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Ensuring safety - one lift at a time
Ensuring safety - one lift at a time

Ensuring safety - one lift at a time

Johannes Shihepo is a machinery inspector at the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation
Wetumwene Shikage
STAFF REPORTER

A busy day at work for Shihepo begins at 08:00 at the ministry of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, where he works in the occupational safety and health (OSH) division.

He grabs his personal protective equipment and an inspection checklist and heads out for either a scheduled, routine, requested or emergency inspection.

Machinery inspections are done at factories and associated industries, public or private institutions and shopping malls where the OSH regulations are applicable for the purpose of enforcing them.

Such inspections involve the inspection of dangerous machinery such as lifts, escalators and boilers to ensure that they are designed, installed, used, maintained and repaired according to safety and other control measures, and also for the purpose of preventing accidents.

“During routine inspections I verify if these units are safe for further use, operating within the boundaries of the law. We conduct inspections accompanied by the approved inspection authorities (lift, escalator or boiler installers and maintenance service providers) approved by the ministry and contractually appointed by the client. Such an AIA is usually the link between the ministry and the client."

In addition to conducting inspections, OSH is also responsible for the registration and issuance of certificates to competent AIAs who render services to the public in occupational safety and health related areas; awarding of certificates for use to successful escalators, lifts and boilers and in cases of emergencies or incidents, conduct investigations and draft reports to the prosecutor-general for possible accountability.

On his busiest work day, Shihepo may have up to six inspections and once completed, he heads back to his office to draft a report on his findings and make recommendations. In the midst of the busy schedule, he says he still makes time to read and keep himself abreast of the latest technology.

Co-workers describe him as a reliable, down-to-earth and proactive individual with a passion for his work. His hobbies involve watching motorsport events (spinning, drifting and racing) and listening to music.

Shihepo completed his secondary education at the Oshigambo High School in the Oshikoto Region, after which he pursued a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnic of Namibia (now Namibia University of Science and Technology).

His career began at CMB Consulting Engineers in Windhoek, where he did his work-integrated learning before taking on his first job at Namibia Breweries Limited. He then worked at Coca-Cola Company at Oshakati as a maintenance planner before joining the labour ministry as an OSH machinery inspector.

"I love my work because it comprises of almost everything that I have done in my career, both technical and working with people from different backgrounds," he says.

To pursue a career in the OSH Division, Shihepo says, one must be professional - with high-level integrity, independent, unbiased, have communication skills and a passion for serving people.

Additionally, a mechanical or electrical engineering qualification from a tertiary institution, a valid driving licence and knowledge of the Labour Act and OSH regulations are an added advantage.

Given the power to change anything at all in the world, "I would work hard to minimise and hopefully eliminate people's perceptions and fears of safety and health concerns emanating from dangerous machinery in workplaces," he says.

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.91 | EUR to NAD 20.47 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.96 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.27 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.97 | USD to ZMW 24.77 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 73909.5 Up +0.41% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1516.02 Down -0.13% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12981.98 Up +0.34% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 28224.37 Down -2.87% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 210.71/OZ UP +0.91% | Copper US$ 3.98/lb DOWN -0.0004 | Zinc US$ 2 450.10/T DOWN -0.26% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.06/BBP UP +0.78% | Platinum US$ 906.57/OZ UP +1.31% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.91 | EUR to NAD 20.47 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.96 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.27 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.97 | USD to ZMW 24.77 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 73909.5 Up +0.41% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1516.02 Down -0.13% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12981.98 Up +0.34% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 28224.37 Down -2.87% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 210.71/OZ UP +0.91% | Copper US$ 3.98/lb DOWN -0.0004 | Zinc US$ 2 450.10/T DOWN -0.26% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.06/BBP UP +0.78% | Platinum US$ 906.57/OZ UP +1.31%