Quoting from our last issue: 'Bhopal 20 years on - could it happen here?' Graeme Bell wrote:
In May 2004, SA Instrumentation & Control contacted the press offices at Sapref, Engen and Sasol. We offered the companies the opportunity to give 'their side of the story' and tell us about any 'programs and targets' regarding critical control measures that they have/are implementing to minimise the risk associated with what everybody agrees is a potentially very dangerous process. We initially contacted the press offices telephonically and then followed up the conversations with an e-mail addressed directly to the relevant person. We asked the companies to reply within seven days.
By the time of writing this column they had taken three months ... and it was beginning to appear that maybe we are asking too much ... after all, who do we think we are - the official mouthpiece of the South African Institute of Measurement and Control - or something?
How much time and effort does it take to type the following?
Dear Sirs
Thank you for affording us the opportunity to present our position on this matter. We acknowledge and appreciate your great concern - which is of course one that we all share.
We ask you to be patient with us as we compile a statement that is appropriate for this situation. I am sure that you appreciate that a hastily thrown together response would not be in anybody's best interests. You should hear from us again within a week. If you do not, please call me at this number: (xxx)
Yours faithfully, Josephine Bloggs, PRO for XYZ Petrochem
WOW ... that sounds so quaint and so ... reasonable?
I am certain that there are folks at Sapref, Engen and Sasol who are wondering why in blazes their organisation could not find it within itself to have something to say within seven days, never mind the three months that have since passed.
But wait folks - what is that coming down? Is it a bird? Is it a plane?
No - it is a plastic bucket being lowered from a great ivory tower - and it has a note inside it!
What does it say?
Ooh - it says that SA Instrumentation & Control's enquiry was put in line to be processed as is the custom (sounds like Home Affairs). Apparently a Sapref response has been drafted, but for some reason SA I&C has not been informed of any progress.
So ladies and gentlemen, the score after three months of silence is. (Drum roll.)
In first position we have Sapref - with half a point!
Not far behind in second position we have Sasol and Engen running neck and neck at zero points each. Please remain seated folks, the race has just begun - only a quarter of a year, or one season, has passed since the start - it is far too early to tell who is likely to submit their statement first!
Come guys - how about having something for us to publish in the next issue?
More on safety issues
Continuing in the safety theme, our industrial safety feature begins with a look at safety issues in the nuclear power generation industry.
Great news
Michael Brown is back from the rain and drizzle in Scotland! See how smart positioners do not necessarily solve all your problems, ('Are smart positioners the answer to all valve problems?'). Welcome back Mike!
Future SA prospects
While I am no expert on local and global economics, the last five years of editing this magazine have given me a kind of analog feel for the general state of SA industry. I have seen a number of outstanding locally developed products appear and compete favourably with the overseas equivalents - in some instances there have been no overseas equivalents.
I am not going to predict the future, but what I will say is that we in SA have great potential. I believe that there are some incredible ideas out there, and once our in-service training backlog has caught up, and our safety issues are out in the open, there is no stopping SA. Go for it guys!
John Gibbs, editor
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Find past articles online at www.instrumentation.co.za
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