WORKERS RECEIVE ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING

As Gautrain’s 80km route will run though established cities and suburbs, several steps have been taken to protect the environment during construction. A recent addition is weekly training sessions of construction staff on site.

The interactive training sessions are kept short and to the point. Construction workers are encouraged to learn by asking questions instead of the traditional lecture room style training.

Sessions are limited to 15 minutes and new environmental topics are introduced on a regular basis. In this way, construction workers do not loose time in terms of productivity while learning new aspects about the environment every week.

These interactive sessions are called environmental toolbox talks. Their purpose is to familiarize construction workers with Gautrain’s Draft Final Environment Management Plan (EMP) in a practical manner. Adherence to the EMP is a requirement of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (GDACE) and ensures that communities and natural resources are protected during construction activities.

Construction workers learn about the following twelve toolbox talk topics:

• The Impact of our actions on the environment
• Prevent Environmental Incidents
• Littering and good housekeeping
• Waste Management on site
• Hazardous Waste Management
• General Waste Management
• Dust Mitigation
• Management of Noise Impacts
• Erosion Control
• Prevention of Water Pollution
• Prevention of Air Pollution
• Management of Heritage Resources

Draft Final EMP revision 5

The Revision 4 Draft Final EMP was approved by GDACE on 18 December 2006. The Revision 4 Draft Final EMP had to be updated with all the conditions contained in the latest RODs issued for the Northern Variants. These conditions were included, as well as redefined objectives and targets, in the new Revision 5 Draft Final EMP. A copy is available on the Gautrain website.