Taking Health & Safety Seriously
at Durban Galvanizing
At Durban Galvanizing, putting safety first is part of how we work every single day. From the moment a new employee steps on site, to the weekly toolbox talks, to the annual emergency drills, our commitment to health and safety is visible, measurable, and lived by every member of our team.
Equipping Our Teams with the Right PPE
Each employee receives their PPE pack annually: Conti suits, branded T-shirts, and SABS-compliant safety boots. Additional PPE is issued based on departmental needs, such as respirators, gloves, or face shields. PPE is not just issued; it’s maintained, cleaned, and replaced as soon as it shows signs of wear.
By doing this, we ensure every employee can work with confidence knowing their safety is prioritized and their equipment meets the required standards.
Working with Trusted Suppliers
We partner only with suppliers who provide SABS/SANS-compliant PPE, supported by test certificates and Letters of Authority (LOAs) from the NRCS. These standards aren’t optional; they are our baseline. It means that every piece of protective clothing or gear on our sites has been tested to perform where it matters most.
Training, Induction & Toolbox Talks
Health and safety training is continuous, not once-off. Every first-time employee attends a comprehensive safety induction, which covers safe equipment use, PPE care, handling hazardous substances, and emergency procedures.
On top of this, weekly toolbox talks keep safety top of mind; tackling relevant topics like chemical safety, hearing protection, manual handling, and spill response. We also invest in accredited external training for First Aiders, Fire Fighters, and SHE Reps, ensuring competence on site at all times.
Real Hazards, Real Controls
Our industry faces real hazards: exposure to chemicals and fumes from galvanizing processes, mechanical risks when working with wire, and slips, trips, or noise challenges. To address these:
– Engineering and Administrative controls are in place, such as ventilation, clear floor markings, and strict SOPs.
– PPE is provided specific to each task.
– Monitoring and inspections ensure hazards are identified and mitigated early.
Emergency Preparedness
Preparedness is as important as prevention. That’s why we conduct annual emergency mock drills across all our sites; a requirement of the OHAS Act that we embrace as good practice. Emergency numbers are displayed across the factory, muster points are clearly marked, and our first aid boxes are stocked in line with Regulation 3 requirements.
Compliance and Beyond
Durban Galvanizing operates with:
– Scheduled Trade Activities Permits (Briardene, Phoenix, and Centrifuge sites)
– Fire Permits across sites
– Air Emissions Licences at all three sites
These are supported by annual inspections carried out by Health, Safety, and Environmental professionals. For us, compliance is the starting line, not the finish line.
Safety Culture in Action
We believe safety is a shared responsibility. It’s not just the role of supervisors or SHE Reps, but every single person on our sites. That’s why our culture is built around collaboration:
“SAFETY BEGINS WITH TEAMWORK.”
“SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY; SAFETY FIRST.”
At Durban Galvanizing, health and safety is more than policy; it’s a way of working that protects our people, supports our clients, and builds trust in everything we do. Because when our team is safe, our business is strong.