FEEDBACK OF SASOHN EXCO MEETING HELD ON 15 AUGUST 2008
HELD AT ELIZABETH LODGE – BOKSBURG
SASOHN BOOK
The completed chapters of the book will have to be reviewed. Reviewers in the specific fields of expertise to be
identified and names forwarded to SK by the 22 August 2008. SK will send out the chapters in the book to the Exco reps.
SK will also contact Linda Grainger for guidelines with regard to the review process.
SASOHN ACADEMIC DAY 2008
The academic day will only be run in DBN & JHB by Natal Inland and Pretoria respectively.
Dates: 14th May 2009 (JHB – Pretoria)
21st May 2009 (DBN – Natal Inland)
ICOH 2009 (Discussed on 14/08/08)
WORKSHOP DETAILS
Date: Saturday, 21 March 2009
Venue: Venue: Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Belleville Cape Town.
Time: 08H30 to 19H30
The portfolios holders are as follows:
Karen Michell Project Leader
Sonja Kruger Special Guests
Louwna Pretorius SCOHN Representative / Sponsors
Caroline Naidu Exhibitors
Theresa Bosman Venue
Linda Stokes SASOHN National Office
Catherine v Niekerk Social programme / Finances
Helen Zille has been contacted and has accepted the invitation to do the Key note address for the ICOH pre-conference workshop.
Rene Jordaan has secured sponsorships to the value of R45 000.
SK has sent out invites to the following stakeholders, no responses received as yet:
SANC / DENOSA / DOL / DOH.
The press / media will be contacted closer to the time.
COCKTAIL FUNCTION
The entertainment has not been finalised as yet. The general consensus was to open the cocktail function with an impact
and then to make use of a string quartet for the duration of evening.
SPONSORSHIP TO MEMBERS
Members applying for sponsorship to the workshop must follow the Rules of Procedure as stipulated in the SASOHN Constitution.
Applications must be made to the SASOHN Exco by the 05th November 2008 as this will be after the date that abstracts are accepted.
Sponsorship to the full ICOH conference will be considered to members who present a paper at the conference.
The workshop organising committee’s expenses will be covered by SASOHN.
SASOHN GUIDELINES
The guidelines are being updated and available from SASOHN National Office. Jenny Meaker to finalise the rest.
Price R250 excl Postage.
EDUCATIONAL AWARDS
Ian Webster Gold Medal will be awarded to the best Masters Degree Student.
Ian Webster Silver Medal will be awarded for the best BTech student.
Janet Taylor will be awarded for the best Diploma student.
KM to make the necessary changes on the Rules of procedure and this will be sent to Exco for comment.
LETTERHEAD
The logo has been redesigned and needs to be put through as a technical change at the Nov 2008 AGM.
Regions are to vote to accept or reject changes to the logo at the regional AGM and the decision must
be signed by the entire regional committee. SK to email the logo to all Reps and all Reps to inform
SK if they received the logo via email. The logo is also on the SASOHN website where members can view it.
CONSTITUTION AND RULES OF PROCEDURE
The constitution that was accepted at the Nov 2007 AGM was placed on the SASOHN website.
Updated Constitution and Rules of procedure will be distributed after the November 2008 AGM.
Sonja will send out the new amended Table of contents for comments.
2009 AGM/ Conference proposal update
Eastern Cape to host the 2009 SASOHN conference and AGM.
Date: 4, 5 and 6th November 2009.
Venue: Boardwalk (PE)
A presentation will be done at the 2008 AGM.
2006 AGM
Cape Town.org. – The matter is now closed. The cost of High Court exceeds the claim amount.
2008 OBJECTIVES
This is ongoing. Both Regional and National Objectives must be integrated.
Regional Objectives for 2009 must be sent to Sonja Kruger by the end of September 2008 as well as suggestions
for national objectives.
SK mentioned that the management of the Regional Societies would be one of the objectives i.e. minute taking, etc.
as the current quality of minutes was poor. Regions must be aware that the person accepting and the person who
seconds the minutes must sign the minutes and financials and a copy must be sent to Sonja Kruger.
All Regions are to start with a book where minutes/ financial statements must be pasted into in sequence to conform
to good Regional management.
Constitutional Changes
Gauteng Central submitted a Constitutional change but the execution of the proposed change was unclear. GC to refer
back to region and resubmit in 2009.
Western Cape submitted proposed constitutional changes. The proposal did not meet the criteria (proposed wording)
for a constitutional change as laid down in the SASOHN Constitution and the WC was granted time until after lunch to
table a complete proposal.
A proposed Addition to the Constitution was proposed by the Executive due to recent complaints against members
engaging in unprofessional and unethical conduct. This was accepted and signed. ADDITION: 4.3 The Executive Committee shall have the right to refuse/ terminate membership of any member engaging in
unprofessional conduct or any action deemed as a contravention of any legislation.
All regions must vote on this addition and bring vote to Exco meeting preceding the AGM.
Nominations for OHNP of the year:
Anne Davis (WR).
Nicolene de Jager (GC).
Audits to be arranged. Jenny Meaker to represent the Executive.
Corporate OHNP of the year nomination:
Rene Jordaan (GC).
Nominations for Honorary Life Membership and Certificate of Merit:
None received.
Nominations for President and Educational Rep:
The nomination for President and Educational Rep was uncontested. Regional nomination forms were given
to Linda Stokes for filing in records.
Only nomination for President: 2009 / 2010 – Sonja Kruger.
Only nomination for Educational Rep: 2009 / 2010 – Karen Michell.
SABINET
It was decided that SASOHN will not renew the agreement regarding Sabinet with OCSA for 2009. Email alerts are
sent from www.polity.co.za. Linda Stokes to monitor.
MEMBER ISSUES
Members involved in unprofessional conduct which brings the Society into disrepute will have their membership and
professional indemnity terminated by the SASOHN executive committee. An addition to the Constitution was proposed and accepted.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ SDL
Regions should issue a Certificate of attendance at the regional meetings, signed by the regional chairperson to enable
members to prove to their employers that they are engaging in Professional Development. This is positive for the employer’s
Skills Development Plan and rebates. TBosman will forward the “Manager’s letter” that the WC uses.
RESEARCH REQUEST
SK has received a request for a research proposal – Educational needs of occupational health nurses. Use of the SASOHN
database has been requested.
SK requested details from the ethics committee as many flaws were noted in the research proposal. Until such time that
complete information is received the request has been turned down.
SANAC
SA National Aids Council – Attended by Sonja Kruger and Linda Stokes. Nothing new was noted. The initiative is for government
to roll out anti-retrovirals to all.
CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS
CK will represent SASOHN at the Risk Management and SA Construction Industry conference on the 1st & 2nd September 2008.
Proposed Draft Regulations will be emailed to all Reps.
Indemnity
Master Renewal Schedule is available. Glenrand MIB is kept updated on latest SASOHN membership numbers.
Additional premiums are paid over as needed. No claims were lodged in the last quarter and no incidents were reported
although we are aware of one that should have been reported. Ensure members know that the contact details are on the website
and available from Linda in the office. Members must be reminded that they must have been paid up at the time the incident
occurred and they have to report any possible incident.
SASOM
This is SASOMs 60th anniversary and this will be held on the 21st November in Bloemfontein.
The new SASOM office has moved to the first floor of the ARGO building, 184 Erasmus Street, Meyers Park, Pretoria.
Transport
Nothing to report.
Website
SK showed Exco the details of navigating the SASOHN website. The new logo has been added for members to have a look at.
Any information to be placed on the website to be sent to Linda Stokes. All regional details i.e. committee members, regional
programs, regional workshops etc.
400 SMS per month can be sent via the website to members, details can be updated etc. Members should be encouraged
to go onto the website.
Dispensing licence
A third enquiry was sent to Mr Ramasala. No response.
Spirometry
Unit Std for spirometry has been recorded within the Nursing qualifications (Feb 2008). Problem is that the SANC
will not review or work with short courses. Further discussion with SANC reveals again that they have no intention of enforcing
the unit standard until 2011. Same applies to audiometry.
SANS 451 is being prepared for publication - it has been submitted for the final edit and waiting a few adjustments
to some of the diagrams. Expected to be ready for launch in September. KM is awaiting a date from SABS.
The proposal for the registration process has been tabled and the letter of request for a registration process has
been forwarded to the Department of Labour.
Journal
Margot Pretorius has stepped down as the second journal member for the time being. A second rep needs to be appointed
ASAP to ensure a quorum in the event that Karen cannot attend a meeting. There are two teleconferences a year and one meeting.
The major responsibility of the second member is to assist with the motivation of members to submit material for publication
and where needed to assist these members with writing skills. The second rep should preferably have experience in previous
publication and be willing to assist SASOHN members. The second rep will also assist in the writing of the quarterly report
and making arrangements for the review of the best article of the year.
There has been an increase in article submissions but not notable from nurses. It has been suggested that we draw up
instructions for the writing of a review article as these are the types of articles that nurses are most likely to
submit at this stage. Linda will be working on this aspect. The guideline to authors has been updated and these are now
available on line.
To date the nurses who attended the writer’s workshop have (other than 1) not fulfilled the contract. It has been suggested
that they be nudged with a letter. Each has been sent a letter expressing the need to fulfil the contractual obligations or
to refund the journal the required funds. If another workshop is funded the approach will be very different. Candidates will
have to bring material that is currently being considered for publication i.e. something like a mini research project that
they have worked on. The overall evaluation of the past workshop is that it did not reap the benefits that were anticipated
and desired.
A special edition of the journal is being negotiated for ICOH2009. A SAIOH special edition is also being considered. The
problem is that the planned material for this edition is from the IOHA 2005 conference which now makes this rather dated material.
This year SASOM also celebrate their 60th anniversary and they will be taking an edition later this year. I want to express my
pride in the 25th edition that SASOHN put together. It really has demonstrated in my opinion the commitment that SASOHN has to
the process.
A formal letter of complaint has been lodged with the editorial board for suspected unauthorized used of copyright material.
A doctor and his colleague have presented material at the March 2008 SASOM conference very similar to material published by a
SASOHN member in the OHSA journal and presented at the SASOHN Nov 2007 conference. Please remind members that plagiarism is
an offence and they need to protect themselves from falling victim to this practice. The editor is notifying the concerned
parties of the concerns that have been raised.
There has been a suggestion that those who attended the workshop could write an article on the legal aspects associated with
aspects such as the thermal regulations. To date no takers.
LP has volunteered to be the second portfolio holder for the journal for the remainder of the year.
Proposed topics for 2008- subject to change
July/ Aug 2008 - SASOM 60th Anniversary
Sept/ Oct 2008 – SAIOH Special edition (DVD with SAIOH history by DWS to be included)
Nov/ Dec 2008 – Thermal environments
No more topics into 2009 as a fair number of articles are submitted and it is getting difficult to place them into topic
specific issues.
SASOHN Dedicated Page:
Sept/Oct 2008 to be taken by Western Cape
Nov/Dec 2008 - provide feedback from the conference which again falls to the Port Natal ladies.
Jan /Feb 2009 used to advertise the SCOHN SASOHN workshop. Request that Louwna writes this one.
Mar/Apr 2009 feedback on ICOH 2009 from the OHNP perspective – Sonja
May/Jun 2009 Academic Day – Karen
Journal Article of the year:
This is a very positive aspect to report on. Four articles were submitted to two independent reviewers for comment
and evaluation. There were a variety of articles submitted this year from both novice and experienced writers as well
as from both multiple and single authors.
Title of Articles considered:
Cannabis tests and antiretroviral drugs – Caution, author Ann Queripel.
Team approach to lowering formaldehyde levels at a chemical plant – Sandra Koekemoer.
Professional Portfolio development – Sonja Kruger.
Management and control of agri-chemical pesticides: any progress? - A Tattersall, M Clarke, S Marais.
This was probably the first time that the scoring system has really been challenged. It must be remembered that the
objective of the award is to promote novice authors and the results of this year’s award have truly done this. Based
on the scoring system developed by Dr Grainger the following outcome is recorded;
The article “Cannabis tests and antiretroviral drugs – Caution, author Ann Queripel, has been nominated as the best article.
Anne will be sent a letter of congratulations and notification that she will enjoy full sponsorship to the 2008 conference
in Natal. It will include conference costs and accommodation.
Audiometry
Nothing to report.
SANC
The last SANC council meeting took place at end of June as the nomination process for the new Council was completed in
March. The Nursing Act 33 of 2005 Regulations pertaining to the nominations of new SANC council members was published
on the 18/01/2008. It needs to be noted that the new Nursing Act is now proclaimed in full and therefore in force. No
notification of the newly appointed SANC members has been received.
We have been informed of the re-instatement of the previous SANC registrar, Mrs. H Subidar, after the finalization of
her CCMA hearing.
NURSING SGB/ SGB Occupational Health and Safety
Currently a combined work group between Safety and Occupational hygiene is re looking the qualifications at level 2, 3,
and 4. There is also the possibility that the MQA will develop specialist qualifications for level 2, 3, 4 on Occupational Hygiene.
The qualification in Occupational Health and Safety was published in July for comment by 6 August 2008- it will be approved at the
SGB meeting of August (with comments) and submitted for registration in November.
SCOHN
The second announcement on the ICOH 2009 conference in Cape Town( 22 -27 March 2009) has been published with the cut off date
of early registration by the end of April 2008 (R 8000) The registration from 1 May – 30 Nov in August (R10, 500)1 Dec – 28Feb
( R11,600) This fees applies to ICOH members only. Non ICOH members are submitted to an increased registration fee, that varies
from (R 9000, 11500, 12,600) the webpage for the submission of abstract opened on the 3rd March and closed on the 31 July 2008.
A special grant was made available for developing countries if your abstract was approved and accepted.
The SCOHN workshop will be run by SASOHN in Cape Town (Saturday, 21 March 2008) at a minimal cost to SA delegates.
The response from the regions to raise the required sponsorship has been slow until now - all regions are encouraged
to obtain at least 3 sponsors and contact LP in this regard.
Louwna Pretorius temporarily took over the SCOHN portfolio as secretary until 2009 when the new exec committee will be
elected. Nominations for the committee was send out in June as the process needs to be completed by Oct 2008. Louwna
Pretorius was nominated by SASOHN for the next term of office. A second round of nomination request was completed for
August as only one, possible two nominations were received and three vacancies exist. Theresa Bosman indicated that
she was interested to stand as a nominee.
National Office
We currently have over 1000 paid up members. There are still a few that have not sent proof of payments and cannot be
picked up from the bank statements (no reference) so therefore do not reflect on the Database. I am receiving many new
applications daily, which is encouraging, many who are from Private Hospitals and have the position of Infection Control
and OH. Those registering for the first time now can pay R250 as a half-year fee until 31 August 2008.
Waste Management
Nothing new. Attended a free workshop hosted by Howard Leight HSE and Sperian. Main speaker was Brad Witt from USA.
SORDSA/ SAMOSA/ ASOSH
Nothing new to report.
SASOHN Guidelines
The majority of guidelines have been reviewed, and sent to Sonja and Linda for checking. Once complete, will be
put into new format and will be ready for sale.
A number of special medical questionnaires will be added to the guidelines.
JM appealed to each Exco member to submit one of their workplace procedures to her, which will be adapted to add to the
guidelines. At no stage will any corporate identifying information be left on these guidelines, so there will be no breech
of confidentiality.
Professional Society Forum
Alma Schultz to attend the DENOSA meeting on the 04th September 2008.
PRO
Natal Inland: All old and new members are being contacted to remind about the meetings. Factories in the area are also being
informed about SASOHN.
Gauteng Central: Approaching non-members to join and non-active to become active. SASOHN 2008 programmes given to Wits Students
and asked to attend meetings.
Eastern Cape: Nothing new.
Port Natal: Drive to increase membership. SASOHN mug for all new members and prize for those who introduce members. Raffle
for Conference sponsorship. Contact all no members
W Cape: Managers breakfast to promote SASOHN. Guest speaker Terry Berelowitz-media coverage was a benefit. No Practitioner
of the year candidate.
Vaal: Workshop 16th October- Kaleidoscope. Ceremony was held on Nurses Day in Sharpville. Community services invited to meetings.
Mpumalanga: Mental health workshop 29/08/08
Northern Natal: Nothing new to report.
RESEARCH – CPD Points
Alma Schultz will present a paper at the SASOHN November conference.
Resus Council
Nothing to report.
Ripple Effect
SASOHN gets excellent support from Ripple Effect.
A recognition certificate will be presented at the Nov Gala Dinner.
Construction
Gauteng Master Builders Association has invited Caroline Koster for comment with regards to their website which will
include SASOHN`s participation regarding Occupational Health Medical Surveillance.
2008 CONFERENCE UPDATE
Theme: Reasonably Practicable Approach to Occupational Health.
Accommodation to be done directly with Sibaya.
Cost: R2000
On line Booking form is available on the SASOHN website.
A decision was made that sponsors sponsoring R10 000 and more will be given the following:
2 invites to the cocktail function.
2 invites to the Gala Dinner.
Free stand with 2 lunches.
Coverage on the SASOHN website.
(This is to be added to the Rules of Procedure)
A workshop will be held on the 05th November 2008 at the Annual conference. Topics will cover the duties of the Regional
Chairperson, Treasurer, Ed Rep and Exco rep.
One session will be held for 30 people from 13h00 until 15h00.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS/ HIGHLIGHTS
1117 Paid up members as per bank statements including 18 Honorary Life Members.
No reported indemnity incidents
No claims lodged against indemnity insurance
BUDGET FOR 2009
Presented by CvN.
Proposed budget for 2009 accepted by Beth de Kock
Seconded: Theresa Bosman
