The importance of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions

The South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions or SACPCMP is a statutory body that regulates the certifications, registrations and applications of Construction Professionals.

In a previous article, 'What are the OHS Legislative Requirements for the South African Construction Industry', we identified five important legislative requirements of which small business entities (SMEs) and business owners should be aware off.

One of these requirements is the importance of the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions (SACPCMP). For the purpose of this blog we will look into more detail of the SACPCMP together with elements of the Project and Construction Management Professions Act.

Who is the SACPCMP?

The SACPCMP is a statutory body that regulates the certifications, registrations and applications of Construction Professionals.

Construction Professionals can register in the following categories:

• Candidate Construction Health and Safety Officer
• Construction Health and Safety Officer (CHSO)
• Construction Health and Safety Manager (CHSM)
• Construction Health and Safety Agent (Pr. CHSA).

In terms of the Construction Regulation 8(5), a contractor is required to appoint a competent safety officer, taking into account the size and duration of the project.

Without the necessary qualifications and certifications, a construction safety officer is not deemed competent. If a construction safety officer is registered with the SACPCMP, he or she is deemed competent in South Africa. Without this registration, an occupational health and safety (OHS) professional cannot practise in the workplace lawfully.

What are the requirements for an OHS professional to be competent as set out by the SACPCMP council? 

In order to successfully register and be deemed competent as an OHS professional, candidates will have to meet various requirements as set out by the SACPCMP council. The candidates follow a simple submit, assess and re-assess process whereby they submit certain documents to verify experience and competency. The council then assesses the documents and, based on the results, decides whether or not the candidate can be deemed competent.

For instance, in order to register as a Construction Health and Safety Officer, the candidate will firstly have to submit a project profile (Annexure 1) stating the number of projects for which he or she had been responsible. This should also serve as proof that the candidate has a minimum of 2 to 4 years’ experience in the building industry. The project profile must be detailed and up to date in order to accurately reflect the candidate’s experience.

Secondly, a project report (Annexure 2) must be submitted, which outlines the following topics in no less than  3 000 words, based on past experience:   

• Procurement Management
• Cost Management
• Hazard Identification Management
• Risk Management
• Accident or Incident Investigation Management
• Legislations and Regulations
• Health, Hygiene and Environmental Management
• Communication Management
• Emergency Preparedness Management.

These topics should discuss the challenges experienced as well as the successes achieved by the candidate in order to demonstrate competence and experience.

Lastly, the candidates must submit their Curriculum Vitae, ID document and any other qualifications and certificates to the SACPCMP for assessment. Upon a successful assessment outcome, the candidate will undergo an examination and only after successful completion thereof will be deemed competent and officially registered as an OHS SACPCMP-registered professional.

It is also important to mention that an annual fee is payable to the SACPCMP upon application and registration of any category and consequently, SACPCMP certificates of registration are valid for a year.

What is the Project and Construction Management Professions Act?

The below refers to the Project and Construction Management Professions Act No. 48 of 2000.

The purpose of the Act is as follows:

To provide for the establishment of a juristic person to be known as the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions; to provide for the registration of professionals, candidates and specified categories in the project and construction management professions; to provide for the regulation of the relationship between the South African Council for the Project and Construction Management Professions and the Council.

Registration (extract from Project and Construction Management Professions Act)

19. (1)  (a) A person must apply, in the prescribed application form, to the council for registration in a category referred to

                 in section 18(1).

             (b) The application form referred to in paragraph (a) must be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

       (2) The council must register the applicant in the relevant category and issue a registration certificate to the

            successful applicant in the prescribed form if, after consideration of an application, the council is satisfied

            that the applicant—

            (a) in the case of a person applying for registration as a professional—

                   (i)  has demonstrated his or her competence as measured against standards determined by the council for the

                         relevant category of registration; and

                   (ii)  has passed any additional examinations that may be determined by the council;

            (b) in the case of a person applying for registration as a candidate or as a candidate in a specified category, has

                 satisfied the relevant educational outcomes determined by the council for this purpose, by—

                   (i)  having passed accredited or recognised examinations at any educational institution offering  educational

                        programmes in project and construction management; and

                   (ii) having passed any other examination that may be determined by the council; or

                   (iii) presenting evidence of prior learning in project and construction management.

In terms of the Act, registration is compulsory for any person practising in the construction industry.

Categories of Registration (extract from Project and Construction Management Professions Act)

18. (2) A person may not practise in any of the categories contemplated in subsection (1) unless he or she is registered

           in that category.

      (3) A person who is registered in the category of candidate must perform work in the project and construction

           management professions only under the supervision and control of a professional of a category as prescribed.

Offences and Penalties (extract from Project and Construction Management Professions Act)

(3) A person convicted of an offence in terms of section 18(2), may be liable to a fine equal to double the remuneration received by him or her for work done in contravention of section 18(2) or to a fine equal to the fine calculated according to the ratio determined for three years imprisonment in terms of the Adjustment of Fines Act, 1991.

In conclusion

Familiarising yourself with various applicable legislation, regulations and by-laws will equip you as employer to understand the demands of the industry better. Key legislation to consider includes the OHSA, Construction Regulations 2014, General Safety Regulations and General Administrative Regulations.

SERR Synergy assists business owners with a comprehensive OHS service which creates and continuously develops a health and safety culture and system within the business that aligns with the business’s internal policies and goals. We have a dedicated and qualified team that implements health and safety legislation and assists with small- to large-scale OHS projects, concerns or aspects.

About the Author: Inge-Marie joined our team in August 2018 and currently holds the title ‘Occupational Health and Safety Officer’. She is registered with SACPCMP as Candidate Construction Health and Safety Officer, holds a SAMTRAC and LEAD AUDITOR’s certificate and is currently in her final year of completing a B.Com Business degree at UNISA. She has more than six years’ experience in the construction and health and safety industry, specialising in roof work and working at heights. She is currently responsible for various industry-specific clients, including construction, manufacturing, chemicals and oil, as well as wireless internet service providers. She compiles OHS files, risk assessments and fall protection, emergency and evacuation plans and conducts regular internal audits for clients.