain
  and forecast national / regional volumes.

7
Investments

• 2005 2010 Plan
  2011
• Technology Development R7,2m R2,8m
• Sustainable Practices R4,0m
  R0,8m
• Human Capital Development R2,6m
  R0,4m
• Stakeholder Engagement R5,7m R1,0m

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Achievements

• 1. Technology Development
• Update best practice guidelines (series)
• Assist with keeping national standards up to date
• Conduct research into bitumen stabilisation
• Conduct trials to improve asphalt performance
• Revise test methods for bituminous materials
• Implement technology to
• Recycle old asphalt pavements
• Reduce mixing temperatures of asphalt
• Build long life heavy duty pavements

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Keeping abreast with global best practice

• Global Strategic Alliance between Asphalt Paving
  Associations (GAPA) formed to ensure
  sustainability of the asphalt industry through
  exchange of information
• Agreement signed on 20 May 2008 by
• Australia (AAPA)
• Europe (EAPA)
• Japan (JRCA)
• South Africa (Sabita)
• United States (NAPA)
• Since then Mexico and New Zealand have joined

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Achievements

• 2. Sustainable practices
• Established HSE Committee
• Development of safe work practices
• Lobby for discontinuation of coal tar in 2004
• Implementation of bitumen safety training scheme
• Developed HSE Charter (applicable to all)
• Implementation of bitumen incident reporting
  scheme
• Development of HSE certification and award scheme
• Develop carbon calculator for asphalt plants
• Development of an HSE management system

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HSE Goals

• Maintain global standards on HSE in SA through
• Keeping abreast with latest global developments
• Developing best practice guidelines using best
  available technology to cover the full spectrum
  of industry activities
• Incorporating HSE principles into all courses
  conducted and publications produced on behalf of
  Sabita
• Develop a protocol for self-regulation to ensure
  that safety standards are maintained and
  environmental conservation is not compromised

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Development of safe practices

• Updated guidelines for safe handling of
  bituminous products Manual 8
• Publish Contract safety file to assist companies
  involved in construction
• Standard Code of Practice for loading bitumen at
  all refineries (current)
• Driver requirements
• Vehicle requirements
• Loading procedures
• Guideline for the safe use of solvents in
  bituminous products laboratories (current)

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HSE tools

• DVDs
• Safe handling of bitumen
• Treatment of bitumen burns
• Working safely with bitumen
• Firefighting
• Posters
• Wear your PPE
• BitSafe first aid kit

14
HSE Charter and Certification Scheme

• Charter
• Developed as a framework to formulate a
  certification scheme
• Compliance to the principles of the Charter is a
  pre-requisite for Sabita membership
• Certification scheme
• Criteria have been developed to
• Measure conformance against the requirements of
  the HSE Charter
• Ensure minimum legal requirements are met
• Members sites to be audited annually

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Achievements

• 3. Education Training
• Established Asphalt Academy in 2001
• NQF levels / Capcor
• Hosting international Conference on Asphalt
  Pavements for SA every 4 years
• Support the Society for Asphalt Technology

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Achievements

• 4. Engaging stakeholders
• Councillors workshops on importance of
  maintaining roads
• Co-sponsor of the biannual Road Pavement Forum
  for all road stakeholders
• SARF Council and IRF environmental working group
• SANRAL /local government liaison

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Conclusion

• The demand for paved roads is set to remain
  strong in the short to medium term
• For asphalt to remain a preferred option, ongoing
  R D in materials as well as best practice in
  application is essential.
• Paved roads are catalysts for economic
  development
• Sabita is recognised as a credible organisation
  to promote both infrastructure development and
  best practice in bituminous product use.

18
Thank You