36-Month maintenance contract for ethekwini municipality rail sidings in isipingo

Closing date for submissions: 11 May 2026.

Department: Technical Services (Roads and Stormwater Maintenance Directorate).

Safety Officer: Phumlani Mabaso (Compiled by).

Manager: Safety & Risk: Arty Zondi (Reviewed by).

Scope of work includes the following activities:

• Access to the site.
• Material delivery to the site.
• Performing duties adjacent to electrified lines.
• Performing duties adjacent to signal equipment.
• Removing contaminated ballast, installation of new ballast, and boxing up ballast.
• Welding.
• Fitting of moulds.
• Cutting grass.
• Controlling weeds.
• Rail greasing.
• Track clearing (cutting trees, trimming branches).
• Drain maintenance.
• Track gauge maintenance.

Note: This is a baseline risk assessment, not a detailed risk assessment of all anticipated activities.

Compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations is required, specifically Section 8(i), which mandates:

• Identification of risks and dangers in the workplace.
• Establishment of working procedures or practices to mitigate these risks.
• Conduct of a baseline risk assessment as per Construction Regulations 5.1(a).

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements are governed by the OHS Act and Construction Regulations 5.1(a). Key obligations include:

• Conducting a baseline risk assessment for the project.
• Identifying risks and hazards to which personnel may be exposed.
• Analyzing and evaluating identified risks using a documented method.
• Implementing a health and safety plan for the site, including risk mitigation measures.

Hazards and risks are categorized by activity, with specific examples:

• Access to site: Vehicle safety (seatbelts, speeding, public road use).
• Material delivery: Manual handling, load strikes, skeletal damage.
• Work near electrified lines: Electrocution, severe burns, fatalities.
• Work near signal equipment: Signal disruption, accidents.
• Ballast work: Slipping, tripping, respiratory issues from dust.
• Welding: Falling rails, sparks, burns, lack of supervision.
• Fitting moulds: Hand injuries from clamps or defective tools.
• Grass cutting: Flying objects, unguarded blades, machine defects.
• Weed control: Hand injuries, backache from manual work.
• Rail greasing: Skin irritation, backache.
• Track clearing: Tree branch strikes, trip and fall hazards.
• Drain maintenance: Manual lifting, defective tools, personal injuries.
• Track gauge maintenance: Hand injuries, backache from faulty tools or bending.

Risk evaluation will use a documented risk score technique based on:

• Exposure (E): Frequency of hazardous events.
• Probability (P): Likelihood of loss when the event occurs.
• Severity (S): Consequences of the event.

Risk score = E x P x S, with classifications:

• Over 400: Very high risk – discontinue operation.
• 200–400: High risk – immediate correction required.
• 70–200: Substantial risk – correction needed.
• 20–70: Possible risk – attention needed.
• Under 20: Risk accepted.

Closing date: 11 May 2026. Construction work permit notification: Submit to provincial director at least 7 days before work commences if excavation, height work, demolition, or explosives are involved.

Phumlani Mabaso (Safety Officer). Phone: 078 4567 892 or 031 311 4160. Email: [email protected].

Required: Signed acceptance of CHSS conditions. Certified copy of Public Liability Insurance. Health & Safety Plan (approved by Client). COIDA Letter of Good Standing (updated). Construction Work Permit (displayed at site entrance). Medical Certificates of Fitness (Annexure 3) for all employees. Legal appointment letters and competencies for all key personnel. Organogram showing reporting structure. Risk assessments and method statements. Inspection registers. Incident/accident reports and registers. Toolbox talk records. Emergency Preparedness Plan. Environmental Management Plan. Subcontractor appointments and lists. Audit records. PPE issuance/maintenance records. Daily Safety Task Instructions. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and Hazardous Chemical Register.

Scope: Maintenance of eThekwini-owned rail sidings in Isipingo for 36 months. Work includes: maintaining feeder lines, turnouts, crossings, stopblocks, track gauge, drainage, weeding (10.2 hectares), and trimming overhanging branches. Excludes railworks on private property. Standards: Perway Instruction Manual for Track Maintenance (2000).

Inspections: Temporary electrical installations must be inspected weekly by a competent person. Electrical machinery must be inspected daily by authorized operators/users. Records: All inspection findings must be documented in registers kept on-site. Compliance: Follow Regulation 5, 6 & 9 of Electrical Installation Regulations and Regulation 29 of Construction Regulations.

Costs must include: full-time Construction Safety Officer, medical certificates for all employees, PPE (high-visibility vests, SABS-approved hearing/eye/head protection, steel-toe boots, dust masks, gloves), public protection/barricading, H&S training, dust mitigation, employee facilities, first aiders, Construction Work Permit (CWP) application fee, and other site-specific H&S items (spill kits, traffic accommodation, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, barrier netting, construction boards, ablutions).

Mandatory: COIDA Letter of Good Standing (verified with DoL/FEMA/RMA). Construction Work Permit (CWP) from DoL before work starts. SACPCMP-registered Construction Safety Officer. Appointments: Construction Manager (CR 8(1)), Construction Supervisor (CR 8(7)), Risk Assessor (CR 9(1)), Incident Investigator (GAR 9(2)), First Aider (GSR 3(4)), Fire Equipment Inspector (ER 9), and others as per Annexure A. Section 37(2) Mandatory Agreements with all contractors/subcontractors. Medical Certificates of Fitness (Annexure 3) for all employees. Health & Safety Plan approval required. Legal appointments and competencies must be documented in the H&S File.

General Requirements: Principal Contractor must ensure a safe/healthy environment for all workers, subcontractors, and site visitors. Compliance: Must adhere to OHSA 1993 and Construction Regulations 2014. Documentation: CHSS and Contractor’s Safety Plan must be kept on-site and available for inspection. Appointments: Full-time Construction Safety Officer (SACPCMP-registered), Construction Manager, Supervisors, Risk Assessor, First Aiders, Fire Equipment Inspector, and others as per Annexure A. Training: Induction for all employees/visitors, toolbox talks (weekly), and H&S training (safe working procedures, risk assessments, emergency plans, PPE use). PPE: SANS-approved equipment as per risk assessments (high-visibility vests, hearing/eye/head protection, steel-toe boots, dust masks, gloves). Signage: Emergency numbers, PPE requirements, falling object warnings. Audits: Monthly H&S audits (reports provided within 7 days). Incidents: Report, record, and investigate all incidents per OHSA. Medicals: Valid fitness certificates for all employees (Annexure 3). Fraud: Submitting fraudulent COIDA/medical certificates may result in legal penalties. Emergency Plan: Must address likely site emergencies, include local contact numbers, and be easily accessible. Facilities: Provide shower (1 per 15 persons), sanitary (1 per sex per 30 workers), changing, and sheltered eating areas. Excavation: Supervised by competent person, daily inspections, barriers (1m height), shoring/bracing designed by appointed designer. Flammable Liquids: Stored in approved cabinets/stores; method statements for use/storage/decanting/spill control. Hazardous Chemicals: MSDS in H&S File, risk assessments, method statements, competent handler appointments. Housekeeping: Appoint a responsible person for site cleanliness and material storage.

Mandatory Agreements: Principal Contractor must enter into a Section 37(2) Mandatory Agreement with the Client (eThekwini Municipality). Subcontractors must also sign Section 37(2) agreements with the Principal Contractor. Agreements must be valid for the duration of work and included in the H&S File. Liability: Client/Agent not responsible for contractor acts/omissions. Contractors must ensure compliance with all legal requirements for articles, work, equipment, machinery, and practices.