Interview

The company
COMPANY HISTORY & OVERVIEW
Victor Crescent launched Victor Crescent Construction in 1997, a company that is strategically
positioning itself to becoming a major leader in the Business industry within the region.
Through concerted effort over the years the company has been able to develop a unique solution
to the complexities of the industry, operating in an ever-changing market environment, and as the
new dispensation calls for transformation in the key areas of human resources, procurement and
enterprise development. Central to these key areas is the component of black equity participation.

Construction
Road Construction, Maintenance & Repairs
Construction has created a need for a specialised focus on asphalting services. Our
extensive technical knowledge, critical resources and specialised skills to provide
engineering services in road and bridge construction. Victor Crescent Construction
(Pty)Ltd provides road surfacing services to several municipalities, provincial
governments and civil contractors. We also offer road rehabilitation including the
reconstruction and repairs of damaged surfaces. With extensive industry knowledge
from years of experience, we boast a highly qualified team with a passion for the
industry.
Civil Engineering and Construction
 Road Construction
 Road Maintenance
 Road Repairs
 Re-graveling
 Surfacing
 Sealing
 Bridges
 Dams

General Building & Renovations

At Victor Crescent Construction (Pty)Ltd we offer many services and as an addition to
the construction division we also offer professional renovation services. With knowledge
and experience in the industry, we boast a highly qualified team with a passion for the
industry. We pride ourselves in our exceptional standard of workmanship and
construction quality.
General Building
 Commercial developments
 Retail Developments
 Industrial Developments
 Residential Developments
 Renovations
 RDP Houses
 Hubs

Fencing Construction
Victor Crescent Construction (Pty)Ltd has the technical expertise to manage projects
involving the installation of perimeter fencing, construction and civils. The company has
completed many projects in fencing successfully throughout the country. We strive for
excellence, quality, safety and reliability.
Fencing
 Stockade fencing
 Concrete fencing
 Palisade fencing
 Chain-link fencing
 Picket fencing
 Post and rail fencing
 Vinyl fencing
 Wire fencing
 Wall fencing

Water & Sewer Reticulation

We also provide installations, maintenance and servicing of bulk water supply system
and sewer reticulation.
Pipelines
 Bulk water supply
 Sewer Reticulation
 Sewerage
 Infrastructure services
 De-watering and water purification
 Water pipelines
Oil, gas and petrochemical,
water and wastewater,
storm water and fire protection systems

My self
I’ve been working as Senior Safety officer for 9 years. At my current job at Clear
choice builders,

Compile safety programs.

• Practice safe working techniques.
• Implement and maintain health and safety standards.
• Establish a cordial and professional relationship with employees.
• Maintain compliance of all safety regulations.
 • Conduct regular staff meetings to share best practice techniques.
• Standardize health and safety in order to remain consistent.
• Identify hazardous waste and disposal of it correctly.
• Promote safety initiatives.
• Compile and maintain relevant registers to ensure compliance.
• Document staff information, minutes of meetings, and reports compiled for
management. Regularly inspect equipment.
• Participate in audits
• Audit sub-contractors

. I also help prepare correspondence, presentations and reports.

“I’m known for being a detail-oriented, well-organized team player. I never miss
deadlines, I’m a good communicator and I can juggle multiple tasks at once.

“With this experience under my belt, I’m looking for an opportunity to take the next
step in my career. I’m hoping to do so in an organization like yours that works to
improve the environment, which is something I’m passionate about.”

 Hire You?

 I can do the work and deliver exceptional results

 I can fit in beautifully and be a great addition to the team

1. ‘What do you think the position’s day-to-day

activities involve?’

‘Based on what was listed in the advertisement, my day-to-day

responsibilities would involve documenting work observations, analysing
safety data, reviewing and modifying safety plans and preventing
workplace hazards. I know that things could change on a moment’s notice,
and I think that my credentials show that I can adapt to any environment
almost immediately.’

Duties:

 Auditing production, keeping on the lookout for any unsafe behaviour or

breaks in regulations
 Assessing risk and possible safety hazards of all aspects of operations
 Creating analytical reports of safety data
 Inspecting production equipment and processes to make sure they are safe
 Ordering repairs for unsafe and/or damaged equipment
 Focusing on prevention by keeping up with equipment maintenance and
employee training
 Presenting safety principles to staff in meetings or lecture-type training
sessions
 Participating in continuing education to update knowledge of health and safety
protocols and techniques
 Determining whether the finished product is safe for customers
 Creating safety plans that include suggested improvements to existing
infrastructure and business processes
 Sharing information, suggestions, and observations with project leadership to
create consistency in safety standards throughout the production team and
the entire company
 Meeting company health and safety goals
 Investigating causes of accidents and other unsafe conditions on the job site
 Liaising with law enforcement and other investigators who are present at the
time of a serious accident
 Finding the best way to prevent future accidents
 Reviewing and reporting on the staff's compliance with health and safety rules
and recommending commendations or dismissal based on performance

2. ‘Why does this company interest you as a health

and safety officer?’

‘After I read the job ad, I researched your company, and I was impressed
by its achievements. I know I want to be a part of an organisation that not
only values workplace health and safety but a company that also wants to
move beyond the status quo. I think that’s what your business brings to the
table: Establishing the bar so that your competitors have to adapt to your
high standards.’

3. ‘What is the risk assessment process?’

‘In the most elementary of terms, the risk-assessment process identifies
hazards and risk factors that could spawn severe circumstances. My job is
to analyse, evaluate and respond to these risks connected to the hazards.’

4. ‘What would you do to improve the safety culture in

our business?’
‘I think that with my knowledge and experience, I can ensure that your
company follows the required protocols so that everyone performs their job
safely and responsibly. That said, if I see an area that needs tremendous
improvement or I think that certain staff members are not adhering to what
we lay out, I will intervene and institute new measures.’

5. ‘How would you respond if a co-worker failed to

adhere to our health and safety protocols?’

‘Is a good question because I always strive to keep the balance between
office camaraderie and the rules. Right now, on the outside looking in, I
think I would certainly hand out warnings to folks. If they repeatedly violate
our rules, I will not hesitate to write them up and submit it to my superior.

6. ‘If you heard a colleague talking about nearly

having an accident during a task, what would you
do?’
‘If I overheard a colleague revealing something like this, I would approach
them and enquire about what happened. It’s important to know if the
incident occurred due to their own actions or because of external factors
such as faulty equipment.

In the case of the former, and the person routinely violates protocols or
doesn’t take necessary safety steps, that is when action is necessary. But,
if it were the latter, then I would have to inspect the situation further before
consulting my superiors.’
7. ‘What would you do if a manager ignored your
health and safety report and went as far as asking
you to ignore a safety violation?’
‘The manager is there to set an example and be a leader. If the manager is
not charging ahead and implementing recommendations in a health and
safety report, this is bad news for the company at large because you want
to ensure the wellbeing of all your staff. This could also harm the
company’s reputation. As a health and safety officer, then, it would be my
responsibility to report this to a supervisor and ensure the safety of every
employee.’

8. ‘What do you think is more important: Productivity

or health and safety?
‘Well, my job is to make sure everyone is healthy and safe as they perform
their duties. It is up to my colleagues – superiors and subordinates – to find
ways to remain productive. My own duty lies in making recommendations
that will create a safer environment for everyone – sometimes this can also
result in staff being more productive, too as they feel more comfortable in
their working conditions.’

9. ‘What is your management style?’

‘I would describe my managing style as democratic. When I have had to
delegate or assign tasks, I took a more collaborative approach. I presented
my findings, listed recommendations and asked for suggestions of their
own. Although I’m an expert in my field, I always heed others’ advice
because they may have a unique approach to the issue at hand.’

10. ‘If after six months on the job you have not
improved the safety culture within our firm, what
would you do?’

A little bit of enforcement, a new way of grappling with problems and

engaging with each employee could be some of the tactics I would employ.
Perhaps something of a down-up strategy rather than a top-down one. But,
once again, I trust my abilities to have a positive impact on your company
within such a time frame.’
Incident process

1. Provide first aid and/or medical care to the injured persons and take action
to prevent further injury or damage. This is the first priority.
2. Report the accident as required by your company's policies.
3. Investigate the accident as soon as possible after it occurs. This allows
you to observe the conditions as they were at the time of the accident,
prevents the disturbance of evidence, and allows you to identify
witnesses. You will need to gather physical evidence, take photographs, and
interview witnesses to understand the chain of events that led to the accident.
4. Identify the causes of the accident. Note that there are usually multiple
causes.
5. Report your findings in a written report. in preparing the report, it is helpful
to prepare step-by-step account or timeline working back from the moment of
the accident, listing all possible causes at each step. This account can be
helpful in preparing the final report, which should clearly explain the evidence
for your conclusions.
6. Develop a plan for corrective action to prevent the accident from
happening again. These actions should be specific, constructive, address
root causes of the accident, and address the causes described in the report.
7. Implement your corrective action plan. It is helpful to set a deadline for
implementation of corrective actions and there should be monitoring in place
to ensure that they are completed.
8. Follow up to evaluate the effectiveness of the corrective actions taken.
9. Make adjustments