Page 13 - KZN Business Sense Vol.2 No.5

ALL ABOUT SAFETY
Hesscon (Pty) Ltd based
in Westville, KwaZulu- gave up successful jobs in the Sharon’s years of experience in include an established office with Hesscon are excited to offer
Natal is steadily becoming corporate world to follow their accounting and the hospitality 12 permanent staff members and the International Certificate in
dream of running their own industry have translated into 13 consulting staff members. The Occupational Safety and Health
renowned for its commitment to company. strong management and company also has branches in (ICertOsh) product for which they
occupational health and safety marketing skills, as well as a Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port have secured the rights to train in
management in the workplace. Bryan’s experience in passion for the development of Elizabeth and Nelspruit. South Africa. This qualification
international safety best practice people. These strengths have led can be expanded through
Hesscon offers three core began with his exposure to her election as chairperson “We are committed to further study into the Diploma
services namely, health and safety to Sappi Forestry safety of the KwaZulu-Natal branch formalising the health and safety Qualification in Safety namely the
consulting services, British Safety requirements and continued of the Association for Skills industry in South Africa. Our aim IDipOsh.
Council international training with various safety positions Development South Africa and is to instill a positive safety culture
and various sector educational within the Beekman Group. secretary of the Association’s in the workplace as well as ensure Bradley Hleibi, regional health
training authorities (SETAs) During this time, his curiosity Board. Sharon is also an active full legislative compliance and and safety compliance manager,
accredited training products in and passion for the safety member of the Durban Chamber thereby effectively ensuring the from the Aveng Group and
that relate directly to their industry grew and resulted of Commerce and Industry, safety of all owners, staff, suppliers Lloyd Gonde, field compliance
consulting services. They have in him undertaking a variety where she is the chairperson of and customers,” said Bryan. coach from Shell and BP Sapref,
also incorporated other training of different training courses, the SMME forum and a chamber recently attended a training
services for ISO, human resources, which have ensured that he council member. He added, “We aim to make course at Hesscon. They were both
management, Microsoft software has become an expert in the health and safety practice work impressed with the international
and wellness training to provide a field. He is currently finalising Establishing Hesscon has not in each business in practical standard of the course as well the
more holistic training portfolio. his international Diploma in been without its difficulties and and inexpensive ways. It is opportunity to gain knowledge
Occupational Safety and Health setbacks; being new entrepreneurs important in any plan of action through a practical and
The company founders, Sharon through the British Safety in the marketplace was a very to be business orientated. I theoretical approach to learning.
and Bryan van den Heever, both Council. challenging experience. The first often say to clients why do you
two attempts at establishing the need a Rolls Royce plan when a Hesscon intends to continue
company were not successful Mini is required? However, one to lead the safety industry
but passion and resilience have has to ensure that companies profession in accordance with best
prevailed. In 2014 Hesscon took are up to date with the latest international practice as well as
on a new business partner and safety legislation. Current expand its client base to include
director, Kenneth Oloo, who has environmental risk, such as more blue chip clients across
made a substantial contribution to flooding or earthquakes, also Africa. “My dream is for Hesscon
the company’s current growth. needs to be considered as many to become the authority on best
companies are poorly prepared for practices and safety compliance
“Having a business partner has such eventualities.” in South Africa and to see our
provided us with an outsider national adverts flighted on TV,”
perspective, which has been very “In addition, we are passionate said Sharon. n
valuable to us as a family run about the training needs of our
business. Ken has been a great customers and strive to become Tel: 087 941 7180
mentor and allowed us to grow the a key resource in keeping our E-mail: sharon@hesscon.co.za
business; we have learnt so much customers up to date on any hesscon.co.za
from him,” said Sharon. matters relating to health and
Bryan and Sharon van den Heever safety. One of our strengths is
Hesscon, which started at the that we maintain contact with our
dining room table in the Van den clients and constantly monitor
Heever’s home, has now grown to their needs,” said Sharon.

SAVING THE WORLD
Swedish born Kristina
Wallengren, PhD, MPH, and was the scene for the ‘XDR staff’s interaction often goes Act. Through on-site employee For more information visit
is a passionate researcher TB outbreak’ in 2005 leading to beyond clinical treatment to wellness programmes, employers www.thinksa.org.za
the uncovering of Extensively include involvement and assistance will be able to provide education
who has lived and worked in Drug Resistant (XDR) TB. in social issues that impact on their classes, screenings,
South Africa for the past ten New treatments under evaluation patient’s daily lives. and facilitating
years. Dr Wallengren is the at THINK include the first adherence to medical
founder and executive director new TB drugs to be developed THINK is supported through protocols and follow
of TB and HIV Investigative since the 1950s. These have international research funding as up assistance to
Network (THINK) a registered the possibility of shortening well as government, philanthropy, identify and manage
non-profit organisation that treatment for both drug sensitive and industry, while research is health issues and
conducts clinical research on and drug resistant TB to two maintained through grants. preventable illness.
tuberculosis (TB) and human to three months and to change This service also
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). millions of lives by providing a Dr Wallengren said, “People negates the need for
single cure for all strains of TB in come to us because they know employees to take
When not working at her office the next 10 years. Dr Wallengren that the quality of our research regular days off work
in Florida Road, Durban, she said, “We want to save the world.” data is excellent. We work to collect medicines
can be found either at a research collaboratively with a number of or have health issues
site in the car park of the King A specific field of interest is TB institutions.” monitored.
Dinuzulu Hospital Complex in children who are chronically
in Sydenham, Durban or at under diagnosed. However, they However, THINK also needs THINK welcomes
the Doris Goodwin MRD TB are vulnerable to infection due to to generate income in order to social economic
Hospital in Pietermaritzburg. the close contact that they have remain sustainable. One of the development
with their mothers (who may be most important aspects of the spend and as its
THINK is currently conducting infected) from one to two years organisation’s work is education and beneficiaries are
clinical trials aimed at improving of age. training in schools and workplaces predominately black
diagnosis and treatment for TB on healthy living practices. people, businesses
and HIV infected individuals.The Due to the duration of the clinical
TB and HIV burden in KwaZulu- trials, which can take place over Dr Wallengren is growing this can obtain
service to encompass employee maximum points
Natal is among the highest in the one to two years and include wellness programmes, which for Broad Based
world. The province also suffers frequent monitoring visits, the have become an important part of
from the highest number of drug research staff get to know their implementing the South African Black Economic
Occupational Health and Safety Empowerment
resistant TB cases per population, patients well. Consequently, the scorecards. n
Kristina Wallengren

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