DEKRA Industrial celebrates women’s contribution to health and safety in South Africa

16 August 2023
Over the years, the image of a health and safety or SHEQ (Safety Health Environment and
Quality) officer has become somewhat typecast: a middle-aged man in safety helmet and
high-visibility jacket admonishing employees for breaking the rules will spring to many
people’s minds.
However, according to Carina Kleinhans Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) Manager
at DEKRA Industrial SA – a 98-year-old global leader in non-destructive testing (NDT) and
inspection – this image is rapidly changing, as more and more women enter this vital
profession, which is the cornerstone of safe and responsible operations in myriad different
sectors of industry.

The feminine face of safety
“The frequently negative, punitive image and reputation of safety professionals is evolving
into a more positive, caring and proactive one. Notably, this is as women bring their own
special value and skills to the role,” she maintains.
Kleinhans also believes passionately that because safety is a daily, lifelong commitment,
celebrating the contribution of female safety professionals – or indeed of women in any role
or sector – should not be confined to just a single day and month of the year, as it is in South
Africa every August.
“Furthermore, the decision to appoint women to management or leadership positions – in
safety or indeed any other discipline – should never be gender-based, but rather hinge on the
applicant’s attitude and ability,” she adds.
Her own career began at nursing college in 1996. Given the demanding nature of the job
such as night duty, when she had children Kleinhans resigned and moved into administration
– progressing steadily from typist to clerk, site agent and, , personal assistant to the
managing director, eventually into the Safety sector.
Making the safety leap
Kleinhans recalls feeling initially unsure when management at the time gave her the
opportunity to move into the safety sector. Even though she knew little about her prospective
new career, she made the leap in 2007. In 2014 she started working first for the former
Raysonics in 2014 and remaining with the company when it was acquired and became

DEKRA Industrial, as a safety officer and then safety manager on sites such as Sasol
Secunda, Eskom’s Kusile power station and many more.
Happily, her very genuine love of people and learning has really come to the fore in her
safety career journey:

“I love people! As such, it is very important to me to know that they are healthy – and that
they are safe: at work, on the road and at home, in line with DEKRA’s safety ethos. I think
we are put on this planet to serve a purpose for other people. Therefore, in the field of
safety, if I can get only one person to think differently and to be positive and responsible
about safety, then I will have succeeded. “

Safety does have its challenges though, says Kleinhans. These include dealing with ever-
evolving legislative changes, as well as the bureaucratic delays which often precede
implementation thereof.

All about people
Despite these potentially frustrating aspects of the safety sector, she says that the positives
are far more important and – once again, are all about people.

“If people did not participate, and buy into the importance and practice of safety, my job
would not be possible. I might be the DEKRA Industrial HSE Manager, but if I do not have
the buy- in of our people, and their commitment to work safely – or the support of our
management, whose doors are always open – I would achieve nothing,” she points out.

A career highlight for Kleinhans so far is DEKRA Industrial’s nine NOSCAR awards – and
the fact that she personally contributed to seven of those.

“We have achieved 5 700 000 million serious injury-free man hours – and counting – to
date,” she says.

All about teamwork
Again, she attributes this to teamwork. “I have got an excellent relationship with all the
branch managers, and all of the staff, regardless of their level or position in the company,”
she adds.

Success in safety is also all about professionalism and personality, Kleinhans advises.

“Irrespective of whether you are a man or a woman, if you treat people with respect, have an
open-door approach and are committed, you will do well. Respect is earned. It does not
come automatically with one’s level of seniority or one’s job description.”

Kleinhans says that what motivates her to excel in her job is her concern for her colleagues’
safety and development.

However, at the heart of it all, it is her family – her husband and children – who inspire her,
and motivate her at home and in the workplace, where she believes in leading by example.

“I feel the same way about my home family as I do about my work family. I almost feel like a
mother to our employees, and I tell them that I will fight for them in much the same way as I
will fight for my children,” she enthuses.

Feminine touch and woman power
“Sometimes – although it must be said not exclusively – women are able to create a healthier
workplace when it comes to relationships and handling some issues more sensitively than
their male counterparts do. Although having said this, I have also observed very empathetic
handling of issues by men too,” she concedes.

When it comes to safety specifically, Kleinhans observes that companies in the safety
sector are beginning to realise the important contribution women bring to this field – although
she is unaware of any independent industry gender representation metrics currently.

She also believes that women themselves must play a role in speeding their progress and
empowerment within the safety sector.

“I always say that women in this industry need to stand up and be willing to get their hands
dirty – not expecting any special treatment – and being fully prepared to overturn gender,
cultural and educational stereotypes, misconceptions and barriers,” she comments.

Many other attributes and strategies are also required to ensure that one is successful and
empowered in the safety sector, according to Kleinhans:

“First of all, you need to find a mentor. You need to respect yourself, but as I observed
previously, you need to remember that respect must be earned: show respect to get respect.

You also need to be hungry for information because this industry changes rapidly, so you
need to be a life-long learner.

Furthermore, you also need to understand how to handle conflict – without being a pushover.
Manage your time and make sure that you have the proper communication skills,” she
advises.

As practitioners and participants in the safety sector, women also need to ensure that they
have a healthy work-life balance and keep up to date with the relevant important factors and
trends. For example, focusing on mental health in the workplace, dealing with potential
conflicts between safety and technology, and incorporating remote working into the safety
sector.

All these factors are important but nothing more so than the fact that safety is as essential to
the well-being of people and industry as breathing, and as women in safety, we are there to
ensure it is as seamless and instinctive,” Kleinhans concludes.

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About DEKRA Industrial and DEKRA Institute of Learning

With 98 years in the industry through its global parent company, DEKRA Industrial SA has
established a formidable reputation as a leader in inspection services, non-destructive
testing (NDT), material testing, laboratory services, Advanced NDT, and asset integrity
services, and offers industry training through DEKRA Institute of Learning.

With a Group presence in more than 50 countries on five continents, DEKRA Industrial RSA
provides safety solutions across a multitude of industries, including power generation, oil and
gas, construction, petrochemical, manufacturing, fabrication, pulp and paper, rail, mining,
steel industry and foundries, within South Africa and pan-Africa.

DEKRA Industrial SA is a holistic services provider of NDT inspection, corrosion control with
rope access and lifting, DEKRA Industrial SA has 51 percent black woman ownership and
has
achieved a current overall Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) status of
Level 1.

The company is also RD 0034-compliant, a nuclear safety compliance standard and is one
of the few NDT companies locally to hold the ISO 45001:2018 certification as well as the
DNV certification giving DEKRA Industrial access to many inspection opportunities in the
maritime
sector.

The DEKRA Institute of Learning (IOL) is QCTO-accredited and delivers online learning
across all industries, in both public and private sectors, with training pitched to all levels of
competency, focusing on HSE, ISO and CPD-aligned courses. Classroom-based and
distance learning are also available.

DEKRA Industrial strives to be recognised as the ‘heroes of safety’.